Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-05-08
OUR MINISTER TO ENGLAND.
Mr.. Phelps Entrusts His Views to New
York World Reporter.

1t may seem strange that of all the New
York papers, the World should have been
the only one to secure an interview with
Minister Phelps. respecting his views upon
some of the important relations OF our
own country to Great Britain, at the pres
ent time and stranger still that Mr..
Phelps should have entrusted his views to
paper which has endeavored, from
the start, to misrepresent him, The fact
remains, however, that the Worid had the
requisite enterprise to secure the inter
view, and Mr.. Phelps the confidence to
impart his views to the reporter. The fol
lowing is portion of the interview
"The American people generally will be
glad to know your views regarding meas
ures that should be taken in reference to
the recent dynamite explosions and the
treatment of Irish Americans suspected
of crime in Great Britain,' suggested the
reporter. 'liave You any objection to eN-
pressing opinions on the subject -
wherever an American citizen, wheth-
er naturaliZed or natiVe-burn, is prOseCu-
ted in foreign country for crime, said
Mr.. Phelps, lit is the duty of the Govern
ment-aud it certainly is the inclination
of the present Administrations take
such measures as may be necessary to Sc
cure for the person indicted fair trial
and see that all his legal rights are re
Spected. The Minister should take such
steps as will enable the Government to be
| fully informed as to all the facts. If a
fair trial, according to the laws of the
land where the trial takes place, is not ac-
corded, then IA case would arise for the
proper Interference of the Government in
behalf of its citizen. But where Il fair and
just trial does take place and a man is
fairly and properly convicted of crime, as
any citizen of that country would be con
Victed under the same circumstances, then
| do not see how his American citizenship
either can or ought to afford him any I'M
munity
1T is certainly, in my judgment, the last
privilege of American citizenship that
honest men will desire to assert, to engage
in the commission of crime in foreign
countries, and the last privilege that we
should ever allow any other nation to as
sert against us. And still less can we al
low this country to be made Il base of ope-
rations for the organization of crime to be
committed abroad.
"What do you think of the prospects of
war between Russia and England ~
''The prospect of continued peace grows
more and more tlatterng. | do not see
how two great nations like these could
afford to go to war. If the trouble is not
settled between them amicably ] should
not be surprised if arbitration was resort
ed to. Perhaps the United States might
be called in to assist i'll adjudicating the
trouble. | would deplOre war that
would SO seriously affect such great ma
tions. In time if it was protracted it
would affect the United States and | can
see no good that would result to us. |
know that many imagine that great
European war would benefit us, but ! do
not agree with them. War, such Us that
which has seemed imminent, would have
the same effect as great contiagration.
1t might stimulate trade of some kinds
for IA time, but the effects of this initiation
would soon wear of. 1t would be by no
means a healthy prosperity or gain"
The attention OF Mr.. Phelps was called
to the publicity given to his connection
with the Emma Mine affair On this point
Mr.. Phelps said
"There has been some misrepresentation
in respect to my connection with the En-
ma Mine litigation some years ago. My
sole connection with that business was as
counsel for the sellers of the mine when
they were made defendants in an action
brought against them in the United States
Circuit Court in the city of New York.
The original purchasers of the mine never
claimed to have been deimudcd and never
brought any suit, and eirtestimony was
strongly relied on by the defendants. The
suit was brought by parties who had pur-
chased the stock on speculation after it
had reached low figure in the London
market The case was eNhaustiVely tried
on the merits before Judge Wallace ard Il
/ Jury, the trial lasting nearly five months.
/ The late Mr.. Stoughton and Mr.. FOulkes,
of the English Bar, were counsel for the
plaintiffs, and the late William \. Beach
and l.. II. Chittenden and l%ere for the
defendants Every possible latitude was
given TO the plaintiffs in their effort to