The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-05-26
AMERICANS ABROAD.


One OF the most spirited and interest
ing questions Of the campaign of 1884
was the matter of the protection of
American citizens abroad. 1t was es-
pecially urged In behalf of MR.. BLAINE
that American citizenship and all its
kindred questions, if the "Plumed
knight were elected, would receive
the first and controlling attention Of the
administration. On the other hand, it
was stated that tho success of the
Democracy would moan indifference to
these matters.
The results have Delied the predic
tons. The state department, under the
present secretary, has given special at
tention to the rights of Americans
abroad. For the 6rst time in 25 years
the American minister, MR.. PHELPS,
at the court of st. James, was an inter
ested spectator at the trial Of alleged
Americans in London, and he was there
under instructions from a Democratic
state department.
But The present administration has
not stopped with attention to criminal
trials. Tho rightG of those abroad, who
are merely domiciled In the United
States, aye attended to as closely as tho
rights OF naturaliEed citizens. 4 Wash
! ingtOn correspondent remarks; "The
instructions aim to fix the duties of our
minister's and Consuls toward q class of
persons who are not or may not be
naturalized citizens, but who have their
legal domicile in this country, but actu-
ally are abroad, on business or pleas
ure, and, being abroad, marry there
have children born there, make their
wills, dispose Of their property and die
abroad, while being practically and by
choice residents of this country. IL
seems that there has grown up GENE
confusion as 20 the rights and powors
in the matter OF marriage and
the disposal OF property OF
I such persons" And again ::
"rhe now instructions 20 upon the
supposition that the number OF persons
domiciled bat not naturRlized In this
country, but who go abroad on business.
is large, and that by the principles of
international law all these persons re-
main domlciled in the country which
they have left for such temporary OBJ
jects. If, for instance, they are domi-
ciied in New York before they leave for
temporary employment abroad, thew
continue so domicilod whom emploved
asroad; and by tho law of such domicile
their legitimacy, the validity of their
marriage and the distribution of their
estete are determined. The diplomatic
instructions now issued require our
ministers abroad to see that these rights
are maintained"
Thus 1t is that all classes of Ameri-
cans, whether native, naturalized or
simply dOmloiled here, are TO BIO closely
watched and protected while abroad by
the United States minister's, under in
structions from the state department,
presided over by sterling, oli-time
Democrat.
These instructions TO our diplomatic
corps, coupled with tho presence of MIR.
PHELPS the day after his arrival in
London at the trial OF BURTON and Gun.
NINaHAM, and our vigorous assertion of
rights and protection of American prop.
erty on the Panama Isthmus, within
so days after Democratic accession to
power, Enthusiastically indicate a most
positive foreign policy on the part of the
present administration, and give a guar
antee to Americans abroad that they
viii DO fully protected and cared for in
every particular.