The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1885-04-16
PROTECTION OF OUR CITIZENS
ABROAD.

The Irish National League in this
country seems to think that when an
American or alleged American is ar
rested in England the United States
can and ought at once to step in and de-
mand his release and restoration to
this government, or in other words
that Great Britain has no right to try
foreigners upon criminal charges.
Such position is not only in opposi-
ton to the plain statutes of interna-
tional law, but absurd in the extreme.
Americans who go upon English soil
and dicker with dynamiters, or any
foreigner who subjects himself to sus-
picjon or conducts himself in manner
threatening breach OF tho peace, is as
ameuable to the law of tho foreign gov
eminent as he would be were the same
acts committed by him at home. Only
ambassadors are exempted from arrest
by foreign power. No man, but an
ambassador, is above the criminal laws
of the country whore he may at any
time be domiciled, whether temporarily
OF permanently. II q foreigner is az
rested he can claim tho intorposition of
his government only to the extent of
seeing that no has fair and impartial
trial. II he has such a trial and is con-
victed no power On earth can save him.
To see that it's citizens are not cause.
lessly or unjustly oppressed or dealt
with by foreign power is all that any
nation can do legally, and no American
need fear that a Democratic admins
tration will neglect to do all within its
power towards the assertion Of the COM
mon rights of its citizens abroad, whom
troubles or misfortunes oVertake.
In this connection may be cited Sec
RrTARY BAYARD's letter in reply to the
Secretary of the irish National League,
Mt Now York, who asked for Interior
ence in behalf of BURTON and CUNNING
HAM, alleged dynamlters. All that this
government cen lawfully do is promised,
and that will be to see to it that these
men have just and tair trial. The
HERALD fails to see the necessity of
special appropriations and a special
force OF agents and attorneys at London,
Paris or elsewhere, as suggested by MR..
BAYARD, to watch such trials and re.
port the proceedings to Washington.
What are our foreign ministers. with
their secretaries and assistants, sent
abroad for, if not to watch matters Of
this kind and use the moral influence
and legal power OF their positions to Sc
cure fair play toward American citizens
who have the right to expect interior
ence on their part? The care and pro-
lection of our citizens abroad is their
first and highest duty. Are they there
merely to attend swell levees and make
aiter-dinner speeches and hob.nob with
the upper-ten of foreign society, or to go
into the courts and political offices and
demand justice and fair play for the
humblest American citizen in trouble?
If Mr.. BAYARD is overlooking this plain
duty of his diplomates and feeling ham
pered in the assertion of our rights
abroad, because special corps of well
peid agents is not provided by law to be
on hand and report proceedings,reports
which would probably reach Washing
ton after the accused had been hanged, he
is net the man to place incharge of our
foreign relations and diplomatic and
consular service.