San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-05-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(from Our Regular Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, May 11th, 1888.

| Nf'Sh ouA asNkuiAs correspondents
WASHINGTON, May 11th, 1888.
Secretary Bayard has ondeare
himself to every patriotic America
citizen by his manly and courageou
instructions to Mr.. McLane, our mir
lister to France, in the cases OF sevol
nj naturalized American citizens wh
havo been arrested and compelled &
do military duty in France. Wher
their release was demanded by on
Minister, tho French Minister reptile,
in each case that the question of al
legiance was ono over which tho ad
ministration had no jurisdiction ant
must be settled by the courts. 1
was fully set forth that under Frencl
principles citizenship is conferred
by parentago and not by the place ol
birth, and that oxpatriation of Frencl
citizens requires the consent OF th'
French government. Upon these
points, MFR. Bayard has instructed
Minister McLane to inform the
French government that the govern
ment of the United States holds that
the certificate OF naturalization
granted by 1t to French oitizen is
not open to impeachment by the
French government, either in its exc
cutive or its judicial branch. In
plain English wo propose to see that
American citizens are allowed to tray
el unmolested wherever they may de-
sire to go. But to return to Mr..
Bayard's instructions. He says in
conclusion: "You will further say
that if subjection to forced military
service of the citizens whose cases
you report 10 basod upon an assump-
tion that they are not citizens OF the
United States, this department. asks
for their immediate release ond pro-
per compsnsations for the loss Q,
which they have received from such
detention. It cannot be admitted
that American citizens not charged
with any crime should be detained
under arrest for even o single day
after their proofs OF citizenship hayo
been presented. In cases like this
tho United States can nevor admit
the propriety of submitting to the or
dinary delays Of judicial action"
That's the kind of talk to make the
United States flag respected the
world over.
Senators Edmunds and Evarts, the
two lending republican members of
the Senate Judiciary committee, to
which the nomination Of Mr.. Fuller
for Chief Justice has been referred,
are charged with having conspired
together for tho purpose Of delaying
o report upon the nomination until
after the presidential election, and
should republican by accident be
elected, they propose to delay it until
after his Inauguration that he may
nominate republican for Ohief
Justice Ishould have no hesitation
whatever in laying odds that Mr..
Fullor would be confirmed inside OF
three weeks, and unless something
moro serious than anything yet
brought against him should be un-
oarthed, his confirmation is likely to
be unanimous.
The Senate has passed the bill for
letting oil unearned railroad land
grants.
The House committee on appro-
,riations has reported bill nppro-
,riating S3,500,00O to meet defcien-
lies in the appropriation for the pay
nent Of army pensions during the
emainder Of the present fiscal year.
Senator Voorhees,, who was confn-
ID to his room with q carbuncle on
lis leg for nearly q week after his re-
'ent speech, on Tuesday apologized
o the Senate for the language he
lsed in replying to Ingalls, charges. {
The river and harbor bill has been
,assed by the House by more than
wo-tbirds majority. II appropriates
10000, 900.
Tho caucus OF the democratic mem
,ers Of the House held on Wodnes-
lay evening, did not discuss the
msndments to the Nils tariff bill as
was generally supposed it would,
,ut passed a resolution that ell
amendments proposed to bo offered
" democrats shoald FIRST be submit
ell TO the committee on Ways and
Means 10 be considered aud reported
lpon 10 another caucus 10 be held
text week. Thss resolution was
insninously agreed 70, but Mr.. Ran J,
I,71 -,,-o r,t;oa that he did -ot nro I,