The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-22
GOV. THAYER
And the British-American Society.
That Organization Protests Against
Patrick Egan's appointment
AS Minister to Chill as an Insult to
tho American Nation.
Tho Governor Denounces tho Au-
thors of the Protest.
Ho Says Patrick Egan IL an Honorable
and an Honored Citizen, and
Charges That tho Protest
Smacks OF tho Dark Ages

LINCOLN, Neb., June 2l--Thc following
letter by Gov. Thaycr was made public
today:
LINCOLN, Ncb, June II, 1850.
To John Low, Secretary Of tho British. American
Association, Boston, Mass;
Dear Sir-l have received printed cir
cular signed by you, addressed to me as
Governor, headed "a Protest." and all
dressed TO the members OF the British
American Association and fellow-citizens
From this protest | quote the following
language. "our organization holds us one
Of its cardinal. principles the promo.
tion Of pure and manly political action.
The appointment by the President and
confirmation by tho Senate OF tho United
States, OF one Patrick Egan, OF Nebraska,
to the position Of Minister to Chill, is n
public act that calls for a rcproba,ion aud
protests, insulting TO the sense Of decency
OF all true citizens, and q degradation of
administrative craftsmanship for the fol-
lowing reasons
IL. This Patrick Egan Is ono Of those
whose conduct is now under investigation
by special commission Of British judges
as 10 participation In what every civilized
State brands rs q crime against life aud
property, and II guilty should receive con.
dign punishment.
''2. The position OF Minister 10 one OF the
most advanced States Of South America
should be filed by the best representative
ability tho Nation can afford, and not
made n payment for party service 90 "A
mere political Arab, especially Is tins pat.
! ent when We remember the humiliating
circumstances OF the rebukc this Nation
received through commission appointed
10 the same country under the admins
tration Of President Arthur.
''3. This appointment is insulting 10 the
national dignity aud ability OF 6O,OOO.O 900
OF people comprising this great Republic,
Tor II virtually proclaims 20 the other
world that Of all its sons 10 the manor born
and otherwise. there was not 10 bo found
one among them 10 we'll qualified to rep
| resent this greatest American Mutton In
! the progressive State OF Chill as ihin ftigi.
uyr fnb;ii the power Of British justice.
Why document containing such sen.
timent should hayo been addressed 10
mo Is beyond comprehension, for | cor
iainly have never given any intimation OF
entertaining such views, and could not
have believed, before the receipt OF this
protest, that there were INTELLIGENT persons,
making claim 10 respeclabiliiy, who would
proclaim such atrociOus sentiments. They
are insulting 10 every citizen Of the Rcpub.
lie, they aro abhorrcnt 10 every sense OF
justice aud fair play. They arc degrading
TO humanity aud arc q dishouor to the
country, and | donounco them and
their authors with unmcasurcd In.
dignation, and they should DO
held up 10 public rcprobaiion. Who
constituted yon aud your associates judges
of tho motives aud actions Of m,n7 BY
what authority do YOU arraign tho Prcsi-
dent aud Senate Of the United States for
the appointment aud confirmation OF Pat.
rick Egdn ~ Minister TO Chilli Thank
God. they arc not responsible for such In.
tolorably insolcnt bigois as YOU aud your
associates have proven yourselves 10 b.
by the language used In this circular. |
have known Patrick Egan ever since lac
located In the city Of l.incoln-ycan ago.
lie has always proven himself 10 be- an
upright aud honorable man, q good citizen
la every respect. You can no more tar
nish his reputation with your yilo Sian.
ders than the foul bird Of night can assail
tho eagle.
To vent your rago aud your venom at
Mr. Eagan's appointment you baye seized
the weapons OF defeated, dcspised and
unprinciplcd slandcrcr. yea Of a vile Lon.
don ilshwiic, aud you call him by oppro.
brlous names, which fact always furnishes
evidence that the party uingthom Is COM
plotcly wOrslcd In support OF bad cause.
You say Mr.. Egnn IL q political Arab. |
say he Is an honorable and honofcd Amer
lean citizen, and take pleasure Ia ro-
mindine you that he IN Envoy Extraordi-
nary and Minister Plcnipotcntiary Of the
great Republic Of the United States 10 the
foremost Republic Of South America. You
say he Ia n fugitiyeI from the power
Of British justice Oh. YOU mistake, YOU
should have written British Injustice"
| You say the conduct OF Patrick Egin IL
now under Investigation by special com.
mission Of British Judges, a. 30 parlicipa-
ton in what every State brands M a crime
| against life aud property. Have YOU No
soon forgotten how completely and how
overwhelmingly Patrick Egan shattered
one Of the most dastardly and damning
conspiracics b. blacken his own and the
good nano Of rarncll that villainy ever
concoctcd. which exposure sent one ol the
conspiruton 10 death and left the others TO
the condemnation OF the civilized world?
The sentiments aud tone Of your pro-
test smack moro Of the London Iipies
influences, and Of tho dark ages. than OF
the enlightened and liberal tendencies
toward free government Of tho nineteenth
century. doubt not II you had lived In
those times tho rack, the torture and tho
inquidilon would have been your instru-
mentalities Tor speeding liberal principles
and securing home rule. You designate
yourselves as members Of the British.
American Association. We are all Amer
lean people here; we are no 'alf and 'ali
people. We respect Brtains people
when they respect themselves and obecrye
the very homely adago Of "minding ones
business"
Plcaeo bear In mind that you are living
In tho nineteenth century, under the in.
1uonce Of enlightened American ciyiliza-
tion; In n country whore freedom has been
proclaimed throughout the land aud 30 all
the inhabitants thereof; where the enjoy.
mcnt without dictaiion from any source,
Of political aud religious freedom is guar.
hnlced 10 all; where man II believed
10 DO innocent until ho Is proven
guilty; where justice can be relied upon,
generally, TO be impartial, although Chi