Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-06-22
Hot Shot for BritonS.
Governor Thayer, of Nebraska,
Fires a Broadside
IN DEFENSE OF PATRICK EeAN.

The British-American Circular Urging
the Recall of Our Minister to Chilli
Rather Rifles the Governor, Who Lets
Himself Loose Very vigorously-A Side
Wipe at Chicago In the Interest of Alex
ander Sullivan.
LINCOLN, Neb., June 22.-The British
American association of Boston sent a circu.
lar to Governor Thayer a few days ago, pro-
testing against the appointment of Patrick
Egan as minister to Chilli, and asking for
assistance in securing his recall. Yesterday
the governor made public his reply. 1t is
vigorous defense of the minister and full Of
The following are extracts:
'Who constituted you and your associates
judges of tine motives and actions of mena
By what authority do you arraign the presi-
dent and senate of the United States for the
appointment and confirmation of Patrick
Egan as minister to Chilis Thank
God they are not responsible
to such intolerably insolent bigots as you and
your associates have proven yourselves to be
by the language used in this circular l have
known Patrick Egan ever since he located in
the city of Lincoln, years ago. He has al
ways proven himself to he an upright and
honorable man; a good citizen in every re-
spect You can no more tarnish his reputa-
ton with your vile ISLANDERS than the foul
bird of night can assail the eagle. To
vent your rage and venom at Mr.
Egan's appointment, you have seized
the weapons of a defeated-yea of a vile
London wife-despised, and unprincipled
slanderer, and you call him by opprobrious
fao .;.I,o,
that the party using them is completely
worsted in support of a bad cause. You say
Mr.. Egan is a political Arab l say he is an
honorable and honored American citizen,
and l take pleasure in reminding you that
he is an envoy extraordinary and minister
penipotentiary of the great republic of the
United States to the foremost republic of
South America
Doesn't Agree wi tn Them.
"You say he is fugitive from the power
of British justice. Oh, you mistake; you
should have said British injustice You
say the conduct of Patrick Egan is now I'M
der investigation by special commission of
British judges, as to participation in what
every civilized state brands as a crime
against life and property. Have
you so soon forgotten how completely
and how overwhelmingly Patrick Egan
shattered one of the most dastardly and
damning conspiracies to blacken his own
and the good name of Parrell that villainy
ever concocted, which exposure sent one of
the consprators to death and left the others
to the condemnation of the civilized world2
You designate yourselves rs menu
bers of the British-Americau association
We are all American people here. We are
no 'alf-and-'alf people. We respect Britons
-hxay, how
the very horlely adage of 'minding ones
own business
A Whack at Chicago.
"Please bear in mind that you are living in
the nineteenth century, under the influence
of enlightened American civilization, in a
country where freedom has been proclaimed
throughout the land and to all the inhabi-
tants thereof; where the enjoyment, without
dictation from any source, of political and
religious freedom is guaranteed to all;
where a man is believed to be innocent
till he is proven guilty; where
justice can be relied upon, generally,
to be impartial, although Chicago's coroner
and a coroner's jury spent weeks in trying
to fasten the murder of DR.. Cronin upon AL
exander Sullivan rather than in trying to as
certain who is guilty of the awful crime of
his taking off; where man is not bounded
and prosecuted because he seeks to obtain
free speech and home rule for his native
land respectfully advise you to find some
other calling than the circulation of the pro-
test to which have adverted."
The circular at which Governor Thayer
takes such vigorous umbrage closes as fol-
lows: This appointment is insulting to the
national dignity and ability of the 60, 000, 900
people comprising this great republic, for it
virtually proclaims to the world that of all
its sons to the manner born, and otherwise,
there was not to be found one among them
all so well qualified TO represent this greatest
American nation in the progressive state Of
Chill as this fugitive from the power of
British justice"