The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-17

made use of their immunity in this regard
to run heavily in debt. The United States
government never interferes in such mat
ters, considering them beneath the dignity
of its notice; its notion Is that tradesmen,
knowing the privileges of these people from
abroad, should look out for their own pro-
lection
But the immunity Of the diplomat from
legal process does not merely attach to him
and his property within the bounds of his
legation He is not subject 70 arrest any
where or under any circumstances in this
country. The law says he is entitled TO
entire exemption from local jurisdiction,
either civil or criminal Wherever he goes
the minister represents the rights and dig
nifty OF the sovereign or state by which ne
is delegated; his person is sacred and invio-
LIABLE" And this inviolability extends to
his suite. family, and servants, none OF
whom Is subject TO United States laws or TO
arrest on any account. even for murder.
During the last administration there was
secretary of foreign legation here who
used TO take fragrant advantage OF his I'M
munity in this regard. 1t was his custom
to go down town every night, visit the
variety theaters or gambling houses, get
lighting drunk, and raise hail Columbia
generally. When it was proposed to arrest
him he would fall back upon the sacredness
OF his person and defy the minions Of the
law. The latter, however, finally adopted
the plan of pretending that they did not
know who he was and locking him up for
the night, iberating him in the morning
with profuse apologies, OF course.
The sacredness attaching TO foreign sover-
eighty or its representative was once ap-
pealed to with singular want of success by
certain young prince visiting here, who
enjoyed no such immunity by law, how
ever, because he was in no way accredited
to this country.
He insulted a lady at party in Washing
ton while under the influence of a trlfle too
much wine, and friend of hers, catching
him afterward on the pavement outside,
| addressed him with hostile intent
"Whatm exclaimed the prince, agast,
would you STRIKE a son of r--oyaltyT
"No," said the other, but l would strike
- drunken son of gum" Whereupon
he hit the prince highlander In the eye.
II the minister from the Cannibsl Islands
chose to murder one of his attaches or SER
wants the United States government would
make no attempt TO punish him for the
crime: lt would simply communicate the
fact TO the Cannibal Islands foreign
| office and request that something be done.
| Even supposing that the minister should
| choose to kill an American citizen, he would
not be arrested here. The notification sent
to the home Office would simply be more
| urgent, that is all. The people of the lega-
| tions are subject only to the laws of their
| own countries. When an oriental prince
| hanged himself out of a window of his coun-
| try's legation a while ago, for unrequited
| love OF Washington girl, and no facts
| about the case were given to the police, no
action was taken in the matter, though
very likely the department of state may
have made private inquiry. According
| to law, If the servant of minister commits
| crime here he may be tried and sentenced
~ ha min ota butt a &c 20
the accused home for trial.
On the whole, considering their immuni-
| ties, The people of the legations are very
| we'll behaved. An offense committed by
them is an exceptional thing. Some of
them are addicted to much faster driving
than the law permits the American citizens
| of Washington to indulge in. Most notice
able of the offenders in this way at present
is an attache who is extremely fond of driv-
ing beautiful stallion along the avenues at
breakneck speed. A secretary of another
legation has a playful way of riding his
horse up to the doors of shops across the
sidewalks. He has been accosted more than
| once by policemen for this sort Of proceed
ing, but he coolly defies the officers, telling
them, as he twirls his moustache with exas-
perating sangfroid, that he is attached to
| a legation, and that they dare not arrest
him.
Sir Julian Pauncefote cannot be compelled
| to have the snow shoveled off from his side
walk in winter; he might let IL lie three feet
! deep for months and all the power of the
United States government could not COM
| pei him to remove it. And yet Attorney
| General Brewster was arrested here during
his official term for failure to clear his front
pavement of snow. Certainly the German
minister could set fire to his legation build
| ing and burn it down to the ground without
| anybody being able to say "boo' to him.
| That reminds one of the curious incident
| that occurred not long ago. A prominent
| minister thought that he would like to show
a few friends how prompt an American fire
| department was, compared with the effete
| European service. So he sprung an alarm.
and within four minutes half a dozen en-
| glnes and hose carriages came dashing UP.
| with hook and ladder truck for emergen-
cies. When the distinguished representative
of European throne courteously explained
that he had only done it for fun, the fire
| captain replied rather grirnly that that sort
| of fun cost an American citizen just $50,
] though, of course, the fine could not bye en-
| forced against the perpetrator of the offense
In this case. However, the minister being a
| gentleman, offered his apologies and insisted
| upon paying the $50, which he did
But, as has been said, the ministers and
their attaches usually take good care not to
| offend against the laws and customs of this
| country. EXem pt as Cney are from local
| jurisdiction, criminal and civil, they cannot
make themselves annoying without render
ing themselves undesired guests in the eyes
of our government. Once so regarded they
are likely to be requested to go home. Such
a request is not conveyed directly to them,
of course; but their governments are re-
| spectfully asked to recall them. If any
| demand of the sort were not complied with,
as it always is. the Objectionable diplomat
would undoubtedly be sent back nolens
Uotens. The person and papers of minister
can never be seized unless he is regarded as
a menace to the country wherein he resides
In that case it is necessary in self defense to
arrest him and send him away under escort.
He might be plotting revolution, you see.
minister some years ago occasioned some
scandal in Washington. Some pretty wild
and weird festivities were frequent in his
house. In the morning after party at the
legation the whole front sidewalk would
usually be found covered with packs of
cards scattered like snow, which had been
| thrown out of the window during the
nights gambling. The yard in the rear
would be strewn thickly likewise. A sec
rotary of foreign legation in Lincolns
time was arrested on the street for most