Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-03-14
DIPLOMACYISB BUSY
Over the Recent Outbreaks of
the Mobocracy.
HOW UNCLE SAMUEL Is SITUATED.

Home Rule and Treaty obligations said to
Clash-some Comments on the State Of
AAairs-Pauncefote P1eases the State
Department by His Moderafioa-An In
quiry Of Colorado in Behalf Of Itaiy-rhs
Case Of the Alliance.
WASHINGTON. March lA-With two
such Incidents as those of New Orleans
and Walscnburg, Colo, facing them, end
such affairs as the Rock Greek Springs
massacre OF Chinese and the killing of
the Italians in New Orleans in the back
ground. the state department officials
make no secret of their apprehension that
the United States is destined to have
serious difficulty i'm maintaining its
treaty relations with foreign nations, I'M
less congress comes to the rescue. As it
stands now, owing to the limitations
placed upon the exercise of the federal
power by statute, the government finds
itself powerless to protect foreign citi-
zens whom the United States is under
solemn treaty obligations to protect.
Here's n State Of Things!
Under cur peculiar conditions the ma
tional government can only loo. to the
state to extend protection, and il this is
denied, or the measure Of protection is in
adequate, it cannot interfere. Meanwhile,
the state itself is wholly free from any re-
sporsibility to the foreign powers with
which the United States has entered into
treaty relations. and the powers are pro-
hibitcd from even demonstrating with the
offending state government; they can
look for redress only to the helpless na-
tional government. So it Is within the
power of anv cratic governor or weak
mayor, or even an incompetent chief OF
police in any city, to force an issue that
can be decided only by war, and the fate
of the whole nation may depend on the
conduct of such officials.
Congress. just Let Her Slide.
This matter was brought to the atten-
ton Of congress by President Harrison at
she instance of the late Secretary Blaine
after the adjustment of the trouble that
threatened war with Italy as the result Of
the killing of the Italians in New Orleans
but TO action was taken to carry ont the
suggestion. probably owing to the fact
that the necessary legislation might be
regarded as an infringement upon the old
states rights theory. 1t is very probable,
however, that President Cleveland will
feel obliged to again call attention to the
suhjacf at the meeting Of the next con-
gross, and point out how in the abseucc of
such legislation he is obliged to appeal to
congress to pay out of money raised by the
whole people large sums for indemnify for
outrag,S committed by a disorderly ele-
ment in one small place.
More Power to the Courts.
Just what shape the proposed legisla-
ton will take cannot be now defined, but
the prevailing idea will be to make it the
business of the United States courts in all
parts of the country to protect foreigners
in the United States, first through the
court deputies, and if that is not-suflicient
then through the troops of the national
government. and to do this without de-
lay in ali cases. This would require an
amendment of the posse commitatus law
passed with the express purpose to pre-
vent the use of troops at elections, but
proven t. be of much wider scope than was
intended
Doesn't Harmonic with Home Rule.
1t would otherwise harm the scnsibiii-
ties of the strict constructionists of the
states right theory, but as between this
and the ever present danger of becoming
involved in q foreign war without a rea-
sonable or just cause, it is believed that
congress will not hesitate to declare for
ri .,l .,xv-