The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-03-14
PROTECf FO2EIGNLRS.
The Government Handicapped by
Inadequate Legislation,
NECESSITY FOR FURTHER POWERS

The Riot at New Orleans and the Lynch
ing in Colorado May Involve Uncle Sam
in Vexatious and Expensive international
Complications.
WASHINGTON, March 14-With two such
incidents as those of New Orleans and
Walsenburg, Colo, facing them, and such
affairs as the Rock Springs massacre Of
Chinese and the killing Of the Italians In
New Orleans in the background, the state
department officials make no secret Of
their apprehension that the United States
is destined to have serious difficulty in
maintaining its treaty relations with for
eign nations unless 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
citizens whom the United States is under
solemn treaty obligation to protect,
Under our peculiar conditions the ma
tional government can only look to the
state to extend protection, and IL this is
denied OF the measure of protection is in
adequate it cannot interfere. Meanwhile
the state itself is wholly free from any re-
spoEsibility to the foreign powers with
which the United States has entered into
treaty relations, and these powers are pro
hibited from even demonstrating with the
offending state government. They can
look for redress only to the helpless ma
tional government. So it is within the
power of any erratic 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.
This matter was brought to the attention
of congress by President Harrison at the
instance of the late Secretary Blaine after
the a liustment of the trouble that threat
ened war with Italy as the result of the
killing of the Italians in New Orleans, but
no action was taken to carry out the sug
gestion, probably owing to the fact that
the necessary legislation might be re-
garded 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
subject at the meeting of the next con
gress, and point out how, in the absence o1
such legislation he is Obliged to appeal tc
congress to pay out of the money raised by
the whole people large sums for indemnity
for outrages committed by disorderly
element in one small place.
Just what shape the proposed Legislation
/ will take cannot be now defined, but tht
prevailing idea will be to make it thu
business of the United States courts in al
parts of the country to protect foreigner
| in the United States, first through th,
court deputies, and if that is not sufficien
then through the troops of the nationa
| government, and to do this without della.
in all cases. This would require an amend
ment of the law passed with the expires
purpose to prevent the use of troops a
elections, but proved to be of much wide
scope than was intended, and would other
wise hurt the sensibilities of the strict con
structionists of the states rights theory
but as between this and the ever presen
danger of becoming involved in foreigl
war without a reasonable or just cause
( is believed that congress will not hesitat
to declare for the law.