The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-30
Divided Responsibility.

The Chicago Herald interview with
tain features wherein American diplom-
acy Is under disadvantages by reason
OF the divided responsibilities incident
to our conceutric scheme of federal and
state governments, 70 which we yester-
day gave place, is thus supplemented
by that papers intelligent Wash
ington correspondent, Walter Wellman:
1t is unfortunate" he writes, that
the idea has spread through the world
that the United States government is
not punctilious in meeting its inter
national obligations. both through lack
Of good faith and on account Of her
clumsy system Of divided responsible
ity Great Britain and her Canadian
dominions bitterly complain because
congress failed to carry out the ar
rangement made by the executive in
settlement of the BerinG Sea claims.
Accustomed as they are to having the
contracts or arrangements Of the for
eign Office promptly ratified by parlia-
ment. the Britishers can see nothing
but populations in the failure of the
American congress to make the apprO-
priatiOn asked for by the administra-
tion in this case At the same time
Germany, France, Austria-Hungary,
Belgium and Denmark are protesting
against what they claim to be viola
ton OF our treaty obligations in the
matter Of tariff duties. II current gos-
sip is 10 be trusted at least one Of these
powers, Germany, has threatened to
withdraw from diplomatic intercourse
with this government unless the al
legged wrong be quickly righted. Prob
ably this is an exaggeration Of the in
tentions Of the Berlin government, but
1t Is enough to call attention in a most
striking way to the danger which
menaces the republic Of loss Of the re-
spect and confidence Of other nations.
"The riots IN New Orleans have
raised anew the old question of respon-
siblHty Of this government for wrongs
committed upon aliens within the bor-
ders Of q state. SO far as our domestic
arrangements are concerned it is quite
clear that It Is not the duty Of the
federal government to maintain order
within a state and to be responsible
for injuries inflicted upon citizens Of
other countries. But this is not satis-
factory 10 foreign governments. They
cannot understand the complications Of
our system and even If they do under
stand them have no recourse except to
look to the central authority at Wash
lngton for assurances, guarantees, pro-
lection and reparation.
"Such instances as the lynchlng Of
Cinnamon in Wyoming and the killing
Of Italians and the shooting OF British
subjects in New Orleans have served to
bring foroibly TO the attention of
American statesmen the question
whether or not the time has arrived to
institute some reforms or changes in
clcs to direct and simple responsibility
and negotiation on the part Of the
Washington authorities. 1t Is no doubt
true, as foreign ministers at this capt
tai freely say in private conversation
that the attitude in which the United
States are frequently found In refer
encc to foreign governments makes this
country an object OF rldicule and con-
tempt In other lands. We are In dan
ger Of being placed by civilized nations
in somewhat the same category as that
now occupied by the Chinese. who in
case Of injury to aliens attempt to put
the responsibility therefor upon some
provincial government with which no
foreign nation has intercourse and
which the agents of a foreign govern
ment could not reach If they tried.
Just as the Chicago riots and the use
of government troops to suppress them
marked a certain step In the direction
OF Capitalization OF authority, so IL Is
believed these frequently recurring in
stances of injury to foreign subjects
must lead to some unobjectionable ex-
tension of federal power and response
| billty within the borders of states. 1t
is by many considered a reproach upon
our institutions that when wrong is
done to the citizen Of a foreign country
! and his government asks the state de-