Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-30

k6HUNN 4SS54A-9Whyh& hopeless. Ihe case
:: !: !
| wWH8 n VE 1Gfa of this brave young
| HMHMEHX631Sf,Nt woman, who has
MIB@6 80 found safe asylum
wbMEMNSNIlL " of refuge within our
TfhEWHT ANSE< NJ domain, will go
- down in history as
N-l the most picturesque
and striking exemplification of the force of
a noble doctrine. cherished by the fathers
| OF our Constitution and now respected as
an established International policy by
every enlightened nation on earth. To be
brief, this policy gives authority to the
President Of the United States to refuse
the return to any foreign country of polt-
fcal Offenders who have found refuge upon
our soil.
Senorita Cisneros Is strictly a political
oHenuer, and guilty of no other offense in
the eyes of Spain. She was arrested as nm
enemy to the state. In 1877 there were ex-
changed between President Grant and the
King of Spain ratifications of an extradi-
ton ti. treaty bearing the clause following:
The provisions Of this convention shall
not import claim of extradition for any
crime or offense of political character,
nor 1or acts connected with such crimes
or onenses and no person surrendered by
or 10 either of the contracting parties in
virtue of this convention shall be tried or
punished for any political crime or offense,
Eor Tor any act connected Herewith. COM
Ailtteu previously TO the eXtradlt1On.
words to the same effect are contained
IN our extradition treaties with nearly
every otner important foreign power But
IL Is not necessary that such stipulation be
maze In order to establish such policy
With foreign government Every nation
On earth takes 1t for granted that political
oHenSes are not included and cannot be
included. in the list of crimes for which
extradition will be granted. Granting even
that other governments did not acquiesce
IN the same view. A nO1fcy other han
this could not be expected of a republic
rounded upon the right of political revolu-
ton.
Decision Rests With Us.
Should Spain. through her ambassador,
demand the return Of the fair rebel. the
firal decision of the question whether or
not her offense was purely political would
rest with us alone. We would refuse TO
return her unless it should be definitely
shown that she had violated a crime emu
merated in the treaty as establishing the
right OF extradition. Even should she be
round guilty of an extraditable offense-
IN addition to that against the state-and
returned to Spain, she could not then be
punished for her political sin without the
violation OF Spain's treaty obligations with
US. Her rescuers cannot be legally extra
olted because it Is the policy of this coun-
try, as 1t is of others, never to extradfte
one of its own citizens.
While enjoying the safety and security
oHered to her by this country Senorita
CisnerOs would, however be held as strict
ly responsible for any breach which she
might cause in our neutrality oblfpations
win spain as would one of our own citi-
ze1s. Should he strictly regard the nrere
dents recorded in International law the
President might justly expeI her from this
country, but not return her to Spain should
she IN any way compromise the public
peace. France, on these grounds. expelled
some Carlists who were concerned IN The
instruction in Spain twenty-five wears ago
Belgium dismissed Victor Hugo who 70
tired to Brussels during the days of the
commune of Paris, because he made ~,
public announcement that his home wonIS
DE place of refuge for such of the French
as might be prescribed by the commune
6ele1um took the same step in the case of
General Boulanger. ~
Precedents In History.
Many foreign political refugees have
sought asylum in this country. and nead.
less TO say, all of them have found r.
Nest conspicuous of them all was Louis
hcssuth, the celebrated Hungarian patriot
VINO raised the Hungarian revolution
against the tyranny of Austria and NH
was for; ed to leave Hungary after VIZ ~
was regafned by Austria When hjs ex
tradition was asked of Turkey bv Austri.
ne ne was irvited to become the guest of the
United States by the Senate which 60
the warship Mississippi. in 1851. to convey
MN 10 TINS country, where he made roanv
public appearances. '
Another foreign political refugee to tb,s
country was Joseph Bonaparte the s,dast
brother Of Napoleon. whom the lattsr e rdes
ed upon the throne of Spain. In 1s15 afte-
the battle of Waterloo, Bonaparte cama -,
TINS country and lived in Philadelphia and
Bordentown, N. j., for manv vears Dn
fore his departure from Europe he nd Nc
poleon, OF whom Joseph was very fond
promised to meet In this country h,,t The
great conqueror died before this wish Wa
gratified. was
There have been few cases ,uh.ra 49,.
government has been asked to extr.S;.a
such refugees. In 1880 band of Mexican
into Arizona. after having raided ana MIN
dered number of Mexican towns They
were placed in the custody of orr .rrn,I
and although Mexico asked for their re-
turn, they were allowed to remain here
Our government refused also to extradita
Francisco ]. Corzo, who, with a band of
assistants, made similar attack on sew
eral other Mexican towns. The limited
States has been a convenient place If re.
fuge for many unsuccessful reyolutionists
from Central and South America.
Receiving Miss Cisnero..
When President Mckinley received Sem
orita Cisnernos at the White House last
week he violated a precedent established
by President Washington, who declined to
receive MN. Talleyrand, Beaumetz and
Liancourt, French political refugees who
visited this country in 1906. His excuse
was that he did not scare to offend the
French government. President Madison
respected this example set by the father ~
the the. country; and aetifiSd Joseph Bonaparte
House. the latter having stated his intene
ton of reporting pery9nally to the Presi-
dent, Immediately after landing NJ NJ,
York. De IA
although always the, foremost champion
Of the foreign political refugee, Uncle Sam
cessful attempts'fto force the extradition
from England and Catiada of men who had
committed political Ohenses against him
In 1868 the American, vessel '.Joseph r.
Certify sailed from Mexican port for
New York with a cargo of cotton. On the
night after her anchors had been weighed
six men who had taken passage for New
York seized the ship In the name Of the
confederate government The captain and
a part of the crew were set airifr in 4
small boat. with which they afterward
reached shore. Four of the culprits were
afterward found In Liverpool, and their