The record-union., 1897-03-11
AMERICAS FLAG ABROAD.
II Affords No Protection TO Our
Citizens.
How England, France and Germany
Protect Their Citizens at
All Times.

Among the many strange features OF
the foreign policy of the United states
during the last few years. there has
been nothing more incomprehenslblet o
foreigners than the neglect on the part
of the Executive at Washington to in
sist upon proper respect being paid by
the Spanish authorities at Washington
to the rights and privileges of Amerl-
can citizens in Cuba. American prop
erty in that beautiful island has been
destroyed without either cause or COM
pensation. American industries there
have been wiped out of existence
American trade ruined, and, worst OF
all, American citizens Imprisoned with
out trial and even put to death by the
Spanish authorities without any seri-
Gus Intervention in their behalf by their
Government 1t is possible that re-
monstranceS have been presented from
time to time to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs at Madrid. But that they have
been weak and altogether inadequate
in one word, unworthy of the power
and prestige of this great country
is abundantly manifest from the man
ner in which American property con-
tinues to be destroyed and American
citizens continue to be Jailed anG
slaughtered without interruption.
The Spanish authorities in Cuba ap-
pear to believe that they can maltreat
Americans with perfect impunity. anG
it is a somewhat significant fact that
although there are large German, Ital-
ian, French and English interests in the
colony, they 90 not seem to have suf-
fered TO any extent, save from the par
alyZing Of trade and industry due tC
the instruction. At any rate, there is
nothing known of German or English
property having been destroyed wan
tonly, or of German or English citizens
being imprisoned without trial on mere
suspicion and done to death, as has
happened in the case of the unfortu-
nate DR.. Ruiz, who was a citizen of the
United States.
That such a condition of affairs as
this is calculated to anger and exas-
perate people in this country is only
natural, and under the circumstances
it is possible to make allowances fol
men who, boiling with INDICATION al
the shocking sights which they have
Witnessed in Cuba. and at the inactior
of the authorities at Washington in
behalf Of their countrymen en- tbs
island, declare that they are consider
ing the advisability of securing English
naturalization in order to get them
selves respected abroad. Unpalatablt
though the truth may be TO Americans
there's no doubt thatat the present mo-
ment English. German or French citi-
ZenShip carries greater weight in for
eign countries. and obtains infinitely
more consideration and respect thar
that of the United States. This is moi
because the latter is any way inferior
in power and rank to England or t
Germany-on the contrary America
surpasses the latter. at any rate, II
size, population and wealth-but solely
because il is known that the Govern
ments OF Germany, and particularly OF
Great Britain. are ready at all times
10 champion the rights of their respec-
tive citizens, and that an outrage per
petrated on any one of the latter. fol
which immediate reparation is refused
is likely to result in war.
IN ROMAN DAYS.
In olden days-in the times of the
Caesars-the three significant words
"Civis Romanus sum- CT am a Ro-
man citizenD, We're all that was nee.
essary TO insure Difference and respect
&c the man who uttered them no matter
whether ne found himself in Palestine
in Gaul. on the banks of the Danube
where King Charles of Rumania now
rules, or in Spain. The great English
statesman. Pitt, and after him LORD
Palmerston, than whom no English
Minister has ever enjoyed to a greater
degree the affection and good will OF
the part of classes and masses of hi:
fellow countrymen, adapted this proud
Roman boast to modern British use
and made it the keynote of their for
eign policy. Especially was this TIL,
case with Lord Palmerston. who die
not hesitate to express the opinion
even in public, that it was the duty o
the English Government to stand by it.
citizens whenever they got into diff
Guilty abroad, no matter whether they
were in the right or in the wrong
Time enough to straighten out tina
part of the question afterward," he ar
sued. But we have got to start OF
the hypothesis that an Englishman i.
necessarily in the right, and that hi:
cause Is deserving of our champion
ship"
From the point of view of equity anC
justice, this was probably wrong. Blu
SO far as patriotism was concerned, i
was all right. 1t appealed to tn,
heart of every British citizen through
out the vast Empire of Queen Victoria
endowed them with additional back
bone. energy and pluck, and increased
their holiness and their enterprise
since each one Of them was able to fee
that he had at his back the immens,
resources and the vast force of hi.
Government, and that the latter woulC
be ready at any and every moment I,
come to his assistance, to defend hi.
cause and TO extricate him, If need be
at the point of the sword from an,
scrape or difficulty into which he Nigh
have landed himself. II made Eng
lishmen proud Of being able to describ'
themselves as such. and, moreover
caused them to be treated abroad viii
Z greater degree of respect by the au
fhorities than any other foreigner, sine,
Il was known that Lord PalmeTstor
would at once. without moment.
delay. demand reparation and redres,
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