Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-05

| subject OF an enemy within nations
borders at the time Of the breaking out
| of hostilltles a prisoner OF war OF such
nation. and his property would be sub
feet to oonnscatlon. There has been
but one conspicuous instance of the
enforcement OF this semi-barbarous
doctrine during the present century;
this was when the rupture occurred
between England and France after the
treaty of peace of Amiens in 1902.
when Napoleon ordered the arrest OF
all Engllshmen between the ages of
sixteen and sixty found in his do
mains. to be held as hostages for
Frenchmen who might be captured on
his vessels after war had been de-
clared and they had not heard of IL.
The modern practice Is to allow the
enemy's subjects to remain undls-
turbed so long as their conduct is un-
Objectionable. and subject to expulsion
at any time after reasonable notice up
on n breach OF the terms being made
or II they from some other cause be-
come Objectionable or source of peril.
Their property Is also exempt from
seizure or injury during such time.
1t is quite well remembered by those
who were old enough at the time and
kept posted, that large numbers of
Germans remained in France during
the trying period of 1901, and were
not molested in the least by the French
authorities or people. In many cases
this was largely due to the untiring
efforts OF the American minister, Elihu
Il. Washburn. who stayed at his post
throughout the war, and by his
determination and daring succeeded In
having the modern as against the
medieval doctrine upheld. It is also
fair to say that he was ably assisted In
his humane efforts by the French au-
thorities. and due to them to add that
no German residing in France. nor the
property of any such, was even threat
ened or menaced by them. although on
some OCCASIONS the populace were hard
to restrain and were not without con
siderable justification for a ."break" It
such times. II is shown to be n fact
that to distinguished Americans of
century ago does the credit belong OF
bIfdhlng upWH the Stf1Ct ana truei
Interpretation of old-time practices re-
garding the matter spoken of.
OF course the aliens who remain In
country which is at war with their own
are subjected to greater restrictions
than in time of peace. No matter how
great their commerce with their own
country, It must be broken off until
peace is established. An American hav-
ing a partnership relation in Spain or
Cuba, for example, must dissolve 1t, at
least for the time being. Another in
convenience is, being barred from prose-
cutting claims In the courts OF justice
of the country where the alien remains.
II appears to be more u matter of un-
Outstanding and advancement on the
part of each of the powers where up
to-date methods prevail than anything
else--the more advanced the nation the
greater the degree Of liberality and
tolerance shown in such cases; there
e-still many nations of the earth that
are wholly barbarous. and others with
one foot resting timidly upon the soil
of civilization, while the other is planted
firmly upon the ground out OF which
came the noxlous growths which our
country and many others have extir-
pated. From the advanced class only is
anything In the way of tolerant treat
ment to alienst to be expected at an,
time, especially when there Is war.