The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-03
The Way Out.

An esteemed friend in Iowa sends us the
form OF an abjuration OF American citizen
ship which has been devised by Mr.. LIE
GRAND BYINaToN OF that State. On June 1 3
Mr.. BY1NaToN went before Mayor F. X.
srEBBINs Of Iowa City and made affidavit
to the intentions expressed In tho remark
able declaration here subjoined:
II hereby relinquish all claims to the protection
Of tho United States Government. and on my oath
reneunce and abjure allegiance to the same. Until
lean with diligence mako for myself homo else
where, 1 remain q deni7en only OF this country
Domestic influences only have held me to this inhos.
psbe and picayuno locality for tho last thirty
years
This act of voluntary e1patrlation proceeds from
tho revolution backward effected by the Washington
Government, whereby II has basely repudiated tho
great Declaration OF July 4, 1910: has brazenly
trampled under foot the fundamental doctrine OF
the Federal Constitution that all rghtful govern.
ment 10 by tho consent OF tho people, and has reck
lessly turned back for ono hundred and twenty
three years the dial that marks the worlds progress
toward political freedom. retroGrade dobauch.
mont OF the national character. by precautionary.
tho brutal desecration-of the national authority,
that will neither excuse nor in any wsy aid or
encourage LIE GRAND BYISGroS."
Mr.. BYINaToN is an anti-cxpansionist
and Aguinaldan sym pathizer Of the same
type as ATKINSON, BowLEs. GARRISON and
GoDKIN. Indeed, 1t Is probably by the writ
ings OF these men that he has been per-
suaded to carry his ideas on the territorial
question to their logical conclusion, and to
relinquish his citizenship and renounce his
allegiance to the Government and the flag
OF the United States.
Voluntary expatriation is right clearly
recognized in section 09e OF the Revised
Statutes OF the United States
whereas. the right of e1patriation is a natural
and inherent right OF all people. Indispensable to
Che enjoyment of the rights Of life liberty and the
pursuit Of happiness: and whereas. in the recog-
milton OF this principle this Government has freely
received emiSrants from all nations and invested
them with the rights OF citizenship; and whereas.
ITS claimed that sueh American citizens. with their
descendants arc subjects of foreign States, owing
allegiance to the Governments thereof and whereas
Il 10 necessary to the maintenance of public peace
that this claim Of foreign allegiance shall be
promptly and finally disallowed: Therefore, any
declaration, instruction. opinion. order decision
OF any officer Of the United States which denies re.
strcts. impairs questions the right OF eIpatria
ton 10 declared inconsistent with tho fundamen tai
principles of the Republic"
Such Is the language OF the Act OF July
27, 1868. While this authoritative decla-
ration Of the right Of self-expatriation was
primarily intended to apply to the cases OF
persons renounclng foreign allegiance to
become citizens Of the United States, 1t is
obvious that the principle must apply like
wise to American citizens weary OF their
allegiance or disgusted with our national
Institutions and desiring to become citi-
tens or subjects Of some other nation.
Yet we are by no means sure that Mr..
bYINGToN's remuneration will be legally
valid until it is completed by actual bodily
departure. The surest way for him, as for
ATKINSON, GARRISON, BowLEs and GoDKIS,
TO get rid OF American citizenship Is to get
out OF American territory forever