New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-22
ENGLAND AND ALIENS.
She No Longer Offers an AsyEum to
Foreign Fugitires.

Fer many years has England been Gels
brated as the only country in the world whera
foreign fEgitives whose offences did not come
within the provisions Of her treaties OF extra
ditiOn were sure of an asylum and free from
any uOlestation so IonS as they Obeyed the laws
of the land that the radical departure from thi7
policy. involved by the Alien immigration biz
just passed by the House OF Commons with al
overwhelming majority. deserves more than 9
passing mention.
BritOns have always been accustomed to pride
themselves on the fact that the United King
dom was a haven Of refuge TO victims OF tyranny
and persecution abroad. that its doors were
wide open to every stranger, without any re-
striction whatsoever, and that the hospitality o,
its soil was freely accorded 10 all foreigners, NJ
matter what their race. color or creed. on the
understanding. Of course, that II they rendered
themselves guilty OF a felony misdemeanOr
they would be subjected to the same pains and
penalties as the people among whom they hal
east their lot and set UP their tent. Indeed. 50
thoroughly vas this policy considered by the
English as part and parcel of their national prn-
ciples. that. sooner than permit any departure
therefrOu. they preferred to frustrate every at
tempt by the powers OF the old world to or
ganize concerted action against anarchy. In
sistins that they We're unable TO prevent the
foreign anarchists from making their homes
and even their headquarters. in England so
long as they refrained from any criminal act
there. and were secure from extraditfon-
This. Of course. has led 70 much bitter abuse
Of Great Britain abroad where on every oc-
casion of any anarchist outrage the responsible
T. had been attributed TO her for harborfng these
foes Of law and order within her borders More
than once, indeed. France has been on the point
of going to with England on this account
notably in 1S'is at the time Of the Orsinf bomb
explosion in Paris. when it was shown that the
Italian cOnspirators had Matched in England the
nefa~iOus plot against the life OF NAPOLEON III
which had resulted in the loss of twenty rvss
and that not only were there no means OF pu--
shing the confederates Of Orsini who had re-
NAMED in London, or Of expeIIing them. but
that Parliament was not disposed to modify the
English law IS TO render them arnenable 70
justice. Rather than give way in the matter
the people preferred to sacrifice their favorits
minister, Lord Palmerston. who had connnnittaJ
himself to compliance with the demands o.
France. and to face the probability OF an armed
conflict with the latter, that too. at a moment
when Great Britain was Just emerging from the
terrible strain imposed upon her by the Indian
MUtiny- I may add that the one point-the onIv
one. helieve-on which Lord BeaConsHeId and
William sEwart Gladstone were known To r,uv-
agree. was in their opposition to everything thar
could be construed as in any way affecting the
time honored policy OF the wide open door To an
foreigners seeking the hospitality OF AIbon.s
shores.
England has been the last OF the powers Il,
maintain this attitude. Every other nation.
nay. even her own colonies. have by degr.as
been led TO adopt measures for the restriction
OF foreign immigration. Switzerland which for
merly free the United Kingdom In