Evening star., 1928-04-12
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

Of impressment from American vessels
upon the high seas. Referring 70 Brit
ish royal proclamations, he said:
To deny the right Of the King 20
issue them would be as unreasonable
as to deny his right 10 send a card Of
invitation TO one OF his subjects 70 dine
with him on ST. Georges day. but IN
neither case is the subject bound by
law TO accept the invitation.
1t is vain for the Britons 70 say these
men are the Kings subjects How are
they the Kings subjects? BY British
laws And what are the British laws
to us on the high seas? No more than
the laws of Otaheite We Americans
must say that they are our fellow cit
liens by our laws. They have sworn
allegiance TO the United States. We
have admitted them to all the rights
and privileges Of American citizens. and
by this admission We have contracted
with them TO support and defend them
in the enjoyment OF all such rights.
Our laws acknowledge no divine right
of kings greater than those Of sub
jects. nor any indefeaSible duty Of sub
jects. more than Of kings. to obedience.
These remnants Of feudal tyranny and
ecclesiastical superstition have been
long since exploded IN America The
King claims them 70 make them slaves.
The President Of the United States
by his Office and his oath. not 20 en-
slave them. but to protect them and
preserve them free. Our laws are as
good as British laws
would President Adams not have
added today "or italian lawS2"}
"Our citizens have as good right 70
protection as British subjects" argued
Mr. Adams. "and our Government Is
as much bound TO afford it. What 10
the impreSsment Of seamens II Is no
better than what the civilians call
plagiat,' crime punishable with death
by all civilized nations. as one OF the
most audacious and punishable offenses
against society. 1t was 50 considered
among the Hebrews: He that Stealeth
a man and Selleth him. or II he De
found in his hand. he shall surely be
put to DEATH" Exodus, xxxil71
The laws OF Athens, ike those OF the
Hebrews. Condemned the plagiary, or
man siealer 10 death. and the laws Of
Rome pronounced the same Judgment
against the same outrage.
But 10 descend from the Hebrews.
Greeks and Romans TO the British.
What IS the impreSsmsnt OF Seanen
in England. by their own laws. in their
own ports. from their own ships, with
in four seas. or anywhere upon the
high seaSa 1t is said TO be q usage,
So where ship money loans and
oenevoiences' in the reign Of Charles the
First, and arguments were urged by his
courtiers 10 prove their legality. as
plausible as any that have been pro-
dueed by Judge Foster in favor OF i'm
preSSment."
So war followed because Great Brit
ian refused 20 recognize American
rights TO protect our own citizens. Il
is universally held that q ship Is q
part OF the territory Of the nation
whose flag she legally carries, and that
invasion Of a ship is invasion OF the
country Piagiat OF an American trap
ped abroad does not differ from man
stealing on the high seas or slave
stealing upon African coasts Our posi-
tion in 1912 did not rest upon the 9ueS-
tion OF technical invasion and impress
ment 50 much as Qpon the fact cs
plagiat OF American eittzenS-natiVs or
naturalized~-no matter where il cc-
CURED, Have We lost the spirit OF 1872
The Kelly joint resolution IS only =
recommendation 10 our Executive. IN
whom alone lies the negotiasinr OF All
treaties. Il will not lead 10 war With
Premier MuSSolini. but il miSht lead
to our Stricter adherence 20 the PEND
ing doctrine OF "nationalitieS origins"
IN restricting immigration from eoun-
tries refusing 20 recognize our eiGisen-
ship rights, II such attitude gives prom
iSe Of increased friction in protecting
our naturaliSsd citizens. not 10 mention
our natINs~eorn Americans cf foreign
descent So argtle the CfsnareSSY,,s,,
and the measure viii come up for debate
within few days,
tConNgtSht 1898 nv Paul Y CoiNpsN