613, 7 | 76–11 & § 1545]
4
from personal oppression, and from the consequences of political offences. But no civilised nation, and our own as little as any, has included within this privilege criminals guilty of crimes proscribed by nature and humanity." Further he said "Although there is a conflict of authorities concerning the expediency of exercising comity towards a foreign government, by surrendering, at its request, one of its own subjects charged with the commission of crime within its territory, and although it may be conceded that there is no national obligation to make such surrender upon a demand therefor, unless it is acknowledged by treaty or by statute law, yet a nation is never bound to furnish an asylum to dangerous criminals who are offenders against the human race." This I think shows a justification for the request we would make to our local Government. In conclusion, I would only say that the new treaty when completed may be retrospective, but even granting that, the difficulty which will in a very short time occur is that the witnesses on either side will become so scattered that it will be impossible to prove either the innocence of the captain and officers or their guilt of the heavy crime laid to their charge.(Applause.)
Mr. GRANVILLE SHARP, in seconding the resolution said—Mr. Chairman and Fellow-Citizens,—Some years ago I was walking in San Francisco with an American Colonel, a fine old man, one of the Pioneers. I remarked upon the apparent confidence with which ladies mingled in the rough crowd without escort. He said "A woman may walk from one end to the other of this city, during any hour of the day or night, with perfect safety." Upon my expressing surprise, considering the very mixed elements of which Californian Society was formed, he answered, “Sir, if any woman were to appeal to me for protection from insult offered to her in this street, I should kill the man." But, I said, you might be hanged for murder. His answer "No I shouldn't," was given in such a calm, dispassionate, and yet earnest manner, that it was evident he had good reason for the statement which he made. This chivalrous and heroic sentiment of protection is not confined to California. It sprang from a much older stock. It was the coarse rough berry-bearing branch, upon which has been grafted, in the United States and Britain, Constitutional Government, order, and individual freedom, beneath whose shelter there have sprung up in both countries fruits of power and flowers of gentleness which, although strangely, sadly blended with darker hues, have formed, and do increasingly form the prominent and distinctive features of national and individual character. In San Francisco I noticed that amongst every gathering of perhaps only ten or a dozen there was one or more of marked superiority of stature. There were indeed giants in those days. In both our countries there are giants now; giants in the height and breadth and depth of their devotion and self-sacrifice—men who move and women who melt the masses of selfishness of which the world is full, who ever seem to carry a contagion of good influence about them. These are the agents of that blessed sentiment of mercy which has brought us together now, and which in its highest mood found fitting expression in the words of St. Paul, "Who is weak and I am not weak? Who is offended and I burn not?"
It would be foreign to the object of this meeting to give any encouragement to a weak and foolish "humanitarianism," which often interposes between a rascal and his righteous punishment; which restrains the lash where the lash is the only likely cure. That portion of society which has travelled, or resided abroad, and become familiar with men and manners outside of England, will generally feel a disposition to sustain individuals in righteous acts of self-protection, although involving inconvenient consequences to the aggressors. A sentiment at least of power in reserve is essential to discipline, and in circumstances of isolation, as in a ship at sea, circumstances occasionally arise where the force majeure has to be appealed to. The front or palm of the hand is soft and yielding whilst the back is hard with knuckles. These form the thick bosses of the armour of man's strength, a weapon worn without encumbrance, ready in an instant, and which entails no polishing or preparation. Not lethal, whilst effective in its operation. Those who get all their fighting done for them, or who fight with pocket, pen, or tongue are sometimes too severe on those who, more primitively armed, use only those instruments with which nature has provided them. I trust, Mr. Chairman, that it will not be for one moment supposed that our meeting to-day implies any censure on American or British, home or colonial authorities. The
189
613, 7 | 76–11 & § 1545]
4
from personal oppression, and from the conse quences of political offences. But no civilised nation, and our own as little as any, has included within this privilege criminals guilty of crimes proscribed by nature and humanity.". Further be said Although there is a conflict of authorities concerning the expediency of exer- cising comity towarda a foreign government, by surrendering, at its requeat, one of its own subjects charged with tue commission of crime within its territory, and although it may be con- ceded that there is no national obligation to make such surrender upon a demand therefor, unless it is acknowledged by treaty or by statute law, yet a nation is never bound to furnish an asylum to dangerous criminals who are offenders against the human race," This I think showS a justification for the request we would make to our local Government. In conclusion, I would only say that the new treaty when com- pleted may be retrospective, but even granting that, the difficulty which wast in a very short time occur 19 that the witnesses on eitber side will beccare so scattered that it will be impossible to prove either the innocence of the captain and officers or their guilt of the heavy crime laid to their charge.~~(Applause.)
Mr. GRANVILLE SHARP, in seconding the resolution said-Mr. Chairman and Fellow- Citizens,-Some years ago I was walking in San Francisco with an American Colonel, a fine old man, one of the Pioneers. I remarked upon the apparent confidence with which ladies mingled in the rough crowd without escort. He said "A woman may walk from one end to the other of this city, during any hour of the day or night, with perfect safety." Upon my expressing surprise, considering the very mixed elements of whiob Californian Society was formed, he answered, “Sir, if any woman were to appeal to me for protection from insult offered to her in taia strert, I should kill the man." But, I said, you might be hanged for murder. His answer "No I shouldn't," was given in such a calm, dispassionate, nod yet earnest manner, that it was evident be had good reason for the state- ment which he made. This chivalrous and heroic sentiment of protection is not confined to California. It sprang from a much older stock. It was the coarse rough berry-bearing branch, upon which has been grafted, in the United States and Britain, Constitutional Government, order, and individual freedom, beneath whose shelter there have sprung up in both conn- tries fruits of power and flowers of gentle- ness which, although strangely, sadly blended with darker hues, have formed, and do in- creasingly form the prominent and distinctive features of national and individnal character, In San Francisco I noticed that amongst every gathering of perhaps only ten or a dozen there was one or more of marked superiority of stature. There were indeed giants in those days, In both our countries there are giants now; giants in the height and breadth and depth of their devotion and self-sacrifice-men who move and women who melt the masses of scl- fishness of which the world is full, who aver seem to carry a contagion of good influence about them. These are the agents of that blessed sentiment of mercy which has brought us together now, and which in its highest mood found fitting expression in the words of St. Paul, "Who is weak and I am not weak ? Who is offended and I burn not?" It would be foreiga to the object of this meeting to give any en- couragement to a weak and foolish "bumani- tarianism," which often interposes between a rascal and bis righteous punishment; which restraina the lush where the lash is the only likely care. That portion of society which bus travelled, or resided abroad, and become familiar with men and manners ontside of England, will generally feel a disposition to sustain indivi. duals in righteous acts of self-protection, although involving inconvenient consequences to the aggressors. A sentiment at least of power in reserve is essential to discipline, and in oircumstances of isolation, as in a skip at sea, circumstances occasionally arise where the force major has to be appealed to. The iront or palm of the band is soft and yielding whilst the back is hard with knuckles. These form the thick bosses of the armpar of man's strength, a weapon worn without encumbrance, ready in au instant, and which entails no polisb- ing or preparation. Not letbal, whilst effective in its operation. Those who get all their fight- jug done for them, or who fight with pocket. pen, or tongue are sometimes too severe on those who, more primitively armed, use only those instruments with which nature has pro- vided them. I trust, Mr, Chairman, that it will not be for one moment supposed that our meet- ing to-day implies any censure on American or British, home or colonial authorities. The
189
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