Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-04-15
eMlN's IyHUMANITY TO MAN.

Of the document it proposes TO for
ward to the Emperor OF Russia, and
which is to be numerousiy signed 10y
Amsrican citizens, in the hope of
inducing that potentate to anchor
ate the condition of the unfortunates
consigned 10 the dreaded region.
We are requested to give space in
our columns to The petition, which
has historic value, and we conse-
quently annex it hereto:
TO us In,perfai lfqjesty the Car Of
al ne RisssiaS:
1--WE who PETITION your Majesty are
citizens q the United States Of Amer
ira
awe belong to a people who have
long been bound by the natural ties OF
sympathy to the great Russian nation
and 10 the Cars clothed with her ma
iesty, who WELD her power and shape
her destiny
''It is your Majesty's province to do
for Russia what we, in a certain sense.
do for ourselves; and though the
methods Of governmental action are
different. the aims OF good govern
ment are the same; the strength and
true grandeur OF the State and the
welfare and happiness ofthe peopleS
HFor these things nations are organ
lied and laws are decreed and execut-
ed; for these things great Princes in
the fear Of God exercise imperial
sway, and Presidents are appointed.
'Difer though they may in outward
form, your government and our gov
ernment are brothers in their noblest
duties.
s'Nor are our fraternaI professions
an empty feeling; we remember, and
we can never forget, how the Car, by
his faith in the stability Of she Ameri-
can Union and by the presence OF Rus
sian ships in the harbor OF New York,
strengthened the Republic when il
was supposed, by less far-sighted
soyereigns and statesmen. to be on the
verge Of ruin. Our danger, then.
arose from an evil which your illust-
rious father, Alexander II, by his ex-
ample, helped our ilIustrious Presi-
dent. Abraham Lincoln, TO remove;
and the great Prince who liberated
the Russian serfs and the great Citi-
zen who freed the American slaves,
by kindred deeds OF humanity, linked
their countries together by enduring
lies.
"Shariug, therefore, as the past has
taught US 70 do, in the thoughts that
concern the glory and happiness Of
your people, we have been moved to
bring to yeu, with good greetings, this
petition:
ssThat your majesty VIII personally
take note OF widespread interest
among Us. in The workings and effects
Of the Siberian exile system.
''We do not forget the penal reforms
already accomplished in the Russian
empire. We are not blind to the mem
tai aud physical sulTerings that OF ne
csssity are a Part OF Any system OF
punishment; for crime against indi-
viduaIs, society, or the safe; nor are
we unmindful OF the need Of reforms
which are actively engaging the atten-
zion OF philanthropis-s in our own
methods Of dealing with convicts. In
this We are giving expression to the
feeling Of friendly people, that in
the punishment Of some OF her sub
iects Russia, whether from causes pc
culiar 10 her people, or on account Of
ancient custom, is not in harmony
with the humanizing sentiments OF
the age. It is our wish that by the
wisdom and power OF the Gar and
the favor Of God, Russia NAV grow in
the admiration and sympathy OF the
American people and OF the whole
civilized world"
The document IS adroitly worded.
being decidedly diplomatic, and its
mild statement is much better than
merely informing the Car that he
is a fiint-hearted despot and on ght
TO be ashamed Of himself for his
barbsrous treatment OF Siberian
exiles. That is exactly what it
means, however, under the sugar.
Itis Ike administering a small piece
OF asafe-ida la a dipperfull Of syrup
in the hope Of deceiving the patient
into the belief that he is swallowing
unadulteEated molasses.
The projectors and operators Of
this movement are to commended
for their humanity, in pleading for
the unfortunate victims who are
ground under the iron wheels Of a
relentless despotism. Their success
IN achieving their object is, how
ever, exceedingly doubtful, and it is
lucky for the chief pleaders that
they VIII not be within the reach
and Jurisdiction OF the Gar when
the soft spoken communication
reaches him, else they might be
given an opportunity to test the rig
ors Of the Siberian climate if not
the sharpness Of the thongs OF the
prison whip.
Perhaps the Emperor Of all the
Russias is posted about some things
that do not seem exactly right in
this republic, where justice. free
dom and humanity have universal
theoretic sway. II so, he might
remark:
81 had been thinking for some
time past Of sending a petition to
the American rulers for the purpose
Of inducing them to give better
treatment to q class Of your people
called Latter-dsy Saints. They
have been robbed, peeled, pillaged.
driven from their homes and many
Of them murdered, and I have
never known CT their wrongs having
been redressed.
4 observe also that many fami-
lies that have been established from
ten years to half a century have
been broken up and disrupted,
while their heads have been thrown
into prison, because they declined
to disown them; many tender hearts
have | understand, been torn, and
many premature graves filled by
these strange doings.
1T has been even eredibly
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