The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-01-10
UNWARRANTED INTERFERENCE.

The House foreign affairs committee is
discussing a resolution denunciatory of
Russia because of the latter's cruelty to
the Jews. A subcommittee has been in
structed to draft another and less vigorous
resolution-one which will inform the Gar
that the course of his government in this
matter is watched by the American repub-
lie, but the wording of the resolution will
be such as to avoid giving offense to his
majesty. In its amended shape it is prob
able that the resolution will be adopted and
our minister at ST. Petersburg will en-
deavor to see that it reaches the Car.
1t will hardly be regarded as legitimate
for the United States to prod Russia re-
garding this matter. The affair is not ours,
ana we cannot but think that this nation
oughc not to interfere in the business. 1t
may be well enough for American citizens
as Christians, as humanitarians and in the
cause Of humanity, to petition the Russian
Emperor to accord his Hebrew subjects
better treatment; but this is in no sense
the concern of the American government,
and it will not be surprising if the resolu-
ton referred to shall result in putting an
end to the friendship of the mighty nation
of the north which has from the first stood
by US.
Let US reverse matters and ask ourselves
what we would think, how we would feel
and what we would say if the Gar were to
send such paper to Washington as Con-
gress will send to ST. Petersburg. If his
majesty were so minded he could read US a
lecture which would be almost as severe as
anything which we can say to him. He
could call our attention to the fast that
while he is giving one class OF people notice
that they must depart from his empire, we
are doing our utmost to drive the members
of another race from our shores. Of course
the Chinese are not to be compared with
the Russian Hebrews in any respect, the
latter being in every sense superior; yet,
the principles involved in the treatment of
the two peoples by respective governments
is essentially the same. We don't believe
that Russia has been more cruel towards
| the Jews than Americans have been
towards the Chinese, although we boast OF
the greater enlightenment, the greater
humanity in our government, and the
higher civilization.
Again, suppose the Car should call the
attention OF Congress and the authorities al
Washington to what has been and is being
done in Utah, Russia has never treated
the Jews as badly as our own government
has treated the people Of Utah. True, these
people have not been driven out and forced
to 60 beyond the boundaries of the republic
but in many instances existence has been
attended with much cruelty, hardship and
oppression that we sometimes wonder that
there has not occurred a general he yira.
Then, suppose the Gar were to mention
the fact that the very House of Represen-
tatives which is formulating the resolution
directed to him has passed bill which is
intended to deprive millions of American
citizens of rights quite as dear to them as
those which the Jews have enjoyed III Rus
STA. The Lodge bill once il operation q
large section of the United States would be
turned over to worse rascals than the Czal
employs to enforce his laws, and to the
large majority of the people OF that section
life would be next to uncomfortable.
If it were to occur to the Gear, and he
should take it into his head to be as impu
dent and offensive as we propose to be
toward him, he could point out so many
evils in this country that our people would
blush at their own inhu nanity and brutal
ty, and would be ashamed that they went
abroad to find fault and comp in before
curing wrongs at home