The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-22
BATTLE. SATURDAY. AUG. &c.
THE REASON WHY.
Mr.. Abe Spring, in recent communities
fcr, sa,a.

Mr.. Abe Spring, in recent communities
ton, SAID:
II is highly proper for us 10 protect ourselves
against an influx of undesirable immigrants,
but IL is certainly our duty To forbid power
which wishes TO be recognized as civilized 10 ex-
pei her subjects without the least provocation.
polite note from official sources TO the effect
that a civilized government is expected to pro-
vide maintenance for her subjects and not 70
push them on to other nations charitable
wards, would soon bring the ear to his senses.
hold that, instead OF meditating over the ad-
Visibility OF admitting or rejecting the Russian
Jews, we should do better to use our influence
in compelling Russia to keep them and treat
them fairly.
Mr.. Spring means well, but his idea is
utterly impracticable. Under interna-
tional law and custom the United States
has no more business to instruct or
threaten Russia as to how she shall treat
her subjects than Russia had IS years ago
to instruct or admonish us regarding negro
slavery. American citizens in their pri-
vate capacity venture to contribute to the
Irish Home Rule fund, but the American
government has no more business to adj
dress polite note'' to Lord Salisbury
concerning his coercion policy in Ireland
than Salisbury would have to instruct our
government to repeal the Mckinley tariff
and enact "free trade" Non-intervention
In the affairs of foreign governments is the
rule of this republic. We have no more
business 10 forbid Russia to expel her SUBJ
jects than she has to forbid our exclusion
of them from the United States.
No other policy than this is practicable
between nations. 1t is not the duty or
business of our government to reform Rus
STA, or threaten her If she refuses to re-
form. We can pray for Russias regenera-
ton, we can treat her unfortunate exiles
with humanity and sympathy, but it is
not our duty as a government to remon-
strate with Russia upon her domestic
policy; 1t is our duty to mind our own
business strictly in international affairs
No government can afford to lecture other
governments concerning their domestic
treatment of their subjects, or demonstrate
against their internal policy of admins
tration. As government we have no bust
ness to instruct Russia in her duty; as a
people we can treat the Russian Jews with
as much liberality and humanity as our
own welfare will warrant
Ii will be observed that the English
people through public meetings manifest
their sympathy for Russia, but the English
government does not, and will not, because
1t cannot without violating the sound
principles of international usage and non
intervention in the domestic affairs of
other governments. It is no more the
right or duty of either the American or
English government to officially protest
against the Russian treatment of the Jews
than it is our right and duty to officially
protest against the practice of polygamy TO
the Sultan of Turkey. AS a people there is
no limit to our sympathy and compassion
for the Russian Jews, but as a government
we are powerless TO interfere.
In the Greek revolution of fS24-27 not
even Henry Clay's eloquence over the
Turkish massacre of Scio tempted our
government 20 desert Washington's posi-
tion of non-interventionw with the affairs of
foreign nations. England, in the mast
made herself the gamecock of Europe bv
her policy of intervention, but England
has learned better and she does not inter-
fere nowadays. except when her COM
merce and the safety of her Indian
Empire seems to be threatened by the adj
vance of Russia.