The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-13
RUSSIA DON'T CARE A RAP.
The United States Constitution Cuts
no Figure in That Country.

The United states Constitution Cuts
no Figure in That Country.
Washington, July 12.--Recent diplomat
ic correspondence Of the state depart
ment contains a translation of a letter Of
thanks from Mutshuhito, the emperor of
Japan, to President Cleveland, on account
of the good offices of this government to-
wards Japanese subjects in China, which
the emperor says, mot only tended to
mitigate the seventies and hardships of
war and finally promote the successful is
sue of the negotiations for peace, but
served to draw still closer the bonds of
friendship and good neiRhborhoud which
happily unite our two countries"
The diplomatic correspondence also
contains a series of letters between the
state department and the American min
ister, Mr.. Breckenridge, at st. Peters,
burg, on the subject Of the refusal of Rus
sian consular officers to wise United
states passports in favor of Jews. This
spondence includes letter from
Prince LObanOff, dated at St. Petersburg
July 8, 1895, in which the American minis
ter is informed in reply to an expression
of opinion from him that the refusal in
terposed by the Russian consular authori-
ty to the request for a wise is contrary
TO the American constitution, which does
not allow that citizen of the United
States should be deprived of his rights
by reason of the faith he processes;
that the brOadest spirit of toleration for
all cults forms the basis of Russian laws
the Jewish religion is no more prohibited
in Russia than in the United States; II
is even legally recognized here and en-
joys certain privileges. But when for
motive of internal order Russian law
raises obstacles to the entrance of GER
tain categories of foreigners UPON our
territory, the Russian consuls, who can
neither be ignorant Of, nor overlook the
law, are in the necessity of refusing to
wise to persons who they know belong
III this category"
Prince Lobanoff says further: LAS to
the American constitution, I must con-
fess that it seems to me to be here be-
side the question. The article of the con-
sutution which you are good
enough to mention and which prescribes
that no religion is prohibited in the
United States is by the very nature of
things placed outside of all prejudice by
the consular authorities. He has neither
to prohibit, not authorize the exercise in
America of any cult and the fact of his
wise being accorded or refused, does not
encroach upon the article in question
The refusal of the wise is not at all an
attack upon amy established religion; 1t
IS the consequence of a foreign law of
an administrative character, which only
has its effect outside of the territory of
the union.
The views of this government, as pre-
sented to Russia by Minister Brecken-
ridge, are confirmed by the state depart
ment. The documents referred to the
state department, include a statement
from the American minister to the effect
that this government cannot assent to
certain statements of fact made by Rus
sian consular officials, tending as they
do Ito humiliate within its own territory
by inVidious and disparaging distinctions
a class embracing many of its most hon
ored and valuable citizens, though in
such cause 1t would contend with equal
zeal for single. though the humblest
citizen of the land "