Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-06
A VOICE FROM JERUSALEM.

American citizens living in Jerusa'
lem held meeting ON November
80th, 1896, at the U. s. consulate FOL
the purpose Of discussing their siiua'
ton In the Turkish empire. An ao'
dress was presented by DR.. M. r.
franklin, containing an appeal to the
President OF the United States foI
more efficient protection for United
States citizens In the sultau's domin'
ions.
A copy OF the address has been re-
ceived at this office. 1t points out that
the situation OF the U. 8. citizens re-
siding In Turkey mas been rendered ex'
tremely perilous by au order Issued
to the diplomatic officers TO
withhold the government protection
from those who may reasonably be
suspected Of not having the Intention
of returning to the United States. This
order was presumably intended to pre-.
vent Christian subjects Of the Turkish
sultan but naturaiized In the United
States from claiming government pro-
lection while residing In turkey
But DR.. franklin points out that 1t
also operates against another class
bona Hde citizens, but temporarily
located in Turkey.
The order, the address says, 10 equiv
lent to branding this class OF citizens
with the mark OF Cain, 30 that who.
ever meets them may slay Them. 1t Is
an act OF expatriation, a power not
granted by the Constitution, nor by
any act of Congress, to be exercised by
any officer over their fellow citlzsns.
Its FORMULATION at this time is said to
be impolitic and cruel, and IL has nd
dei fuel to the ever increasing hos.
tiiity manifested toward foreigners,
and more especially to citizens OF the
United States.
The appeal closes as follows;
To sum up in few words; The laws
governing United States citizens domi-
ciled in Turkey, and in semi.eiviliand
and barbarous countries, difier most
essentially from those which govern our
Christian countries. AS has been stated,
we arc here within the extra territorial
Jurisdiction OF the United states, and
subject to its authority alone. Such juris-
diclion over its citizens never was, and is
not now exercised by the United States
in any country in Europe.
Therefore, we contend that this order
IL in contravention TO law and Ia not APP
plicable 10 our countrymon domiciled in
Turkey, while the existing treaty bo-
tween the United States and the sultan
remains in force.
II Is arbitrary, and contrary to law, in
thai 1t deprives Innocent citizens OF their
rights without trial, and because 1t vlrtu-
ally abrogates thetreaty, power vested
only In the President and Senate OF the
United States.
All of which is most respectfully sub
mitted to the consideration OF the Prosi-
dent OF the United States.
1t is perfectly evident, as is ALTO
pointed out in the address, that moth.
ing Is 10 bumilistiug and painful to
the patriotic citizen "a an Insult offered
to his country; and that takes place
whenever the rights of its citizens nre
permitted, with impunity, to be tram
pied under foot, In violation and def.
ance Of treaty obligations. Aud
nothing is so sure to bring govern.
ment, possessing all the elements OF
greatness and strength, into universal
contempt, az a cowardly AMI slavlsh
submission to repeated and aggravated
insults and wrongs. But for severa
years 1t has been the complaint
OF u. s. citizens that they have not
been able to obtain protection in Tur-
key in the same manner as citizens OF
some other foreign countries. In the
case VI residents of Utah travelling in
those parts OF the world, American
consuls, 1t is charged, have sometimes
refused even common courteslss,
II not actually sided with the kama
kams and other petty Turkish officers
in harassing them in various ways.
Tho Stars and Stripes should be the
symbol all over the world OF human
liberty and oil that is good in human
government, and nowhere Ia 1t more
needed to demonstrate the power OF a
sovereign lpeople than In Turkey,
where the people arc serfs. 1t would
be the beet obieBs lesson to them to
show them that tseir tyrants are
powerless against government built
on the popular will. 1t would inspiTe
them with hope and selr.fellsuce.
The United States government has
a great mission TO fulfil among the
nations OF the earth, and ono part Of
its duty lie to protect its citizeus where
ever they go in the peaceful pursuit Of
their lawful business. The failure 10
do SO is betrayal OF the trust placed
IN liz hands by the people ana by the
Almighty.