The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-08-08
MODERN PASSPORTS.
NOT LIKE THE OLD PASSPORTS OF
INTERNATIONAL LAW.


INTERNATIONAL LAW.
THE CertihcateB Issued by Uncle Sam
Are simply Vouchers of Citizenship
.,a Evidence of the Holders Right
,o Our Protection.
passports are not required in Eu-
r,re." said the chief Of the passport
hnreau of the department Of state.
That is to say, q passport Is not need
q, 10 secure admission to any of the
countries except Russla and Turkey.
should the tourist intend to remain at
any particular place on the continent
for q long time should he intend to
take ND temporary residence or en-
cage IN business. for instance. then he
Is called upon to establish his iden-
t;,v and this can best be done by
means of passport. The present pass
nort is not the old passport Of ipterna-
,ional law. That was q safe conduct to
9, man, with permission to go through
n country, given by the ruler OF that
country. 1t then became paper given
hy sovereign to q person about to en-
ter upon n voyage requesting the SOW
ercigns Of the countries to be visited to
hermit him to enter. The language
used in our passports now Is to let the
pcrson to whom 1t is issued pass free
IL and to give him all lawful aid and
protection
LAS matter Of fact, the American
nassport has never been issued to
foreigner to travel In this country, as
passport has never been required here
except in brief periods and limited
areas during wartinies. The passports
which are being issued now are certifl-
Gates Of American citizenship and an
evidence OF the person who holds one to
the right Of American protection. The
only real passports, In the old interna-
tional law sense, that the department
of state has ever issued were sent to
Mr.. Polo, the Spanish minister, and
Lord Sackville, the British minister.
They were addressed to officers Of the
United States, giving safe conduct to
the bearers, and were merely formal
ity, having no weight at all, because
anybody is free to travel In the United
States so long as he does not Violate
the law. Occasionally n foreign min
ister about to go away on leave asks
for and receives from the department
one Of these safe conducts, but they
are rare and have not numbered three
in three years.
THE ordinary passport issued by
other governments Is similar to that
which we give our citizens, both in
wording and purpose. Some foreign
countries before recognizing the valid
ity of a passport require that wise
he affixed, denoting that 1t has been ex-
amined and is authentic. The wise In
some cases must be attached in the
country where the passport is issued
by diplomatic or consular officer OF
the government requiring 1t, some
times simply by such officer anywhere
and then again at times at the from
tier Of the country to which admission
is sought. Should an American citizen,
either native or naturalized, require a
passport or identification while abroad
he has the right to call upon the near
est American diplomatic or consular
officer for it.
ut Is safe for an American citizen
to visit any country OF Europe, provid-
ed he has not violated the laws in any
of them. In those nations where mill
tary service is required OF subjects q
native emigratlng to the United States
and taking up citizenship here is free
to return, provided he has not been
summoned to perform the service at
the time he departed, but no natural
lied citizen can return to his mother
country with impunity. T. he violated
any Of the laws, deserted from tho
army, etc., he will probably be appre-
hended by the parent government upon
his return, and the passport win not
protect him, because q man cannot
avoid punishment for the infringement
of the laws OF one country by becom-
Ing citizen Of another. Russia, Tur.
key and, in q less degree, Italy and
Switzerland adhere to the doctrine OG
perpetual allegiance. Switzerland and
Italy do not commonly assert II: against
subjects who have become naturalized
citizens Of the, United States. The de.
partment of state has ,had prolonged
correspondence protesting against the
attitude Of Turkey and Russia, but has
been unable so far to secure the desir.
Cd concessions. s = ..55sse
Our laws. you know, do not extend
beyond the jurisdiction OF this govern.
ment and while we may by statute
proclaim the right OF expatriation we
cannot enforce 1t in either Russia or
Turkey. The car Of Russia and the
sultan OF Turkey, when our citizens
enter their domains, have to be con.
suited concerning thi, wine right.
The tendency OF sallsl ..ern interna-
tional intercourse is in favor Of its
recognition, but that win do one little
good should he be arrested in Russia
or Turkey and thrown into fail. There
ne may, itlis true, reflect upon his Ill.
vine right aud also upon his actual in.
generation. AS a matter OF fact, mel.
ther Russia nor Turkey carries its
power to an extreme. It frequently
happens that o naturalized citizen. re.
turning to his home In either country
IS apprehended Snd thrown into prison.