The semi-weekly messenger., 1902-10-03
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1902.
SECRETARY HAYS PROTEST AND
ROUMANIA'S ATTITUDE.

1t is said Roumania will act upon the
munication to the powers Of Europe by
putting a stop to the emigration of
Jews from that country to the United
States, without mitigating the hard
ships she imposes upon these unfor-
tunate people hereafter to be forcibly
will abate the nuisance and remedy the
grievance compained Of regarding the
coming of these undesirable emigran:s,
but it will in no way alleviate their
sufferings at home, but will, in fact,
increase them, because of the cutting
eff of any hope of escaping from their
unbearable conditions The gravamen
Of Roumania's conduct toward our gov
ernment was the forcing of these pau
pers to seek asylum in the United
StateG from the cruel treatment at
home. and while Secretary Hays note
took cogniZance of this treatment from
a humanitarian standpoint, It's results
and not the i'll usage itself were the
basis of his protest and the only rea-
son, from a diplomatic point of view,
which he could assign for his action
The greatest oppression OF a class of
its citizens by an European power, un-
less evil resulted to US therefrOm would
give our government no excuse for in
terfering. While Secretary Hays OBJ
1ect was to better the conditions of the
Roumanian Jews as Well as to prevent
their immigration to the United States,
he has probably failed in the former
object.
The powers of Europe who estab-
iished Roumania and guaranteed her
integrity as barrier against Russia's
advance to the Golden Horn are the
ones to see that she does no: violate
the laws of civilization in the treat
ment of any class of her subjects. She
Is their child and they should see to it
that she behaves herself in a civilized
manner, not only in her intercourse
with other governments. but regarding
ner internal affairs. But these powers
Will hardly go to the extent of coercion
Roumania is not a great power geo.
graphically or physically, but from a |
strategic point of view she is. so far |
as concerns affairs in southeastern Eu- |
rope. The triple alliance-Germany,
Austria and Italy-dare not take too |
harsh steps against this insignificant |
little kingdom which they have raised |
as a check on Russia's creates. am.
bition. and the Roumanians know this. |
1t is said that besides the consciousness
these Roumanians have of their i'm
portance in preventing the disturbance |
of the balance of power in Europe, |
they are the proudest people on that |
continent. the Spaniard not excepted |
They claim for themselves, and il is |
said not without some semblance of |
truth, TO be the only genuine descen- |
dants of the old Romans the con-
querers of the world. Elsewhere the |
descendants of the Caesars have |
perished or their blood so amalgamated |
with that of other races as to be lost, |
but here the strain has been kept pure. |
Many of the Roumanians of today even |
retain the Dress and the idiomS of |
speech of the old Romans, of whose |
people know their power and their I'M |
portance to the balance of Europe as |
against the Russians and they will take !
advantage of it to prevent any coercive |
measures by the allied powers.
Mr. Hays action deserves the plau |
dts OF the civilized world, but we are |
afraid he has not succeeded in helping |
the dOwntrodden Jews of Roumania. |