The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-09-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.

INC CHi!c1 StafeS Likely to Take
aNand Favorable to the Pcrse-
cufed People of Roumania.
(From Our Regular Correspondent.)
Washington, Sept. 24, 1902.
Tho note which the Secretnry of
State has addressed to those Euro.
pean powers which are signatories to
the treaty of Berlin, protesting at
the cruel and unjust treatment Of tho
Jews by the government of Rcu
manic, in absolute violation of the
provisions Of that treaty, must prove
a source of qualification t, every fair
minded citizen of this country. The
condition of these unfortunate people
numbering ab ,ut 100000, or about
one-twelfth the entire population, is
not only deplorablc, but it is q dis
grace to the civilization of Europe.
At the same time, it Is doubtful If
this government would have felt
authorized to take this step were it
not for the f.ct that American immi-
grafton is being seriously affected By
the persecution, thus directly in.
teresting the United States in the
affair. While the dictates of human.
ity would seem to amply warrant the
step taken by Secretary Hay, the
policy of the United States has been
and is to avoid, in so far as may be,
all international complications, espec.
tally in SO far a. they effect other
continents, but in this instance the
proscriptive laws enforced by Rou.
mania against SO large portion of its
population are operating {, drive to
the shores of the United States
class Of people whom the Secretary
describes as necessarily likely to be-
come burden to the community on
which the fugitives may be cast.
That there is proceed snt for the
action of the Secretary may not be
generally known, but it is a matter Of
history that so long ago a. 1872, the
treatment Of the Jews in Roumania,
then under Turkish dominion, called
forth protest from tho United
States, . protest which may at least
be regarded ss having been q con-
tributary factor in producing that
continent which led eventually to
the convent known as tho treaty Of
Berlin, adopted six years later, and
which, it was anticipated, would serve
to ameliorate tho insuferable condi.
tiens then existing: This it did tenn
porarily, but subsequently, a strong
anti semitic feeling developed among
the Roumanian authorities, resulting
in the conditions against which the
United States now protests.
Space will not permit the graphic
description which the Secretary gives
Of these conditions, but the following
10 important. He says, "Granting
that in better end more healthful sur.
roundings the morbid conditions will
eventually change for good, such i'm.
migration Chat Of tho oppressed Jews)
is necessarily, for time, burden to to
the community on which the fuoi-
tives may be cast. Self reliance and
the knowledgs and ability that evolve
the power Of self support must be
developed and, at the same time,
avenues Of employment must be-
opened in quarters where competi-
ton is already keen and opportunities
scarce. The teachings of history
aud the experience Of our own nation
show that the Jews possess in high
degree the mental and morsl qualifi-
cations of conscientious ci,issnhood.
No class Of immigrants is more vel
como to our shores when coming
equipped in mind and body for en-
trance upon the struggle for bread
and inspirited with tho high purpose
TO give the best service of heart and
brain to the land which they adopt Of