The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-18
U. S. TO TIE POWERS
Protest to the signers of the Treaty
of Berlin Against Persecution
of Roumanian Jews. -
A Remarkable State Paper by Sec
rotary Hay-The U. S. and OBJ
iectionable Immigrants.

Washington, Sept. 1S.-With the double
purpose of protecting the long suffering
Jews of the Balkan states and of avertinS
the very present peril of the immigration
into the United States Of horde of pau
pers Secretary Hay has adopted the I'M
usual course of appealing to the powers Of
Europe to force of their children to
observe the obligat ions of humanity In the
case Of the Jews.
The appeal takes the form of a state
paper, remarkable in several respects,
which has been dispatched in Identical
form to every ambassador and minister Of
the United States residing in of the
countries of Europe which were parties
to the famous treaty Of Berlin of 1878.
namely: Great Britain. France Germany,
Russia. Italy. Austria and Turkey; mark
Ing the terminals of the Turko Russian
war and the creation. by the direct act of
the powers, Of the independent Balkan
states.
Because the powers are thus responsible
for the existence Of Roumania the culprit
in this case, the secretary Of state has di-
rected the note to them in the hope that
they will bring this government to sense
OF its duties towards civilization at large,
as well as to cause it to ameliorate the
frightful condition Of the Roumanian
Jews. r..
Department of State. Washington,
Aug. IL, 1902.-Sir: In the course of an
instruction recently sent to the minister
accredited to the government Of Rouma-
MIA, in regard to the bases of a negota-
ton begun with that government looking
TO convention of naturalization between
the United States and Roumania certain
considerations were set forth for the min
listers guidance concerning the character
OF the emigration from that country the
causes which constrain it, and the conse-
quences, so far as they adversely affect
the United States.
1T has seemed to the president uppro-
pirate that these considerations, relating
DIS they do to the obliga tons entered into
by the signatOries of the treaty Of Berlin
of July 10, 1878 should be brought to the
attention Of the governments concerned
and commended to their consideration in
the hope that. If they fortunate as
to meet the approval of the several DOW
ers, such measures to them may seem
wise may be taken to persuade the gov
eminent Of ROumania to reconsider the
subject of the grievances in question:
THE United States welcomes now as it
has welcomed from the foundation of it's
government the voluntary immigra ton of
all aliens coming hither under conditions
fitting them to become merged in the body
polite Of this land. Our laws provide
the means for them to become incorporat-
ed indistinguishably in the mass of citi-
5ens and prescribe their absolute. equal lily
with the native born guaranteeing to
them equal civil rights at home and equal
protection abroad.
1.-THE conditions are few looking to
their coming as free agents. SO circum-
stanced physically and morally as to sup
ply the healthful and intelligent material
Of free citizenhood.
THE pauper. the criminal. the conta
giously or incurably diseased are exclud-
ed from the benefits of immigration only
when they are likely to become a source
of danger a burden upon the COM
munity
1.-The voluntary character of their COM
ing is essential, hence We shut out immi-
grafton assisted or constrained by foreign
agencies. The purpose of our generous
treatment of the alien immigrant is TO
benefit us and him a]ike-nOt TO afford to
another state a field upon which to cast
Its own Objectionable elements. The alien,
coming here voluntarily and prepared to
take upon himself the preparatory and in
due course the definitive obligations of
citizenship, retains thereafter. in domes-
tic and international relations. the initial
character of free agency, in the full en-
joyment of which it is incumbent upon his
adaptive state to protect him.
1.-The foregoing considerations, whilst
pertinent to the eXamlna ton Of the pur-
pose and scope Of a naturalization treaty,
have a larger aim. 1t behoOves the state
to scrutinize most jealousy the character
1T be obnoxious subject to objection
to examine the causes which render il
so. Should those causes originate in the
act of another sovereign state to the detri-
ment Of it's neighbours, it is the preroga-
tive of an injured state to point out the
evil and to make remOnstrance; for, with
nations as with individuals, the social Law
holds good that the right of each is bound
ed by the right Of the neighbor.
THE condition of large class Of the
inhabitants of ROumania has for many
years been a source of grave concern tc
the United States. 1 refer to the Rou.
manian Jews, numbering 100000
Long ago, while the Danubian principali-
ties 1abored under oppressive conditions
which only war and general action of the
European powers suficed to end, the per
secution of the indigenous Jews under
Turkish rule called forth in 1872 the strong
lemons trance of the United States.
1.-The treaty Of Berlin was hailed
cure for the wrong. in view Of the expires:
> provisions of it's forty fourth article, pre-
scribing that in Roumania the difference
of religious creeds and confessions shall
not be alleged against any person
ground for exclusion or ncapacity in mat
tiers relating to the enjoyment of civil ant
political rights, admission to public EN-
Payments, functions and honors, or tn
exercise Of the various professions ant
Industries in any locality whatsoever, ant
perfect freedom in all forms of worship
tn Roumanian dependents and foreigner
alike, as we'll as guaranteeing that for
eigners in Roumania shall be treated
without distinction of creed, on a footin
of perfect equality.
with the lapse Of time these just pre-
scriptions have been rendered nugator.
In great part, regards the native Jews
by the legislation and municipal regula
tons of Roumania, starting from the arbi
trary and conference.-the premise that tn
native Jew of Roumania. -donicied Their
for centuries, are aliens, not subject t
foreign protection. The ability Of tn
Jew to earn even the scanty means Of ex
istence that suffice for frugal race, ha
been CONSTRUCTED by degrees until nearl
every opportunity to win a livelihood
denied, and until the helpless poverty c
the Jews has constrained an exodus c
such proportions as to cause general con
Germ.
1.-The political disabilities of the Jew
of Roumania, their exclusion from tn
public service and the learned professions
the limitation Of their civil rights and til
imposition upon them Of exceptional take
involving, they do, wrongs repugnar
to the moral sense Of liberal modern pee
pie. are not so directly in point for m