Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-16

therefore petitiOned
THAT by n gracious and convincing
expression Your Majesty will proclaim
not only for the government of your
own subjects but also for the guidance
of all civilized men, that none shall
suffer in person, property, liberty, hon
nor. or life, because of his religious
belief; that the humblest subject or
citizen may worship according to the
dictates of his own conscience, and
| that government, whatever it's form or
| agencies, must safeguard these rights
and immunities by the exercise of all
its powers.
Far removed from Your Majestys
dOminions, living under different con-
ditions and owing all allegiance to an
other government, your petitioners yet
venture in the name of civilization, to
plead for religious liberty and toler-
anoes; to plead that he who led his
own people and all others to the shrine
of Deace, will add new lustre to his
reign and fame by leading a new move
nlcnt that shall commit the world in
opposition to religious prosecutions"
In reply to Mr. Levi, who submitted
the memorandum, Secretary Hay said:
NV per sun VI humanity Nttil
have heard without deep emotion the
story of the cruel outrages inflicted up
on the Jews of Kischineff. These
: lamentable events have caused the pro-
foundcst impression throughout the
world, but most especially in this coun-
| try where there are so many of your
! co-religionists who form such a de-
sirablc element of our population in
industry, thrift, public spirit and COM
mercial morality. Nobody can ever
make the Americans think i'll of the
Jews as Il class or as race. In the
painful crisis through which we are
| now passing. the Jews of the United
| States have given evidence Of the high
est Qualities-generosity, love of justice
| and power of self-restraint. The gov
! eminent of the United States must en-
| hibit the same qualities. | know you
| do not doubt the sentiments of the
| President. No one hates more encr-
getically than he does such acts of
cruelty and injustice as those we de-
plore. But he must carefully consider
| all the circumstances and then decide
whether any official action can be
taken in addition to the impressive and
most effective expressions of public
opinion in this country during the last
month.
THE Emperor of Russia is entitled
to our rcspcct, not merely as the ruler
! of a great and friendly nation, but as
n man whose personal character is even
! more elevated than his exalted station.
! All We know Of the state of things in
| Russia tends to justify the hope that
| even out of the present terrible Situa-
ton some good results may come; that
lie who watches over Israel does not
slrmbcl and thai the wrath of man,
nov as so often in the past, shall be
mado to praise him
The call on the President at the
White House followed and there Prcsi-
dent Roosevelt after the memorandum
was laid before him said:
J Mr. Chairman: | need not dwell up
on fact SO patent rs the widespread
indignation with which the American
people heard of the dreadful outrages
upon the jews in kischincff. | have
never in my experience in this country
known of more immediate or deeper
expression of sympathy for the victims
and of horror over the appalling calam-
itv than has occurred. 1t is natural
| that Wnlle me Nilblt tINlllH'i "'i W.
should express such n feeling, it should
vet be most intense and widespread III
the United States; for of all the great
powers | think I may say that the
United States is that country in Whlcn
from the beginning of it's national
career most has been done in the way
of acknowledging the debt due to the
: Jewish race; and Of end"avoring to DO
Justice to those American citizens who
are of Jewish ancestry and faith.
: From the day when the Jews OF
Charleston, Of Philadelphia, of New
: York supported the patriot cause, and
! helped in every way, not only by money
> but hv arms Washington and his col
: leagues were founding this rcpuh-
f lie we have had no struggle, military or
I civil. in which there have not been citi-
: Zens of Jewish faith who played an
J; eminent part for the honor and the
t credit of the nation. remember once
a Gen. Howard mentioning to m" the Fact
| that two of the brigade commanders urof
| whom he had placed special lcl;:jAc" W'r(
lJcws.
l 'Whon In Santiago I was myself in Tho
f army. one OF the best colonies anont
: the regular regiments who lid 81 we'll on
l Jew one Of the commanders of the ship
@ which in the blockade OF the Cuban r"a%
did 80 well was Il jew. In my own reet
| mcnt | promoted five men from the rank;
II for valor and good conduct in hIttlc. !
= happened by pure accident. for | knew
G nothing of the faith of any one of TIN TN
that these included two protcStants, tW'
Catholics and one JCw. If 4 man is
= good American that is all we ask, WtthoU
O thinking of his creed or his birthplace.
Il am confident that much good has al
| IL moor n
= throughout the country, without any re
- gard to creed whatsoever, of horror an
sympathy over what has occurred. 1t i
gratifying to know, what We would O
II course assume that the government ~
If Russia shows the feeling of horror and in
diguation with which the American pc"pf
look upon the outraEcS at lNiSrhnCn an
u Is moving vigorously not only to proven
l. their continuance but the punish the per
d pctrators. That government takes tn
=, same view of these outraecS that our OW
~ government takes of the riots and lynch
to incS which sometimes occur i'm our cUu
nj try but do not characterize either on
II government or our people.
" II will consider most carefully the sUc
gestions that you have submitted to m
to and whether the now existing condition
are such that any further official expire,
sion would he of advantage to the untnl
Ell tunatc survivors with whom we symp3
Mt thize deeply. In amy proper way i