The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-18
Pretty SMALL POLITICS.

PRETTY SMALL POLITICS.
The administration at Washington cannot be &C
Quilted of the charge of using the sympathy of Hebrews
in the United States with their distressed brethren IN
Russia for political purposes 1t is cheap and dis
gushing performance; piece of petty politics from
which the president and his advisers will gather no ad
vantage but rather the just of the whole people
and the indignant condemnation of those who sympa-
thize with the of the oppressed
1t is now beyond question or denial that the admin
isration when appealed for action IN behalf OF
the sufferers from Russian tyranny and the persecuto
of the Russian populace, thought only how the episode
might be turned political advantage 1t has played
that miserable little game to the last move; and now
it is ready dismiss the whole matter as one about
which there is be said But the people have
something say and those of the Hebrew in this
country will forget the treatment to which they
have been subjected by the Republican politicians at
Washington.
When first the news of the massacre of Jews III
Russia was spread abroad in this country, our people
Mortified and sought at once for some method OF
making their sympathy with the sufferers and their de-
testaton of the guilty ones effective meetings were
held resolutions passed, and the Intervention or
the government sought Immediately the Russian
government made what was practically an official an
nouncement the effect that representations could
be received by it from any other concerning an
affair which regarded strictly part of its domestic
manly sincere and straightforward admnistra-
ton could found but possible of action
open it. One to accept the ultimatum OF Russia
as final and say all those who appealed to it for
semi-oical interference that IT could not under the
of nations and the doctrine which 1t itself APP
piled its concerns take any action at all. The
other would have been lay aside all these consdera
tons less weghty than the holy demands OF humanity
and forward directly the Russian government the
reservations of American citizens in favor of mercy and
of justice with at least the implied approval of Washing
ton officiadom.
There something to be said in favor of either
course There nothing but contempt for the fast and
loose policy adopted by the president and his advisers
They have blown both hot and cold With the too evil
dent idea of alternating the Jewish vote, and at the
time putting themselves in position to receive
rebuff that would cost them the of others, they
have given exhibition of shifting and temporizing
and duplcity that is national shame.
When the petition of the Bna Birth was made
ready and presented to President Roosevelt, he gave
substantial that it would be forwarded ST.
Petersburg This was done after Russia herself had
spoken. All the facts and conditions known, and
whatever conclusion reached then should have been
final 1t accepted and the representative He
brews who had taken this action went home satisfied
that their wishes to be carried out
Then came period of waiting. The document was
forwarded, and various were given It was
not ready signatures to be obtained, the
wording was to be changed anything that would
count for delay In the meantime the state department
was not idle. 1t was in active communication with ST.
Petersburg asking for from its dilemma and be-
fore the petition found its way official hands there
fiat announcement from Russia, practically
hcited from Washington, cannot doubt that it would
not be received. Whereupon, with protestations of
hypocritica regret Washington that the mat
ter will be regarded closed and further action
taken.
This is at the least credtabe and the boldest
bit of shysering to be credited to the administration 1t
has played with the sufferings of men, and chill
dren and with the anger and anguish of those of their
1t has made of these things only the counters in
political game at transparent and contempt
ibe that amazed at its efrontery An insult has
been offered to these of the Jewish faith by playing
politics with all that dearest their hearts, We can
not believe that dishonesty and nsincerity fragrant
and so inhumane will go unrebuked by people, upon
all of whom the reproach for this national false dealing
must fall