New-York tribune., 1903-06-27
THE PETITION TO THE CzAR.

The Presidents promised forwarding of the
Jewish petition to the Gar should result in
good If not, it assuredly should not result IN
evil So much may unhesitatingly be said
about it. 1t is TO be assumed that the Gar
does not approve the persecution of the Jews.
Assurances are frequent and earnest that he
regards the United States with cordial friend
ship. IT, then. the President of Russia's ira
ditional friend" deems this petition to be worthy
of his attention, and worthy to be forwarded
through the diplomatic agencies of this c0un-
try. it is difficult to see how the Car can fail
TO look upon it also worthy of his consIdera-
ton; and our knowledge of his lofty and hu-
name principles forbids us to doubt that if he
does receive and consider the petition he will
be moved to effective action toward remedying
the evils of which complaint is made
1t does not seem that reception of the petition
by the Gar would violate the principle recently
laid down by his government namely, that it
will not be possible for Russia TO receive any
representations regarding the Kishineff Incl
dent from any foreign power, and that Russia
must insist upon other powers refraining from
interfering in her internal affairs. The PreS-
dents action will not be interference in Rus
sian affairs 1t will not even remotely hint at
such a thing 1t viii not be "a representation
from foreign power" The petition is not a
government document The United States is
not protesting against persecution of the Jews
nor making petition for religious equality.
All the President is doing is TO recognize the
fact that citizens of the United States cannot
enter into direct correspondence with the SOW
ereign of a foreign State, but can communicate
with him only through the diplomatic depart
ment of the American Government, and 10
place the agencies of this government at their
command.
These considerations Indicate how void of Of
fence TO Russia the Presidents action viii be.
They also invite expectation of conduct on Rus
sias part that viii be equally void of offence TO
the United States. The President frankly tells
the B'nai Birth that he can give no assurance
concerning the reception of the petition by the
Russian Government. No. But it is 10 be as
sumed that respectful and courteous COM
munication, forwarded and presented in a re-
spectful and courteous way. will receive re-
spectful and courteous treatment It NAV be
or may not be received by the Gar. 1t may be
or may not be acted upon by him. But it would
be strange indeed if the presentation of it were
made matter Of offence between two friend
ly countries if the attitude of the Gar or
his government toward it were such as to i'm
pair in any degree the cordial relations existing
between Russia and the United States Such
relations would be fragile indeed If they could
not endure such an incident as this.
We are aware, in painful and humiliating
degree, that recent occurrences in one of cur
own States have tended to impair the moral
force of an American protest against savagery;
so that should not be able to resent with any
grace retort of ''Tu quoque" or a suggestion
that the physician should heal himself But
at least il is to be observed that neither the
American Ambassador TO Russia nor the Secre-
tary of Legation who acts as Charge dAffaires
at St Petersburg halls from the State of Della
ware and that the b nai Birth ia not known to