The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-07-30
AS TO RUSSIA.

must nave feeling that the United
States government is making some-
what ridiculous exhibition of itself in
respect of it's bearing toward Russia.
Reference is more particularly tc the
Kishineff massacre. People with even
quite short memories can recall mas
sacre of Italians in the city of New
Orleans. When the government of Italy
interviewed on the side of its slaugh-
tered countrymen, the government of
the United States explained that by
reason of the dual government, that of
the United States and that of the
States, the general government had no
direct responsibility in the matter and
was poweIless to make reparatiop for
the murder of the Italians or to pun
ish the murderers The latter was the
duty of the State of Louisiana. The
offense was committed within the jur-
isdiction of that State and the United
States government could not compel
Louisiana to punish it's criminals
much less could the general govern
ment punish them. Italy could make
no demand on the State of Louisiana,
one of the States of the government of
the United States, so the latter slipped
out Of any responsibility in the case.
1t was, in any view of the matter, a
thing of internal affairs with which
Italy had no business to interfere So
she got no satisfaction
This is about the size of the Kish-
ineff affair. President Roosevelt must
have been keenly conscious of the in
consistency of his course, as the rep
resentative of the government that had
turned protesting Italy down, in con-
senting to forward the Jews petition
to the Cars government, and un-
doubtedly expected the inevitable
the refusal Of Russia to receive the
petition. The children of the Bear
might have countered on the Presi-
dent by sending him a petition, or a
protest, respecting the barbarity, para
alleled only in the dark or medieval
ages practiced in these United States
of America-not merely in the torture
of negroes and putting them to death,
but in the killing of white men, as
well, under the jurisdiction of Judge
Lynch. They might beseech him to
remove from his own governmental
eye the beams accruing from the blood
feuds of Kentucky aud other States of
the Union, with their accommodating
scores Of victims ruthlessly waylaid
and murdered, before seeking to re-
move any distractions from the optic
of Russian civilization.
A great deal is published respecting
Russian aggression in Manchuria. 1t
might be wholesome for Russia to take
possession Of that province of China.
What would England do in similar
case? For answer look over the sea
coast regions of China. What has
England done in all parts of the
world, in India, in South Africa, in
other regions Of the Ozark Continent
and without protest. Russia has run
vast artery through her frozen do
minions to the Pacific coast. Through
it the warm blood of new civilization
is coursing, 1t is thawing out the
frost of Siberia. Russia is entitled to
broad and secure terminal on the
Pacific below the line of ice bound
harbors England would have it, and
the United States, at least, would not
say her nay. Germany, the United
States, would have it, and if China
objected SO much the worse would it
be for the government of the Flowery
Kingdom.
Russia, the sine qua non of ice
bound despotism, has had a warm
place in her heart of frost for the peo-
pie of these United States. In their
early struggle for independence she
gave them good cheer. In the war of
the rebellion, when England was seek
ing to make the Trent affair casus
belli, a Russian admiral with
strong squadron, under sealed orders,
sailed into the harbor of New York
His instructions, read when he had
anchored, were to place his ships at
the disposal of the government of the
United States in the event Of war
with England. What effect had the
knowledge Of this fact Oh the peaceful
composure of the Trent incident?
Possibly as much, possibly great
deal more, than the interposition of
the Queen of England on the side Of
peace.
The Russian may not be an ideal
~n !: g.! l{ N rrs.