The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-07-20

public the correspondence that has taken
place respecting the petition. Its sub
stance has already been forecasted in the
nress dispatches The correspondence
consists of an instruction to Mr.. Riddle,
United States charge at st. Petersburg,
reciting in detail the petition and direct
ms him to present the same to the for-
eisn office il 1t were willing TO receive
it. II is stated by Mr.. Riddle that the
foreign office would not receive il under
any circumstances and Secretary Hay so
informed the BNai Birth committee in
brief telegram
Statement of Facts.
The Official statement of the facts is as
follows:
The Russian government has declined 10
receive or to consider the petition III re-
lation to the condition Of the Jews IN Rus
sia. signed by several thousand clti2ens'
and cabled TO St Petersburg by dlrecuon
Of the president
At conference Tuesday, july a. d
oyster Bay, the president conferred WIN
Messrs Leon Levy. Simon Wolf ana Us
car s. Strauss. il regard to the pGesehld-
ton of the petition, AID DECIDED 10 SeLu
the following dispatch to Nj Riddle, the
burg -,...4o, 7,,l,,
II 19tl3-Riddle 81 Petersburg. ou dIe
instructed to ask an audience of the min
lister Of foreign affairs and to make 10
him the following communication:
'Excellency: The secretary OF state
instructs me 10 inform you that the pres
ident has received FROM q large hulllpe!
of citizens Of the United states OF an 19-
ugious affiliations and occupying me hlsh-
est positions in both public ana prlEa1e
life. a respectful petition addressed 10
his majesty. the emperor relating 10 the
condition 81 jews russia, and running
g IT'S dis Imperial Majesty. the En-
peror of Russia: The cruel outrases per
petrated at Kishinef during Easter OF 1913
have excited horror and reprobation
throughout the world. Until your majesty
gave special and personal directions, the
local authorities failed 10 maintain order
or suppress the rioting.
The victims were Jews and the as
sault was the result Of the race and re-
hgious prejudice
Russia
the performance OF Their autI, - ,r,a.
The Jews were the Nlcllms OF 1noe-
fensible lawlessness. These facts are
made plain by the official reports Of and
by the official acts following the riot
Recurrence Is Feared.
"."ITnder ordinary conditions the aw
fDl calamity would be deplored without
due fear of a recurrence. But such IS not
the case in the present instance: 'ouf
petitioners are advised that mllIlofs OF
Jews-Russian subjects dWelAhs III soutA,
western Russia, are in constant dread OF
fresh outbreaks They feel that lsnor-
ance, superstition and bigotry, as eHem-
nlifed BY the rioters, are ever feauy 10
prosecute them; that the local SAuinoIlAes
unless thereunto specially adlnOhls4leu can
not be relied on IS strenuous pAotectots
of their peace and security; that PUBIC
sentiment Of hostility mas been sneen-
dered against them and hangs over them
as a continuing menace
'''" Even If 1t be conceded thal tnese
fears are to some extent exaggerated II
Is unquestionably trne that they exist,
that they are not sToundless' aad thal
thew produce effects Of great Importance.
The westward migration OF RUSSIAN Jews,
which has proceeded Tor over twenty
wears, is being stimulated by these Tears
and already the movement has become SO
great as to overshadow in magnitude the
expulsion Of the Jews from Spain, and to
rank With the exodus from Egypt
e mo estimate is possible Of the mis-
cry. suffered by the hapless Jews, VINO
feel driven to forsake their land, TO sever
the most sacred ties and to wander forth
10 strange countries. Neither IS ii pos
sible to estimate the misery suffered by
those who are unwilling or unable to
leave the land Of their birth; who must
part from friends and relatives who emil
CRATE, who remain IN neNer-endlng ter
q Religious persecution is more sin
ful and more fatuous even than war, War
Is sometimes necessary, honorable and
just; religious persecution is never defen-
sible.
Religious Liberty
The sinfulness and folly which give
impulse to unnecessary wars received
their grea test check when your majesty 8
initiative resulted In an international
court Of peace.
with such an example before It,
the civilized world chsrishes the hope that
upon the same initiative there shall be
fixed in the early days of the twentieth
century, the enduring principle Of reis-
ious liberty; that by a gracious and con-
vincing expression your majesty will pro-
claim, not only for the government Of
your own subjects, but also for the guild
ance Of all civilized men, that none shall
suffer in person, property liberty. honor
or life, because Of his religious belief
that the 1-lmblest subject or citizen may
worship according To the dictates of his
own conscience and that government
whatever its form or agencies. must safe
guard these rights and inmunities by the
exercise of all its powers.
- Far removed from your ma iesty's
dominions, living under different condi-
lions and owing allegiance TO another
government your petitioners yet venture,
in the name Of civilization, to plead for
religious liberty and tolerance; to plead
that he who led his own people and all
others to the shrine Of peace will add
new luster to his reign and fame by
leading new movement that shall COM
nit the whole world in opposition to re-
lisious prosecutions
II am instructed TO ask whether the
petition viii be received by your ex-
cellency to be submitted to the gracious
consideration Of his majesty. In that
case the petition will be at once forward
ed to St Petersburg.
Il avail myself. etc. etc.
You will report at the earliest posi-
Bile moment your execution OF this IN
struction. HAY.
Petition Refused.
This was sent on the 18th OF July and