The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-12

The wonder VIII probably rise in ev-
| cry mind: Why shall our government 90
out of its way and risk giving effense
by undertaking to convey this address
| while it ignores so many other points
| in which the Russian government. in its
domestic policy. falls short of its duty
to the people under its protection? The
| answer is 10 be found in the fact that
| bloodshed, rapine, and the violation OF
| women. visited by the brutality strong
| upon the pitiful weak, differ in some es-
| sential particulars from overtaxation or
| tyrannicaI restrictions of suffrage. or even
a legalized system Of polygamy and con-
| cubinage The same enlightened senti-
ment which merely scowls at fiscal
/ heresy or a barbarous social system Will
| often take up arms against a particular
4 " atrocious defiance Of the unwrittsn
laws of humanity.
But there is no question of taking up
| arms in this case. There is no purpose.
| indeed. of involving the government in
! IL further than to convey from a large
and representative body of American cit
/ liens a memorial on a subject of the
/ highest consequence TO them as merci-
/ full men, TO the monarch of an ostensinly
/ friendly Power. The latter is not called
UpCn TO respond TO it. nay. even 10 re-
| ceive it. The utmost care was observed
| in the inquiries put forth preliminary
1 to our governments final decision on its
course, TO emphasize its demand that the
signatures attached TO the memorial
should be those Of Americans of the high
est standing in the community. One agita-
tor went so far to mention eI-Presi-
dent Cleveland among the men Of
rote who would be ready to back the
enterprise. Whether this promise was
well or ir-founded will appear later; 1t Is
mentioned here to illustrate the serious
ness with which the matter has been
pressed and the pains taken to avoid es-
tabIishing a precedent which would re-
euire our government TO transmit the
message which every Tom. Dick and
Harry might wish to send to royalty
Another adverse suggestion OF which
much has been heard, and which the
President himself was the first TO consid-
err is that It ill-behooves our nation 10
throw stones at outbreaks of mob vio-
Ience, with the echoes of Belleville's and
Wilmington's horrors still ringing in the
ears of all mankind. In a sense, that is
a fair criticism; and yet few OF the
critics would venture to predict what our
federal government would do in the states
If the hands were as free there as the
hands Of the St. Petersburg government
are all over Russia. The reconstruction
period In the south gave us but slight
foretaste of what would happen every
where in the United States, under a
strong" president, were the constitu-
tional limitations once thrown open.
There is a further phase of this sub
jet which must not be overlooked. That
Is the precedent already established in
modern times by our interference in be-
half OF the Christians in Turkey, the Jews
In Rumania, and the Cubans under Span
ish dominion. Turkey and Rumania We
knew to be weak powers when we ap-
preached them in humanity's behalf
Spain proved TO be when IL came TO tho
test. and the result was to many eyes in
evitable from the start. What, then. are
we 10 say in excuse for refusal TO act
as carrier for the Jewish memorial? That
we had seized with avidity the opporuni-
ty to mix In a weak powers affairs. but
a polite note on a diplomatic salver TO
a strong one?
Nor must the critic lose sight of the I
fact that other nations ale daily inter
cer.nG in our domestic concerns where (
mob outrages have been perret.a-ai Vr
carnage ias resulted from care!CssEess Of .
II uman safety. The Emperor of China,
the Emperor of Austria-Hungdry the
GeiJlf,. Emperor, the King of Italy. have
all taken a hand in this business within
the last few years. If a mob in New
Orleans or Iberia parish hangs some mem
bers of the Malta. or some Hungarian
miners are killed by sheriffs posse pre-
maturely practicing at rife range acct
dentally hit a German with their bullets
we hand out so many dollars from the
United States treasury and take a re-
ceipt. We are not legally obliged 10 do
this but under our system We can do no
more
our government certainly never gets
angry over the interference. II tries 70
explain iatelligibly the limitations sur
rounding the federal executive power. II
even appeals 10 congress for laws con
ferring upon the United States courts
Jurisdiction over matters affecting the
safety OF foreigners. BY way Of enforcing
our treaties OF commerce and friendship.
True. these cases-of Intervention Of for
eign governments in behalf Of their own
subiects-are not parallel with the indirect
Of the United States govern
ment in a matter affecting only the sub
jects OF the other power concerned. but
there is no reason to suppose that the
autho.itias would treat with
less good temper protest originating
in Liberia or Hayti against negro ly1ch-
inch in the United Sta>es- Indeed. though
powerIess TO act efectiTeiy. The chances
are that in would take some means Of
indicating its sympathy with the spirit Of
the memorial
These are all general matters 10 Be
turned over in the public mind before
passing on the expediency OF inexpediency
n the final decision reached by our gov
eminent. There Is a special and some
what technical consideration Involved. al
so. ID 70 the present moment our gov
eminent has no means OF knowing that
Russia objects 70 our presenting the jew
sh memorial Governments cannot con-
duct their foreign policies or the lines
~ newspaper publications. however. repu-
table tie source q these Every Journal
81 n washington may know absolutely.
and print the facs that certain AErsbas-
sador Is doing MS utmost 20 avert an act
.,-s - 80 p~nSsSa--- hu- -r--fl