New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-07-01
"REFRAINING FROM INTERFERENCE. u
Why Russia Should Not Object to Protest
Against the Kishineff Massacre.
? of The Tribune

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The Russian Government. We told.
CARDS with surprise and regret the decision OF the
President Of the United States to transmit to it
respectful petition from numerous and estimabe
body Of American citizens 1t takes the ground.
according to report that Russias unalterabls
policy Of refraining from interference in the in
ternal affairs Of other powers entities her TO in
sist upon similar treatment for herself Such
ground at first sight seems plausible, But the
major premise OF the argument Will scarcely bear
critical scrutiny.
I do not believe in the policy Of meddling with
the internal affairs of any other nation. AS
matter Of fact in a question like this are IN
position TO do so. The house we live in ourselves
is Of very brittle glass With our frequent out
RACES on Chinese, Italians. and citizens Of
other nationaIities. for which are never able to
offer adequate redress because they occur within
State jurisdictions. and. above all. with recent
rnonstrous conduct in burning our negroes at
the stake North and South. only make
selves ridiculous when preach to other nations
about barbarity. Aside from that. I think II a
good rule for every nation to mind its own business
IndisCriminate fauthnding with other nations
even on ample prOvocaton. is q poor way TO keep
the peace, and it is generally better for self-re
spectng nation not to object to the way any other
nation conducts its affairs unless ready TO back
up its objections with armed Intervention
Still since Russia is said TO protest that IT never
NEEDLES with other peoples affairs. and won't
stand their meddling with its own, it may be
worth while TO recall a bit of recent history
1t was only ten days ago that the imperial gov
eminent of Russia issued an official note concern
ing the domestic affairs Of another independent
and sovereign power, 10 Wit. Servta- That note
opened with a rehearsal Of Russia's strict adher-
ence to her policy of non-interventon in the in
ternaI affairs Of the Balkan States But then it
went say:
The imperial government, nevertheless, cannot
King Peter Will be able to give evidence of his
which has been committed, and TO mete out rigor-
Gus punishment 10 those traltorous criminals VINO
have stained themselves with the lnfamy attach
Such neglect would inevitably react IN an
States with seFvia,
That was an admirable uttersnce, rejecting
credit upon the government which made IT, But
suppose the American or some other government
should repeat it. mutatis mutandis, to Russia her
self. concerning the crime Of kish1neff? Thus:
This government cannot refrain from expressing
the confident hope that Car Nicholas II VIII ps
able TO give evidence Of his sense OF justice and
frmness of will by adopting measures to investi-
gate the abOminaole msdeed which mas oeen com
mitted, and 10 mete out rigorous pQIlsh5nei no 70
selves with the infamy attaching TO rSylshers ana
sa's internal peace not to. exact expiation.
favorable manner on the relations OF all the states
with Russia.
If the former declaration was ''non-interventon
in the internal affairs of serva. the latter adapt
ed version would be non-intervenuon in the in
affairs of Russia. If Russia dld not Sruie
TO address such words 10 Servta, why shCuld SlS
object 10 having such words addressed 70 herselI
Because she Is great and powerful, while SerEia
is small and weak? 1t would be sorry day for
the world when such considerations should pre-
vail and when the powers OF earth should not
give TO the small the same justice and courtesy
that they give the great
While firmly maintaining this belief on my own
part. I must frankly admit that there Is gTeat
difference in cases The Jews who were killed at
Kishineff were not killed with view OF p2rdIyzlng
a government and throwing a whole state into
chaos The King and his wife and those IN sue
cessiOn 10 the throne were killed for the purpose
of driving out one dynasty and installing another
over the corpses OF the first It IS not case or
ASSASSINATION to promote anarchy, but II IS the
next thing to ASSASSINATION as means or pro
Noting political revolution and securing change
81 dy6astv The occupant OF a throne may well
object to such methods; but even he must see that
his own throne would be hrmer II in his own land
the lives of the humblest OF mis- people were more
-
New-York June o. 1903