Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-21

overshadow in magnitude the expulsion
of the Jews from Spain ana to rank With
the exodus from Egypt.
No estimate is possible of the misery
suffered by the hapless Jews who feel driv-
en- to forsake their native land, to sever
the most sacred ties and to wander forth
to strange countries. Neither is it possible
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 emlgrate, who
remain in never-ending terror.
Religious. persecution is more sinful
and more fatuous even than war. War
sometimes is necessary, honorable and Just;
religious persecution is never tdefensible
The sinfulness and folly which give i'm
pulse to unnecessary war received their
greatest check when your majestys initia-
tive resulted in an international court Of
peace.
Waiting for Religious Liberty.
'"With such an example before it the
civilized world cherishes the hope that up-
on the same initiative there shall be fixed
in the early days of the twentieth century
the enduring principle of religious liberty;
that by gracious and convincing express
sion your majesty will proclaim, not only
for the government of your own subjects,
but also for the guidance of all civilized
men, that none shall suffer in person, prop
erty, liberty, honor or life because of his
religious belief that the humblest subject
or citizen may worship according to the
dictates of his own conscience, and that
government. whatever its form or agencies,
must safeguard these rights and immuni-
ties by the exercise of all It's powers.
"Far removed from your majesty do
minions, living under different conditions
and owing allegiance to another govern
ment, your petitioners yet venture, in the
~ ptx, tIvaf tn,, sol. a
liberty and tolerance; to plead that he who
led his own people and all others to the
shrine of peace will add new Iuster to his
reign and fame by leading Il new move
ment that shall commit the whole world
in opposition to religious prosecutions
Asked If He Will be Accepted.
am instructed to ask whether the
petition will be received by your exceliency
to be submitted to the gracious considera.
ton of his majesty. In that case the peti.
tion will be at once forwarded to ST. Pc
tersburg. | avail myself etc
You VIII report ut the earliest possible
moment your execution of this instruction.
HAY"
This was sent ON July IL, and the same
day Mr.. Riddle was Informed by the Rus
sian minister for foreign affairs that In
view of the publications which had appear
ed in the newspapers, the Russian govern
ment wished to notify him that the pro-
posed petition would not be received under
any circumstances and that this resolution
of the Russian government was taken In
dependently of any consideration of the
substance or the terms of the petition. On
the receipt of this information, the secre-
tary of state addressed the following let
ter to Messrs. Straus, Wolf and Levi:
Sir: | am directed by the President to
acquaint you that this department is in
formed by the American embassy in st.
Petersburg that the imperial government
of Russia has declined to receive or con-
slider the petition in relation to the condi-
tion of the Jews in Russia, which was adj
dressed to his majesty the emperor by a
large number of citizens of the United
States, and Which lnis department by your
direction of ahe President and at your re-
quest, undertook to transmit to Its high
destination. 4 am, sirs, very respectfully
yours, JOHN HAY"