The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-12
NEVER DISCRIMINATES
IN ISSUING PASSPORTS

In issuing passports the state depart
ment never d1scriminates or alludes to any
mans religion; and in granting to every
american citizen, native or naturalized
CHRISTIAN or Jew, the same passport so
1ar as 1t has power it insists that all for
elsn governments shall accept the pass
port as prlnaa facie proof that the person
lnereln described is a citizen of the
United States and entitled to protection as
Such 1t is standing order to every
american "a diplomatic and consular officer
TO protect every American citizen, Of
Whatever faith, from unjust molestation
and our officers abroad have been strin-
gently required to comply with this or
Under such circumstances. the demand
OF our opponents that negotiations be be-
gun TO secure equal treatment of all
americans from those governments which
do not now accord it, shows either ignor-
anee of the facts or insincerity No
change of policy in the method or man
ner of negotiation would add effective
ness 10 what the state department has
zone and Is doing. The steady pressure
which the department has been keeping
up IN the past will be continued in the
future This administration has on all
proper occasions given clear expression to
the belief of the American people that
dlScr1mlnation and oppression because of
religion, wherever practiced, are acts of
injustice before God and man; and in
American convictions in this regard we
nave gone to the very limit of diplomatic
usage.
It Is a striking evidence of our oppon-
ems en- inslncer1ty in this matter that with
their demand for radical action by the
state department they couple a demand
LOT reduction in our small military es-
laollshment. Yet they must know that
the need paid to our protests against ILL
treatment of our citizens will be exactly
proportlonate to the belief in our ability
10 make these protests effective should the
need arise.
Our opponents have now declared them
selves in favor of the civil service law.
the repeal of which they demanded in
1900 and in 1896. If consistent, they
should nave gone one step further and
coHsIatuiated the country upon the way
m1nlstered. and the way in which the
ciassffled service has been extended The
exceptions from examinations are fewer
by tar than ever before. and are confined
TO individual cases, where the applica-
lion OF the rules would be impracticable,
unWlse, UNJUST or unnecessary. The adj
ministration of the great body of the
clasS1hed civil service is free from poll
ties, ana appointments and removals have
peen put upon business basis. Sta
tlstlcS show that there is little difference
between the tenure of the federal classf-
vi private business corporations Less
imam one per cent of the classified en-
pioyeS are over seventy years of age and
In the main the service rendered is Wigs
orous and efficient. Where the merit sys-
tenn was OF course most needed was in
Inc Phlllpp1ne Islands; and civil service
law OF very advanced type has there been
put INTO operation and scrupulously OBJ
served. Without one exception every an
pointment in the Philippines has been
made IN accordance with the strictest
standard OF fitness, and without heed to
dnrn ~