The Springfield herald., 1904-09-30
PROTECTION OF CITIZENS.
No Discr Inn ination In Treatment of
Native Born and NaturaIIzed.

Dispatches from st. Petersburg Wprc-
sent the Russian press as commenting i'll
a daZed manner upon the efforts of the
United States government TO protect It's
Jewish citizens in foreign countries. The
Journal de st. Petersburg editorially
characterizes ns 'stupefying' an article
in recent French paper which professed
to explain President Roosevclt's desire
to gain more liberal treatment for ltus'
sian Jews naturalized in the United
States and revisitins Russia with pass
ports as American citizens.
In his letter of acceptance President
Roosevelt gave an authoritative account
of the ground taken by his own admins
tration and that of President Mckinley
as regards the protection OF american
citizens of foreign birth, or of particu-
lar creed, who desire to travel abroad"
the phrase is quoted from the letter of
acceptance. 1t is alone as an example
of condensed and accurate meaning, i'll
structivc. Continuing, President Roose-
welt says:
Russia, for instance. refuses to admit
and protect Jews. Turkey refuses to ad-
nit and protect certain sects of Chris
tians. This government has consistently
demanded equal protection abroad for all
American citizens, whether native or
naturalized. On March 27, 1899, Secre-
tary Hay sent n. letter of instructions to
all diplomatic and consular officers of
the United States, in which he said
This department does not discriminate
between native born and naturalized citi-
zens in according them protection while
they are abroad, equality of treatment
being required by the laws OF the United
States
70
have been repeated again and again. and
are treated as the fundamental rule Of
conduct laid down for them. proceeding
upon the theory that all naturalized citi-
zcns of the United States while in for
eicn countries are entitled to and shal!
receive from this government the same
protection of persons and property which
is accorded to native born citizens"
He further declares that in issuing
passports the State Department never
discriminates or alludes to any mans re-
ligion, and that ''in granting to every
American citizen, native or naturalzed,
Christian or Jew, the same passport, SO
far as it has power it insists that all
foreign governments shall accept the
passport as prima facie proof that the
person therein described is n citizen of
the United States and entitled to protec-
tlOn as Sucn. II Is standing Oruer u
every American diplomatic and consular
officer to protect every American citizen,
of whatever faith, from unjust molesta-
tion; and our officers abroad have been
stringently required to comply with this
order"
This enunciation OF a course of action
Is backed by the cause of Justice. The
reception recently given the American
idea of religious liberty in certain quar-
tiers on the continent of Europe attaches
additional pcrtincnce to the criticism
with which Mr.. Roosevelt closed that
section of his letter which he devoted to
the discussion of the theme. ut is n
striking evidence" he says, of our op-
poncnts insincerity in this matter that
with their demand for radical action by
the State Department they couple de-
mand for reduction in our small mill
tary establishment. Yet they must know
that the heed paid to our protests against
i'll treatment of our citizens will be ex-
nctly proportionatc to the belief in our
ability to make these protests effective
should the need arise