La Junta tribune., 1904-10-01
PROTECTION Of CITIZENS.

Ne Diseri0inatioa II frsat0sae 81
Native Born asd NsturalissA.
Dispatches from St. Petersburg repre-
sent the Russian press a. commenting In
Q daxed manner upon the efforts OF the
United States government to protect ita
Jewish citizens in foreign countries The
Journal de ST. Petersburg editorially
characterixea as '-siupefying" an article
In recent French paper which professed
to explain President Roosevelt's desire
30 gain more liberal treatment for Rus
sian Jews naturalized in the United
States and revisiting Russia with paas-
ports ~ 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
a. 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. II 10 alone ~ an example
of condensed and accurate meaning. in
structive- Continuing. Presidsnt Rooss-
velt says:
Russia, for instance, refuses 70 admit
and protect Jews. Turkey refuses to ad-
init and protect certain scctB Of Chris
tians. This government has consistently
demanded equal protection abroad for all
American citizens, whether native or
naturaiixed. On March q. 1900. Secrs-
tary Hay sent q 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-
gems In according them protection while
they are abroad, equality Of treatment
being required BY the laws Of the United
States
These orders to our agents abroad
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-
zens of the United States while In for
elgn countries are entitled to and shall
receive from this government the same
protection OF persons and property which
10 accorded to native born citizens
He further declares that In issuing
passports the State Department never
discriminates or xlluies to any mans re-
ligion. and that ''in granting to every
American citizen. native or naturalixed,
Christian or Jew, the same passport, 80
far as II has power II insists that all
foreign governments shall accept the
passport a. prima facie proof that the
person therein described Is q citizen Of
the United States and entitled to pr0fec-
tion ~ such. II Is u standing order to
every American diplomatic and consular
officer to protect every American citizen.
OF whatever faith. from unjust molesta-
ton: and our officers abroad have been
strincently required to comply with this
order"
This enuncintion of q course Of action
Is backed by the cause OF justice. The
reception recently given the American
idea Of religious liberty In certain quar-
ters on the continent of Europe attaches
additional pertinencs to the criticism
with which Mr.. Roosevelt closed that
section Of his letter which he devoted to
the discussion OF the theme. ut 10 .
striking evidence" he says. of our op-
ponents' 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 establishments. Yet they must know
that the heed paid to our protests against
III treatment Of our citizens will b. sx-
actiy proportionate to the belief In our
ability to make these protests effective
should the need arise"