The San Francisco call., 1904-08-13
OUR ISSUE WITH TURKEY.

respect of residence and freedom in business and pro
iessonal practice, have been persistenty refused
Americans This has resulted in the outlawry of oul
countymen in Turkey If they located there the,
subject ntolerabe exactions and restrictions
enforced not by the mob but by the Government Oul
Minister after suing for audience with the Sultan
tor two years finally given hearing in which he
treated with conspicuous contempt discouresy
and though time fixed for an answer to his re
quests 1t has been permitted expire and the Sultan
remains silent.
No Government and especially not ours can submit
to such treatment. No matter how small American
interests may be in Turkey have the undoubted
right to demand and enforce equality with other nations
To submit humiliation oppression and inequality at
the hands of the rotten and corrupt of Govern
ments is inolerable There but one course to pur-
and that has been by Secretary Hay order
ing war.hps Turkish port and if necessary to
menace Constantinople itself.
We have abundant precedents, created under all ad-
mnisratIonS. When Austria refused deliver Martin
Kozsta who had only declared his intention to become
an American and had taken the preliminary steps toward
American citizenship, American man-of-war menaced
the Austrian consulate and shipping and compelled the
delivery of kozsta This before the days of cable
of Mr. Jackson the American diplomatic representative
and was subsequently indorsed by the Secretary OF
State, and is an incident in history that is the pride
OF our people Their pride is less invested in the
demand that Americans shall be legally the equal OF
men of other nations in the empire of the Sultan
1t IS surely strange thing that Abdul Hamid, who
holds his position European ruler by virtue of the
rival ambitions of other Continental nations which he
treats with craft and Indifference should yet grant
their nationals equality which he denies to Americans
whose country has desire interfere with his posi-
ton or the integrity of his empire in Europe Asia
Minor or Africa
While it is that only the Congress of the United
is true hat resi-
dent the force of the nation to protect such
American rights denied by the Sultan, by max
ing naval demonstration and by proceeding to
the extreme of throwing shot through the palace and
seraglio of the Sultan If Turkey remain obdurate and
continue insulting and defiant attitude, the same
American pride and sentiment that would have de-
manded against Austria enforce the rights of
Martin Kozsta will demand that Congress take the
most extreme measures against Turkey the present
controversy 1t would be conflict which Europe would
regard with complacency for it might we'll end with
the destruction of European Turkey and the solving
the problem of the "Sick Man." which has been the
despair of the Continental and Great Britain
No American is so nsensible to the dignity of his
country refuse approval of vigorous action in such
situation When Secretary Hay sent his utmatum to
the Sultan of Morocco in the of Perdcars de-
manding Perdcaris alive Rassouli dead" he struck
the universal chord of American feeling We will not
be treated with contempt put under the ban of in
niquity Turkey.
The Sultan has long enjoyed immunity from the
Continental powers and has reduced lying to so fine an
art that he has become proud and puffed up with the
idea that he can do as he peases with nation so dis
tant the United States. The sentiment of modern
Governments and of civilization demands that the ma
tionas of country shall be safe and equal in all
other countries The subjects of the Sultan come here
and ind absolute equality of right They have mobility
throughout our borders, engage in business the
practice OF profession, and amply protected by
our laws, being under ban on account of race or
religion.
By the treaty of Smyrna, negotiated for the United
States by Commissioners Rhind and Of1ev and Com
modore Biddle, and by Mohammed Hamed for Turkey
it was agreed that Merchants of the Sublime Porte.
whether Mussulmans or Rayahs, going and coming in
the countries ports and provinces of the United States
or proceeding from port to another, from the
ports of the United States those of other countries
shall pay the duties and mposts that are paid bv
the most favored nations and they shall not be vexed
by the exaction Of higher duties and in travelling by
and land all the privileges and distinctions observed
toward the subjects of other powers shall serve as a
rule and shall be observed toward the merchants and
subjects of the Sublime Porte. In like manner Amer
merchants, who shall come to the well defended
countries of the Sublime Porte shall pay same duties
and mposts that paid by merchants of the most
favored friendly powers, and they shall in any wav
be vexed or molested. American merchants established
in the we'll defended states of the Sublime Porte for
purposes of commerce, shall have liberty to emplov
semsars (brokers) of any nation religion in like
manner merchants of other friendly powers and
they shall not be disturbed in their affairs nor shall
they be treated in any way contrary to established
usage"
That treaty has been systematically violated by Tur
key and observed by u.s. Turkey must now keep faith
take the consequences.