Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-17

also undoubtedly true that what is most
needed is officials having both the dis
position and the courage 30 enforce exist
ing law. This is precisely the need that
has been met by the consistent and stead
lily continued action of the department OF
justice under the present administration
So far as the rights of the individual
wageworker and the individual capitalist
are concerned. both as regards one anoth-
er. as regards the public and as regards
organized capital and labor. the position
of the administration has been SO clear
that there is no excuse FOR misrepresent-
inG II and nc ground for opposing il I'm.
less misrcpresented. Within tn. limits
defined 10y the national constitution the
national administration has sought to Sc
cure to each man the full endowment of
his right TO live his life and dispose of
his property and his labor as he deems
best so long as he wrongs no one else. Vt
mas shown in effective fashion that in en-
deavoring to make good this guara ntee II
treats all men. rich or poor. whatever
their creed, their color or their birth
place. as standing alike before the law
Under our form of government the sphere
In which the nation as distinguished from
the state can act is narrowly cfrcum-
Scrtbed. ut within that sphere. all Nth1t
could be done has been done All think
ing men are aware of the restriction upon
the power of action of the national GOV
eminent in such matters. Being ourselves
mindful of them. we have been scrupu-
ANuSiN NoltluA OIl the one nanu 10 ke mod
crate in our promises and on the other
hand to keep these promises i'm letter and
IN spirit our opponents have been ham,
pered by no such considerat tons They
nave promised. and many of them now
promise, action which they could by no
possibility take in the exercise of consti-
tutional power, and which if ATTEMPTED
would bring business to a stapdstiU They
have used and often now use Language of
wild invective and appeal to all the baser
ton
Americans against their fellow Ameri-
cans. and yet whenever they have had
power they have fittingly supplemented
this eNtrav2g ance of promise by absolute
nudity in performance
This government is based 1Inop tba
fundamental idea that each man. no mat
ter what his occupation. his race or his
religious belief is entitled to be treated
on his worth as n man and neither favor
ed nor Disseminated against because of
any accident I'm his position. Even here
at home there is painful difficulty in the
EFFORT to realize this ideal and the at
tempt to secure from other nations ac-
acknowledgement of II sometimes encounters
obstacles that are well nigh insuperable.
Ior Inere are many nations which in the
SLOW procession of the ages have not vet
reached that point where the principles
winch Americans regard as automatic
obtain any recognition whatever One of
the chief difficulties arises in connection
with certain American citizens of foreign
birth or of particular creed who desire To
travel abroad Russia, for instance re-
fuses to admit and protect Jews. Turkey
refuses TO admit and protect certain sects
OF Christians. This government has con-
siStently demanded equal protection
abroad for all American citizens. whether
native or natur3lized On March % 1890
Secretary Hay sent n letter of instruc-
tons to all the diplomatic and consular
officers OF the United States. I'm which he
81 id ssrTniS ~
mate between native born and naturaliz-
ed citizens i'm according them protection
while they are abroad. equality of treat
ment being required 10y the laws OF the
United States" That these orders to our
agents abroad have been repeated again
and again and are treated as the fuuda-
mental rule OF conduct laid down for
them. proceeding upon the theory ''that
all naturalizcd citizens OF the United
States while i'm foreign countries are
entitled to and shall receive from this
government the same protection of per-
sons and property which Is accorded To
native born citizens" In issuing pass
ports the state department never dis
eliminates or ailudcss to any mans re-
ligion, and in gr; utjuy 20 every Amer
lean citizen. native or naturalized. Chris
tian or Jew. the same passport so far a :
IL has power il insists that all foreign
governments shall accept the passport a 3
prima facic proof that tho person therein
and entitled To protection rs such. IL is
n sta rding order TO every American diplo-
matte and consular officer To protect ev-
cry American citizen OF whatever faith
from unjust molcstation. aud our officers
abroad have been stringently required To
comply with this order.
Under such circumstances the demand
OF our opponents that negotiations Ice be-
gun TO secure equal treatment OF all
Americans from those governments which
Il. t,s
norance OF the facts or insincerity. No
change OF policy in the method or man
ner, OF negotiation would add effectiveness
TO what the state department has done
| and is doing. Tho steady pressure which
the department has been keeping up i'm
the past will Ice continued I'm the future.
This administration has on all proper oc-
castonS given clear expression TO the be
lief of the American people that discrim-
ination and oppression because of reli-
gion wherever Practiced are acts of in
Justice before God and man, and In max
ing evident to the world the depth OF
/ American convictions In this regard We
have gone To the very limit OF diplomatic
usage
IL is a striking evidence Of our oppo-
nents' insinccrity IN this matter that with
| their demand for radical action 10y the
| state department they couple a demand
| for II reduction in our small military es-
| tablishmcut Yet they must know that
Il tue lltNu Dsilu To our ltOltSlS aS1inSN III
\ treatment OF our citizens will be exactly
( proportionate 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 II consistent they should
| have gone one step further and congrat-
| ulated the country upon the way i'm which
| the civil service law is now administered
| and the way in which the classified serv-
| Ice has been extended. The exceptions
| from examinations are fewer by far than
| ever before and are confined TO individual
| cases where the application of the rules
would be impracticable, unwise. unjust
or unnecessary. The administration OF
4 the great body of the classified civil serv-
| ice is free from politics and appointments
| and removals have been put upon a bust
| ness basis Statistics show that there il
| little difference between the tenure of the
| federal classified employees and that of
| the employees of private business corpo-
| rationS. Less than per cent of the class
| ihed employees are over seventy years of
age, and in the main the service rendered
/ is vigorous and efficient. Where the mer-
\ Z system was of coun,e most needed vas
| N the Philippine Islands, and civil serv
| Ice law of very advanced type has there
Il