The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-12


their BIRTH place, as standing alike be-
fore the law. Under our form of gov
eminent the sphere in which the ma
ton as distinguished from the state
can act is narrowly circumscribed; but
within that sphere all that could be
done has been DONE All thinking men
are aware of the restrictions upon the
power of the national government in
such matters. Being. ourselves mind
full of them. we have been scrupulous-
~ careful on the one hand to be mod
crate in our promises, and on the
other hand to keep those promises in
letter and in spirit Our opponents
have been hampered by no such con-
siderations. They have promised, and
many of them now promise, action
which they could by no possibility take
in the exercise of constitutional power,
and which. if attempted, would bring
business to a standstill; they have
used, and often now use, language of
wild invective and appeal to all the
baser passions which tend to excite
one set of Americans against their fell
low-Americans; and yet whenever they
have had power they have fittingly
supplemented this extravaga of
promise by absolute nullity in per-
Torrance.
Equal Protection for All.
This government is based upon the
fundamental idea that each man, no
matter what his occupation, his race,
or his religious belief, is entitled to
be treated on his worth as a man,
and neither favored nor Disseminated
against because of any accident in his
position. Even here at home there
is painful difficulty in the effort to
realize his ideal; and the attempt to
secure from other nations acknowl-
edgment OF 1t sometimes encounters
obstacles that. are well nigh insupera-
Bile; for there are many nations which
in the slow procession of the ages have
not yet reached that point where the
principles which Americans regard as
automatic obtain any recognition
whatever One of the chief difficult
ties arises in connection with certain
American citizens of foreign birth, or
of particular creed, who desire to
travel abroad. Russia, for instance
Turkey refuses to admit and protect
certain sects of Christians. This gov
eminent has consistently demanded
equal protection abroad for all Ameri-
can citizens. whether native or nat
uralized. On March 81, 1899, Secre-
tary Hay sent a letter of instructions
to all the diplomatic and consular of
ncers OF the United States, in which
he said: This department does not
between native-born and
naturalized citizens 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 fundamentai
rule of conduct laid down for them.
upon the theory that ali
citizens of the limited
States while in foreign countries. are
to and shall receive from this
government the same protection of
persons and property which is accord
ed to native-born citizens" In issI1-
ing passports the state department
never discriminates or aIludes to anv
mans religion; and in granting TO
every American citizen, native or nat
urahzed, Christian or Jew, the same
passport, so far as it has power it in
slsts that all foreign governments shall
accept the passport as prima facje
proof that the person therein described
Is citizen of the United States and
! d 70 protection as. such. 1t is.
d1piomattc and consular officer to nro-
tect every American citizen. of what
ever faith, from unjust rnoIestatfon:
ana our officers abroad have been
this order WIN
Under suen circumstances. the de-
iahd OF our opponents that negotia-
ions be begun to secure equal treat
nent of all Americans from those GOV
ernments which do not now accor5 -
SHOWS either ignorance of the facts or
hslncerlty- No change of policy in the
nethod or manner of negotiation would
ldd effectiveness to what the state de-
'teady pressure which the department
las been keeping up in the past will be
continued in the future. This admins
ration has on all proper occasions
gwen clear expression to the belief of
he American people that discrimination
ma oppression because of religion.
wherever practised, are acts of Injustice
before God and man; and in making
1vldent to the world the depth of Amer
can convictions in this regard we have
zone to the very limit of diplomatic
Usage.
Democratic Insincerity.
1t is striking evidence of our op-
)onentS' fnsincerity in this matter that
With their demand for radical action by
he state department they couple a de-
nand for reduction in our small mill
airy establishment. Yet they must
know that the heed paid to our protests
Iga1nst ill-treatment of our citizens will
De exactly proportionate to the belief
n our ability to make these protests
Effective should the need arise.
Our opponents have now declared
themselves in favor of the civil service
aW, the repeal of which they demand
d in 1900 and in 1896. If consistent,
hey should have gone on step further
md congratulated the country upon the
way in which the civil service law is
low administered, and the way in which
he classified service has been extended. |
The exceptions from examinations are
ever by far than ever before, and are
onfined to individual cases, where the
DUPLICATION of the rules would be i'm
unwise, unjust, or unne-
eSSary. The administration of the
treat body of the classified civil ser
ice is free from politics, and appoint |
nents and removals have been put upon |
: business basis. Statistics snow that |
here is little difference between the !
enure of the federal classified employees |
nd that of the employees of private |
BUSINESS corporations. Less than one |
'er cent of the classified employees are |
'ver seventy years of age, and in the |
main the service rendered is vigorous |
nd efficient. Where the merit system |
vas of course most needed was in the |
Philippine Islands; and a civil service |
aw of very advanced type has there |
cen nut into ODpra fiOn and SprT1O11JofJS- I