New-York tribune., 1904-09-12

to exotic one set Oh Americans against lHelr
low Americans; and yet whenever they have
had power they have fttingly supplemented this
extravagance OF promise by absolute nulnty in
performance.
EVERY MAN TO BE TREATED AS MAN.
This government is based upon the funda-
mental idea that each man. no matter what his
occupation. his his religious belief. is en-
titled to be treated his worth man. and
neither favored Disseminated against be-
cause of any accident In his position Even here
1t home there is painful difficulty In the effort to
realize this ideal; and the attempt TO secure from
other nations acknowledgment of it sometimes
encounters obstacles that wellnigh tnsuper-
able. 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 tho chief difficulties arises in
connection with certain American citizens of for
eign birth, or Of particular creed. who desire to
travel abroad. Russia. for instance, refuses to
admit and protect Jews. Turkey refuses to ad-
nit and protect certain sects Of Christians This
government has consistently demanded equal
protection abroad for all American citizens,
whether native naturalized. On March "a
1892. Secretary Hay sent letter OF instructions
to all the diplomatic and consular offices OF the
United States. in which he said: This depart
and naturalized citizens in according them pro-
tection while they are abroad. equality of treat
ment 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 citizens of the United
States while in foreign countries are entitled TO
and shall receive from this government the
same protection of person and property wnlch
is accorded to native born citizens" In Issuing
passports the State Department never discrim-
mates or alludes TO any mans religion; and in
granting 20 every American citizen. native or
naturalized, Christian or Jew, the same pass
port so far as It has power 1t insists that all
foreign governments shall accept the passport as
prima facie proof that the person therein de-
scribed is a citizen Of the United States ana en-
titled TO protection as SUCH 1t is a standing or
der to every American diplomatic and consular
officer to protect every American citizen. OF
whatever faith, from unjust molestation. and
our officers abroad have been stringently re-
quired to comply with this order.
Under such circumstances the demand OF our
opponents that negotiations be begun to secure
equal treatment of all Americans from those
governments which do not now accord 1t, shows
either ignorance OF the facts or insincerity. No
change OF policy in the method or manner OF
negotiation would add effectiveness TO what
the State Department has done and is doing.
The steady pressure which the department has
been keeping up in the past will be continued
in the future. This administration has on all
proper occasions given clear expression to the
belief of the American people that discrimina-
ton and oppression because OF religion. wherever
practised, acts OF injustice before God and
man: and in making evident to the world the
~ convictions in this regard
we have gone 70 the very limit OF diplomatic
usage.
It is a striking evidence of our opponents in
sincerity in this matter that with their demand
for radical action by the State Department they
couple a demand for reduction IN small
military establishment. Yet they must know
that the heed paid TO our protests against III
treatment OF our citizens Will be exactly pro-
portionate the belief In ability TO make
these protests effective should the need arise.
CIVIL SERVICE ESTABLISHED.
Our opponents have now declared themselves
In favor OF the Civil Service law the repeal of
which they demanded in 1900 and in 1896 IL
consistent. thay should have, gone one step fur
ther and congratulated the country upon the
way in which the Civil Service law is now ad-
ninlstered. and the way in which the classified
service 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 unnecessary. The adminlstra-
ton OF the great body OF the classified Civil
Service is free from politics. and appointments
and removals have been put upon a business
basis. Statistics show that there is little diff
ference between the tenure OF the federal cass-
fed employees and that of the employees OF prl-
vate business corporations Less than ] per cent
OF tho classified employees are over seventy years
OF age. and in the main the service rendered is
vigorous and efficient. Where the merit system
was OF course most needed was In the Philippine
Islands. and Civil Service law of very ad-
vanced type has there been put into operation
and scrupulously observed. Without one excep-
tion, every appointment In the Philippines has
been made in accordance with the strictest
standard OF fitness, and without heed to any
other consideration.
Finally, We come TO certain matters upon
which our opponents do In their platform OF
principles definitely take issue with u.s. and
where, if they are sincere. their triumph would
mean disaster to the country. But exactly as it
is impossible to call attention 70 the present
promises and past record OF our opponents with
out seeming offensive. II is impossible to COM
pare their platform with their other and later
official utterances and not create doubt as TO
their sincerity. In their private or unofficial ut
terances many of them frankly advance this in
sincerity as merit. taking the position that as
regards the points on which I am about to speak
they have no intention of keeping their prom
ises of departing from the policies now estab-
lished. and that therefore they can be trusted
not to abuse the power they seek
THE GREAT TARIFF QUESTION.