The San Francisco call., 1904-09-12

this extravagance of promise by absolute nul-
lily in performance.
This Government is based upon the funda-
mental IDEA that each man, no matter Wnat
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 this ideal; and the attempt
of 1t sometimes encounters obstacles that are
well-nigh insuperable; for there many ma
have not yet reached that point where the
principles which Americans regard as axiom
attic 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, refuses to ad-
NIT 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 citi-
zens. whether native or naturaiized. On
March 81 1899. Secretary Hay sent letter
Of instructions to all the diplomatic and con-
sular officers of the United States in which
he said: This department does not discrimi-
nate between native-born and naturalized citt-
zens in according them protection while they
are abroad, equality of treatment being re-
quired 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 iE foreign countries are entitled to and
shall receive from this government the same
protection of persons and property which Is
accorded to native-born citizens" In issuing
passports the State Department never dis
criminates or alludes to any mans religion
and in granting to every American citizen, ma
tive or naturalized, Christian or Jew, the same
passport, so far 1T has power 1t insists that
all foreign governments shall accept the pass
port as prima facie proof that the person
therein described is a citizen of the United
States and entitled to protection as such. 1t
is standing order to every American diplo-
matte and consular officer to protect every
American citizen. of whatever faith. from
just moestation; and our officers abroad have
been stringently required to comply with this
order.
Under such circumstances, the demand of
our opponents that negotiations be begun to
those governments which do not now accord
1t shows either ignorance of the facts or in-
sincerity. No. change of policy In the method
ness 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 admin
istration has on all proper occasions given
clear expression 10 the belief of the Aneri-
can people. that discrimination and oppression
because Of religion, wherever practtced, are
acts of injustice before God and man; and in
making evident to the world the depth OF
American convictions in this regard we have
gone to the very limit Of diplomatic usage
1t is striking evidence Of our opponents
insincerity in this matter that with their de-
mand for radical action by the State Depart
ment they couple a demand for reduction IN
our small military establishment. Yet they
against ill-treatment of our citizens will be
exactly proportionate TO the belief in our abil-
ity to make these protests effective should the
need arise
Our opponents have now declared themselves
in favor of the civil service law, the repeal OF
which they demanded In 1900 and in 1895. II
consistent, they should have gone one step
further and congratulated the country upon
the way in which the civil service law is
now administered and the way in which the
classified service has been extended. The ex-
ceptions from examinations are lewer oy Tar
than ever before and confined to individual
cases, where the application of the rules would
be impracticable. unwise. unjust or unneces-
sary.