Truth. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1901-1908, 1906-07-14
LAW AND FRIENDSHIP.
20. r. Washburn in Collier's.)


ership CT the affections and loves be-
slowed upon him. The state has the
power to limit, tax, and define property
rights, and it recognizes mans proper
ty in his loves and home enjoyments
as well as in his material interests. 1t
Is not legal to ALLEVIATE the affections
of a wife or husband, for these are
recognized as part of mans most val
liable possessions. 1t is evident that
the ownership by American citizens
of the affections and support of rela-
tives in Russia is as valuable and as
legal as the ownership of cargoes,
bales Of merchandise, ships, or real
estate belonging to these citizens and
now in the Cars territory. Should
the officials of the empire destroy a
trading steamer belonging to any of
our countrymen. there would at once
he most emphatic protest from Wash
ington, and, if such conduct were per-
sisted in, there would be diplomatic
warnings, perhaps even war. Yet the
massacres of the Jews are in defiance
of the laws of both Russia and the
United States, as clearly as would be
the seizure, without legal warrant, of
a ship or factory. BY the laws of both
nations, too, the right of citizens to
| the enjoyment of the counsel and love
| of near relatives is protected and
recognized in practical ways. Under
| the circumstances it would seem that
| the authorities of our national admin
| istration might proclaim a new doc
trine, as far-reaching and as logical
AS was that of Monroe; that the kill
| ing of relatives of American citizens,
thus causing them the loss of that
which our people prize more than all
property itself, is, If done in defiance
of the laws of our country and of the
country where such acts are commit
| ted, an act unfriendly to the people of
the United States, and must be fol-
lowed by the same redress, apology,
and guarantees against continuance
CT such offenses, as are customary
when other possessions of American
| citizens are attacked Such an an
nouncement from Washington would
| be a recognition of the consciousness
that the real interest of humanity, the
thing most to be protected, and for
| which all governments are primarily
founded, is the happiness of the peo-
pie, not their material wealth. ORR
| Chtdi hatioho iOhS iOSoSohiNOu'
in theory at least, this Interpretation
of the duty of those in power, and such
a statement, backed by moderate but
firm action, would not only relieve
the Jews of our land from some of
their sufferings on account of foreign
expressions, but would establish dis
| tinct advance in modern civilization
and make America respected by all
races, as the champion of the Cypress
ed. Our sphere of action would, of
course, be limited to those cases where
our citizens were aggravated by the
murder of relatives, but the claim that
the Gar might with equal force ask
\ that lynchings in this country should
cease, would not hold. In the one in
stance our citizens are injured by
Russian oppression, but in the other
Russia has no ground to say that her
people are deprived of family affection
by the loss of negro murderers in the
south. There are no precedents for
such declaration as the United States
now has an opportunity to make, but
the unprecedented things are those
| which count most in the progress Of
| the world, and America has, from its
| earliest history, been noted for its
strength in making and maintaining
new ideals.