Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-12-23
SENATOR SMITH
ELOQUENT IN
THE SENATE
Makes Forceful Speech Urging Re-
peal of Treaty With Russia Be-
cause of UnfairneSS to Jews

to reduce the citizens of Russia and of
the United States alike, so far as the
respective rights of visiting the land of
one by the other is concerned, to what
ever primary rights or privileges exist
under the usages of civilized nations.
Such statue has at least the merit of
being equal and reciprocal-an improve
ment over existing conditions.
1--WE cannot deny the authority of the
Russian Government. in the absence of
contract in the form of treaty to the
contrary, to exclude from the land those
whose presence or teachings the Govern
ment regards as source of danger.
"As nation we do the same thing.
Liberal though we are to foreign visit
ors and immigrants, we promptly ex-
clude those who, according to our own
theory and standard, are undesirables.
Our standard no doubt is regarded as
cruel, unjust and arbitrary by the peo-
pie and nations barred from our shores
by il.
"And while. as Presbyterian myself,
am utterly unable to understand how
the presence of missionaries teaching
the doctrine of my faith can be anything
other than an inestimable benefit TO any
people, still am obliged to concede the
right of the Russian people to disagree
with me and claim the superiority
of their church; and also | must con-
cede them the right to determine,
believing the doctrines of John Calvin
to be heresies and their teaching SUBJ
versive of the peace and established do
mestic order of their land, to prohibit
such preaching and teaching. But Just
so long as the treaty of 1882 is in force
cannot concede any right whatsoever
existing in the Russian Government, in
the light of that contract, to exclude
any citizen of the United States because
he is Presbyterian minister, q Cath
olic priest or Jewish rabbi.
There seems to me to be overwhelm-
ing reasons for adopting the resolution
promptly and no satisfactory reason for
delay or doubt. The resolution in no
way commits us to policy of unre-
stricted immigration. 1t will in no way
embarrass us in enforcing the exclusion
of individuals and races whose presence
on our shores is menace to our domes-
tic tranquility and national welfare. 1t
commits us to no new rule or principle;
it merely applies commonsense REM
edy to an intolerable condition. vindi-
Gates principle of our national exist
ence and proclaims the truth that we
will not be bound as nation by COM
pact the other party thereto does not
respect in spirit or in letter.
1--WE have. feel, too long temporized
with the question. Wehave Inundated
ourselves too long by remaining unduly.
passive and acquiescent, encouraged, it
is true, by the hope of securing in time
some proper recognition by Russia of
our conception of the clear meaning of
the treaty, while our citizens have borne
for many years hardships and humilia-
tions unjustly imposed.
"We cannot as nation indorse by
silence and inaction national wrong
without national shame. 1t is equally
certain we cannot as a nation accept a
grudging or partial compliance with
the most important provisions of our
treaty with Russia-and how much less
a denial-in full satisfaction of our con-
tractual and legal rights without expos
ing our citizens-Jews, Catholics or
Protestants-to any domestic regulation
the Russian Government may hereafter
adopt, no matter how unjust, burdensome
or capricious it may be.
Every resource available to secure
the continued existence of the treaty
and at the same time the continued ex-
istence of our natural self-respect has
been exhausted. Whatever the internal
complications in Russia, they are not
entitled to retard our action in this
chamber. or to cloud our way to give
our people the only possible remedy
consistent with the preservation of
peace and of our national honor, by
adopting the resolution before US and
ending this treaty, which is better ter
minated than broken"