The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-12-01

precepts handed down to US by the
sovereign of our predecessors, anu
which we have again received and
confirmed, that all the various nation
alities established in Russia shall
praise God, the All Powerful, each one
after the worship and religion of his
ancestors The decree of Car Alex
ander l, under date of Aug. Ii, 1907,
regulating the passports of foreigners
entering Russia, applies to all foreign
ers OF whatsoever nationality, and con-
tains no restriction based on race or
religion. In fact, there is no enact
ment of any restriction against Jewish
travel and residence down to the ukase
of June Z, 1860, which limits the free
entrance and residence of foreign Jews
to individuals of exceptional social or
commercial prominence. 1t is also
fact that norestdictive laws as to free
dom of travel by any class or denomt-
nation were enforced in Russia to any
serious extent until 1875, when, just
few years prior to the commencement
OF the violent prosecutions and mas
sacres of the Jews, discrimination be-
gan very seriously to be exercised
against the admission of foreign Jews,
including American born citizens. 1t
was then that diplomatic negotiations
with regard to the question were en-
tered into with Russia by our govern
ment for the first time. and, as many
times since then, without success.
Concerns Honor of Government.
Thus it will be seen that the vio-
lation of the treaty of 1882 by Russia,
if violation 1t be, and such it certain
ly appears, is a violation which con-
Germs the honor not of the Jews but
Of the American government. In per-
hitting such violation, the American
government sacrifices it's integrity as
a nation and its dignity as a world
power. If it is not a violation, then
ftNn Oti ion (f t. f<,l
Grating a treaty that discriminates
against any part of it's citizenship is
guilty of a breach Of the constitution
and of the fundamental principles on
which 1t rests, whereby equal rights
are guaranteed all citizens.
Now, whence shall come the re-
dress? Shall it come from Russia
During more than thirty years of
diplomatic negotiations on the pass
port question, Russia has not only not
given satisfaction, but has for the
most part ignored the issue. AS has
recently been stated by one who is
well acquainted with the details of the
negotiations, No two Dromeos ever
played hide and seek with each other
in comedy of errors worse than the
United States and Russia for thirty
years upon this simple, unbeatable
question. Russia's utter disdain of
this country, in so far as this question
is concerned, is conclusively proven by
her attitude towards the Jewish sub
jects of Germany, France, Austria and
England, permitting them, in spite of
far less favorable treaties, to travel
freely in Russia, under slight restric-
tions, for commercial and other pur-
poses; whereas similar privilege has
never yet been extended, except by
SPECIAL dispensation from the Russian
government, to an American born citi-
zen of Jewish faith
Where to Look for Redress.
I'VE shall then have to look to the
American government for redress.
True enough, the record of the past is
not very encourag ing. In 1879, a reso-
luton passed by the lower house of
congress authorizing the president. if
it should be found that the existing
| treaties between the United States and
Russia Disseminated in any particular
as to any class of our citizens, to take
| immediate action to have the treaties
so amended as to remedy their griev
ance,' failed to pass the senate. The
efforts of secretaries of state in various
administrations, Evarts, Blaine, Bay
ard, Gresham, Olney, Hay and Knox,
| have been absolutely without result
What remains? Simply to pass a bill
| or resolution in congress abrogating
| the treaty unless the claims of our
government with regard to it's privi-
| leges be Immediately acknowledged.
A movement to have such resolution
| carried at the coming session of con-
| gress has already been set on foot
Three bills are pending in congress at
| the present time. two in the house and
one in the senate, to abrogate the
treaty, and a considerable number of
| states, our own state of Florida in
| Guided, have memorialized congress to
| the same end. the abrogation of the
| treaty. strenuous efforts to secure the
prompt passage in both houses of an
| abrogation bill are being made by
| national citizens committee, composed
| of prominent men throughout the
| country, among others Governors Will
| son and Harmon, Senators La Toilette
| and Boies Penrose, DR.. Parkhurst, W. J.
Sheflein, and former Ambassador to
Russia Andrew D. White, and senators
| and representatives from various states
| have already pledged their support in
| congress.
Pleading For Rights.
| For thirty years American citizens
has been pleading for their rights as
| citizens of a free country, rights al
! ready guaranteed in a written bond
1t is the duty of our government to
| see to it that those rights be no longer
withheld. 1t is the duty of congress
| to abrogate the treaty with Russia
thus vindicating the honor of the
| American passport. 1t is the duty OF
| each one of us to lend such aid as We
| can to demand that the American
| passport be honored by every nation
with which we have exchanged recip
| rocal privileges.
| only then shall we be truly pa
| triotic and only then shall we show
ourselves truly grateful for our COM
mon country and the many blessings
it has bestowed upon us, when we
protect with courage and zeal its in
| tegrity and honor.
Hes true to God who's true to man;
Wherever wrong is done
| To the humblest and the weakest
Meath the all beholding sun,
| That wrong is also done to US,
/ md they are slaves most Ia Sc