Arizona republican., 1911-12-17
SUNDAY. DEC. r.. 1911
The Passport Question.

For the honor of the United States and as a matter of simple justice tC a large number of their citizens it is 10 be hoped that congress will speed fly pass either the Sulzer resolution or the CuIberson resolution providing for the abrogation of the Russian treaty of 1882 While as matter of eXpediency there may be reason why this treaty should be kept alive there is a thousand times weightier reason why. as a matter of honor and justice, it should be killed and killed at oncv.
 The empire Of the czar has decid- ed that Jewish citizens of the United States shall not be accorded passport privileges in that country, which is to say they shall be accorded no privileges at all. Under that dis criminatOry ruling these people have citizens would have there if d state of war existed between the two coun- tries.
 The Sulzc- resolution, providing for the abrogation of this old time treaty. passed the house of representatives with just one dissenting vote. IL has gone to the senate committee on for eign relations. There is now a pro- position to amend which will neces sitate its being sent back to the house for concurrence in the pro- posed amendment. Also, some out and out opposition has developed. this opposition being based on the ground of expediency. IL is said that the abrogation of this treaty will pave the way for a commercial arrangement between Russia and Japan which will interfere in the Oriental trade of the United States and will cause loss of $30, ,00O0OO a year. And for these reasons it is proposed that we put our pride in our pocket, permit Russia to continue her insulting attitude, and do absolutely nothing for the protection of our citizens. A course of this kind seems almost unthink- able to an American with a drop of red blood in his veins.
 The United States values the friendship of Russia, which is per fectly right and proper But the ben efits flowing from international friendships should not be all on one side
 And the matter of eXpediency is' not all important. Suppose we do lose 80, 900 worth of trade. That is about 90 cents a year to each resident of this country. Is it pos sible the dignity of the nation and the rights of our citizens are not worth 90 cents a year Q each indi- Nidual of this country?
 But after all, that is not the ques- tion. If you want to get the gist of it imagine Russia and the United States to be two neighboring families. Uncle Sam says to Russia, Your people may freely come to our home whenever they desire and they shall receive all the courtesy accorded to anybody. They may come here and live if they wish. They may estab fish homes, acquire property and they will be given the protection of this family"
 On the other hand the czar says, T am willing to accord the same courtes;es to part of your people. But there are certain members of your family that will not be accorded any courtesy by my family. We don't want them here and if they try to live in this country they will be sent back home More than that, if they do come here. they will be subjected to every indignity that our practiced minds can conceive
 That is a fair and just statement of the case. Is it possible the United States will tamely submit toI an indignity of that kind?
 It must also be remembered that