The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-12-19
Senator Rayner Handlce Russian Sit
uatlon Without Any Hems or
Haws In tho Senate
Today.
NEGOTIATIONS USELESS
People Of the World Are Looking to
America to Take Firm Stand
Against Barbar
Ism.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service,
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19. THE
night OF barbarlsm must close 80 far
as we are concerned" said Senator
Isadore Rayner, (dem., Md in Wig
orous speech in the senate today on
the abrogation of the treaty with
Russia. "This is the land of relig-
ious liberty, so ordained by the wisdom
of God and SO created by the genius
of man. We cannot permit any auto
cratic government to visit this inquity
upon our citizens. The day of religious
inquisition is over. 1t is useless to
talk of negotiations. The russian
government cannot be negotiated with.
without criticising the state de-
partment or any one else, cannot un-
derstand why this government has not
long ago demanded Of those in auth
ority in this despotic land that if they
do not amend their code of religious
: persecution and become proselytes
at the altars of reason and
humanity, they will no longer be tol.
Grated to retain friendly intercourses
) with our free institutions.
What is the cause of this into!er
, ance? Have these people committed
: any crime against the laws or insti
tutions of Russia? Yes they have
They have committed the same crime
81 which their forefathers committed ant
D which their posterity will continue i
commit to the remotest generation
They have worshipped God according
to the traditions of their faith ant
the dictates of their conscience.
"I have read its draconian code
which has been translated into ever.
language, and what wounds me to tn
heart is that this Iliad has never ye
struck responsive chord upon an,
of the highways and centers of civ
ilization.
"If the emperor of Russia, who I
& at the head of the ecclesiastica
church Of the realm, by some suprem
act of humanity directed agains
these PROSTATE victims of his intolel
ance, will offer them the alternativ
of either accepting the faith of thei
prosecutions, or the imposition OF an
additional servitude, l think | kno'
what the result will be. They wi
Z never abandon the altars of thei
fathers.
Senators, take this as you will,
Is nothing but persecution directe
s against citizens of the United States
You ask for other methods of relic
There is no other method OF relic
Do we propose to keep treaties, an
allow other governments with whol
we have made them to break them
their will? No other civilized natio
on this earth would assume such
humiliating position. The heart of tn
j compact has been pierced and, raisiI
ID as 1t does with us the question of r
10 ligious freedom, its most sensitive fe
IN ture has been mutilated and tramplt
in upon. We deserve the contempt
n mankind if we reel at the blow al
st submit to this degrading indignit
re There is no way out of 1t except t
lg abrcgation of this treaty.
For forty years, the pleading voic
ne of these helpless victims of religio
1d intolerance have gone across t
ed water for their rights. 1t has all be
to in vain. Now they look to us as the
he ancestors for forty years in the Wild
it ness looked to the cloud by day a
al the pillar of fire by night to lead the
ct to their deliyerance. The hour
W. negotiation has passed.
,y, -