The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1911-12-29
ny JAMES 4. EDSERTON.

Ky JAMES 4. ED6ERTON
NUSSlA must admit the American
principle of equality before the
IN law when she deals with Ameri.
can citI2rns. That Is the mean.
my OF the action taken by the house of
representatives when II voted to abro-
gate the Russian treaty by majority
OF 300 TO |. For more than thirty
years there has been controversy be
tween the two nations as to honoring
American passports. Russia insisting
on her right to question our citizens as
TO their religious belief before admit
ting th"m and excluding Jews. Catho.
lie priests and Protestant missionaries
Practically every American secretary
OF state has protested against this atti.
tude, but nothing has come OF it. Now
the congress proposes to take decisive
action. President Taft has stated that
diplomatic negotiations are puin" for
ward and that he will communicate
with congress later In regard thereto
The Principle Involved.
The primary principle of American.
ism Is that "all men are created eQuo. ."
This Is the first proposition laid down
In the Declaration of Independence.
There has been a lot of nonsense writ
ten and spoken concerning IT. but un.
derStood In the sense in which ii was
adopted 1t Is true today and eternally.
The Declaration of Independence is
a political document; therefore this
To hnf al oil
equal" should be understood in politi.
cal sense. 1t means that men are equal
before the law. II applies to all Amerl-
can citizens not only as to their treat
ment by our own government. but by
all other governments There can be
no discrimination. Another American
principle is that the law shall know no
difference Of race or religion. That is
only further application Of political
equality. This also applies not only TO
our own government, but to all other
governments in their treatment of
American citizens.
If we permit any government with
which we have treaty relations to dis
eliminate between American citizens
because OF race or religion it is as
though we did it ourselves. Our own
government participates in the dis
elimination. 1t is bound to protect all
American citizens. to safeguard their
persons. their properties and their
rights. In whatever part Of the world
they may be II any nation violates
the person, property or rights OF an
American citizen the American gov
eminent is bound to demand and OBJ
tain reparation. even to the point OF
going to war. Now. Russia for forty
years has been denying and violating
the rights OF certain portion OF our
citizens. AS Congressman Suzer said:
This is not Jewish question. 1t is
an American question" The shame of
it is that we have permitted this dis,
elimination so long. There liz nothing
left but to abrogate the treaty. 1t is
matter Of national integrity.
Russia's Attitude Insulting.
In her insulting attitude toward
American Jews. Catholics and mission
sries Russia has not only violated the
fundamental principles of our govern
ment but she has violated the treaty
The language OF that instrument is as
follows:
There shall be between the territories of
the high contracting parties a reciprocal
liberty OF commerce and navigation. The
inhabitants of their respective states shall
mutually have liberty to enter the ports.
places and rivers of the territories of
each party wherever foreign commerce is
permitted.
They shall be at liberty 10 sojourn and
reside in all parts whatsoever OF said ter
ritories in order 10 attend TO their affairs,
and they shall enjoy TO that effect the
same security and protection as natives of
the country wherein they reside on con-
dillon OF their submitting to the laws and
ordinances there prevailing and particu-
larly TO the regulations in force concern
in; commerce.
For nearly forty years after the
adoption OF the treaty there was little
friction over the matter OF passports.
Formerly the Russian attitude toward
the Jews was liberal 1t has been
only since the black hundreds. the
infamous program and the massacres
OF Jewish citizens that the trouble
has arisen. 1t must not be supposed
that only American Jews have been
excluded. Those Of other nations
have been kept out also The millions
OF Russian Jews that have come TO this
country have made the question more
acute with us. however, Against these
Hebrews that have fled from the cars
dominions the Russian government
has been especially bitter They could
not 60 back even to see their own
relatives.
Secretary Blaine's Protest.
Among the American secretaries OF
state that have protested against the
Russian practice OF ignoring our pass.
ports were william NJ. Evarts. James
G. Blaine and John Hay. In 1881 Mr.
Blaine wrote TO John w. Foster. our
minister 10 st. Petersburg. as follows:
l need hardly enlarge on the point that
the government OF the United States con-
cludes its treaties with foreign states for
the equal protection OF all classes OF
American citizens. II can make absolute
~ no discrimination between them. what
ever be their origin or creed. So that they
abide ny the laws at home or abroad, II