The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-12-29
THE NATION OF BARBARISM
(Statesman)

For some time the press dispatches
have had a great deal to say about
Russia. First the United States abro-
gated the treaty between this coun-
try and Russia entered into in 1882
for the reason that Russia persisted
in treating American citizens who
happened to be Jews with the same
disregard for the individual rights
that c~haracterizes her treatment of
her own people who are Jews. Che
treaty was a commercial treaty, and
as Don as a%brogated by President
Taft, an action having the unanimous
support of both houses of congress,
the Russian duma began to talk of
reprisal, with the thought that by
this IA the United States might
be forced to consent to the ill-treat-
ment of its citizens, and still con-
tinue to regard Russia as a favored
nation in commercial transactions.
The will of the ruling class was evil
IDENTIFY back of this desire, but un-
fortunately for their wishes, 1t was
discovered that Russia and not the
United States would be the sufferer
through the stoppage of commercial
relations that would inevitably fol-
low a policy of prohibitive reprisal.
But the spirit of barbarism was there
and was shown.
Some time ago the ruler of Persia
asked the president of the United
States to recommend some one, an
American, who could be secured to
organize the finances of that king
dom. A young American named
Shuster was recommended and was
then named as the Persian treasurer
general. During something less than
a year this young fellow has re-or-
ganized the whole financial system of
one, among the Oldest of the or
ganized governments of the world.
He has stopped injustice, dishonesty
and graft; has been instrumental in
the punishment of crime; has light
ened the burden of taxation for the
and altogether has done that
which he had been employed to do
n a way that fully met the expecta-
ions of both the kingdom of. Persia
md the president of the United
In doing these things it became
necessary to handle some effects of "a
russian grandee, who was endeavor-
ng to defraud the customs, in exact
y the same way that would be done
or any other malefactor. Russian
was Mortified. Shuster
vas approached with the suggestion
lat all were not fish that were
aught In his customs net, and that
le and his men should blind their
yes to dishonesty in the higher cir
les. On his refusal, Russia demand
ID his dismissal, and on Persia's re-
usal, the Russian empire decided on
rmed reprisal, and troops we're sent
o show Persian government that
heir right of self-government de-
ended solely on Russian good will.
'ersia, overawed by a show of SUI
force, receded from its posi-
ion, and said in substance to Shu-
ter, "You have done we'll, good and
aithful servant, but l am unable to
rotect you and myself, and you
lust 60 But Russia contented that
hen she invaded Persian territory
18th an armed force, it should have
cen received with glad acclaim. In
lead of this, the Persian forces,
'eak in plumbers but strong in ma
onal spirit, resisted invasion, and
blood of soldiers of both empires
as shed. Was Russia satisfied when
ersia consented to let Shuster go?
the wild beast satisfied when the
united animal crouches in despair?
.ussia is doing just what the prey
lg animal does-tears its victim
18th its strong claws. Persia is to
lffer so that no other weaker ma
on shall dare oppose the expressed
Ill of the Gar. The same fate
Guild have been meted out to the
nited States If the power to wreck
sngeance had been present in the
ussian empire.
The spirit of Notwithstanding in
ate cruelty of intention is apparent
a leading characteristic of the Slav-
mind, and is one of the reasons
by in all her wars Russia has been
of the sympathy of the
orld at large.
RAPID FLIGHT OF STORK