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lature, resolutions were introduced demanding the 

 recall of Minister Lowell, assailing the Czar for his 

 conduct toward the Russian Jews, sympathizing 

 with the Land League and the Dutch Boers, etc., 

 etc.; the passage of each of which we strenuously 

 and usually successfully opposed, on the ground that 

 while we would warmly welcome any foreigner who 

 came here, and in good faith assumed the duties of 

 American citizenship, we had a right to demand in 

 return that he should not bring any of his race or na- 

 tional antipathies into American political life. Reso- 

 lutions of this character are sometimes undoubtedly 

 proper; but in nine cases out of ten they are wholly 

 unjustifiable. An instance of this sort of thing 

 which took place not at Albany may be cited. Re- 

 cently the Board of Aldermen of one of our great 

 cities received a stinging rebuke, which it is to be 

 feared the aldermanic intellect was too dense fully 

 to appreciate. The aldermen passed a resolution 

 "condemning" the Czar of Russia for his conduct 

 toward his fellow-citizens of Hebrew faith, and 

 "demanding" that he should forthwith treat them 

 better; this was forwarded to the Russian Minister, 

 with a request that it be sent to the Czar. It came 

 back forty-eight hours afterward, with a note on 

 the back by one of the under-secretaries of the lega- 

 tion, to the effect that as he was not aware that 

 Russia had any diplomatic relations with this par- 

 ticular Board of Aldermen, and as, indeed, Russia 

 was not officially cognizant of their existence, and, 

 moreover, was wholly indifferent to their opinions 



