The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-03-11

RUSSIA AND THD JEWS
In . recent lecture before the Young
Mems Hebrew Association In New York
City, Mr.. John w. Foster, ex-ntnister
to Russia, very cleverly summarized
the condition Of that country In the
following brief words: 1T isa country
Of strange contradictions and marked
Inconsistencies in its government, 90
cirty and nature Of its soil. Its govern
nent Is an unrestricted despotism whose
ruler IL an absolute autocrat, while
many Of its political forms are those OF
a pure democracy. Its religion Is vested
in I'M all-lnwerful state church, while
professors of every faith are permitted to
teach their doctrine. Its society on the
one hand has a magnificent nobility
and on the other the most ahject power
ty. Its races are various and numerous
with conflicting elements, while its to
Biography presents wide spread contrasts
Orthodox Christians Of every creed
Catholics, Protestants, Fire Worship
pers, Mussulmcn, Bu.ld!sls and Pagal's
are all to I've found here. In st. r.
tersbury the Bible has been printed III
ll9 languages :or cneral circulation
Ninety millions Of people are held to
gether by the one ruler. Sixty millions
in Central Russia are q unified, com.
pact nationality. Around this mass il
a border of small races comprising
twenty millions of people, who have
little contact wi h the central popula-
ton, and each possessing individual in
tcre,t and pride of patri'nony." The
lecturer then referred to the aim Of the
Russian Government for the solidity OF
the Russian people, Of the reforms Of
Peter the Great, Of the antagoniSlns of
the aris:ocracy. church and peasantry;
Of the attachment Of the people
t, the Greek Church; Of the strict
Of the Government over
the religious ceremonies Of the people,
VI the dcvOtetlnesS Of the pc .santry to
the forms Of the Church and their
in paying the lees to the
OF the vicegerency Of the Gar,
Of the notorious profligacy and igno-
rance Of the priests, and Of the evils
causing discomfort and revolution
throughout the Empire. The speaker
laid there are now in Russia more than
Is. ks', 900 seces:es from the established
Church and these men became enemies
# the Car by reason Of the fierce per-
'ecQti"n and horrible cruelty to which,
hey were subjected. Among other
wills Of the country, the lecturer said,
we're the enormous and unfair tn xts, the
;''urcl fees, the tyranny of the Govern
l'ent in supprc>sing free speech, free
newspapers, and free religion, coupled
viii. the horrible torture Of the kn"ut,
deportation Of offenders
, Siberia, and the LEGAL Punishment OF
,lspccts. In the Course Of his lectun.
he speaker stated that few Isr;selites
'ere in sympathy with Nihilists, but
'cre loyal, law-aLi.lins class Of peo-
Ia. patiently baring u friyhtful perse-
ltiOn.
These Hebrews, Mr.. Foster says, are
loyal ami law abiding" and yet ii = ;
The Of tie accounts he true which We
ear "f the dreadful s,,titrings that they
ave been compelled to endure, they are
;n"n,'a people wi:o lay. no cons alerx-
"n, II" respect Tor law-al,i'ling people.
Why the Jews have been and arc still |
crserUte,l in Russ;:, it is not our pur-
os<: t" stop now and inquire. We ac-
rpt the reports Of the fact ~ true. We !
now that cries Of distress have gone |
y from that blood stained Land.
ne walls Of the widowed wo.,,cn |
nj orphaned children have novel the |
carts of the libcrty-loving people OF
ln,erit:., and organizations are imins
,r,nel throughout the country for the
urpose Of aiding the remaining suffer-
rs to leave the country and to provide
IF their Temporary wants when they
hall arrive ut their points OF lrstina-
ion. They cannot longer live in peace
i Russia. Their homes are dies. lated,
heir property destroyed and their f:,mi-
les unmcrcilvs>ly butcl,cre(l. DIR: Got
he'll, OF New York, says that since the
citation against the Jews commenced
he loss Of property has been over $780,
10000 in Southern Russia alone, and !
he l"ss Of lie in proportion. The Rus
ians themselves. the victims Of an in !
oler.nt spirit, arc in.o:crant in their !
le:,linys witt, their Jewish neiyhlcrs,
md the Government instead of inter- !
ksing its strong arm in their defense |
wink ut the lawlessness of their co.
,.!igiouS subjects. On last Christmas
lay In a small village in Southern Rus
,ia the Jewish inhabitants were driven
rom their homes ly the Russian peasant
~ who took possession Of them and kept
up drunken Orgie for weeks, and this