The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-04-28
THE PERSECUTION IN RUSSIA.

There is nothing in the world to-day, and
there has not been for years, anything SO TO.
tally abhorrent to the spirit Of the age, any.
thing SO demanding the attention of the
Russian Government, and If necessary the
Intervention of other nations, as the persecu.
ton Of the Jews in Southwestern Russia
The outrages began year ago. There are
three million Jews in Russia, and up to this
time the Jews have been murdered, ravished
burned, thrown from windows, their houses
demolished over their heads and they driven
shelterless To the fields from nearly two hun
dred towns. On last Christmas day in
Warsaw three hundred houses and six hun
dred shops were plundered while garrison
of 10000 Russian soldiers stood by and gave
no aid. This month q dispatch says two
thousand Jewish families were ruined at
Balta and the riot almost assumed the char
acter OF struggle for humiliation of the
Jews. and this In country which only a
few years since raised the standard of war
against Turkey, ostensibly at least because
of Mohamedan oppression Of the Christians.
Its religious tolerance seems 10 be circum-
scribed by the same intolerance as that Of
Turkey, unless, indeed, the Government is
powerless 10 repress these outrages. Russia
has had laws for hundreds Of years prohibit
Ing the immigration of Jews to Russia or
their residence within it, bus during the ex-
istence of these laws has acquired by con.
guest, Poland, Bessarabia, the Crimea and
other provinces, territory in which more than
two million Jews resided, land IL seems that IL
Is against these principally the persecution
is being waged. In the meantime by the
laws OF Russia many Of these incorporated
Jews have not been permitted either to emf
CRATE from Russia or go TO other Provinces.
Thus they have been kept in what has turn.
ed out to be slaughter pens. The Russian
Government claims that large proportion
OF the Nihilists are Jews, but il is stated the
arrests do not prove this and the recent tele.
gram states that the attack upon the Jews
was presumably under the leadership Of the
Nihilists. 1t Is not In the Jewish nature TO
destroy but to acquire, and II is much more
likely that their boorish, Nihiistic foes
have committed these pillages and murders
TO rob the Jews Of the substance they had
acquired. Large numbers of those
who were able and who were not pro-
hibited by the regulations and laws
immigration have already
left inhospitable Russia and are
seeking homes in Western Europe and
America, but three million people cannot
emigrate for many years and meantime the
poorer. ones are left the victims of rapine and
lust. There have been wars for ideas, for
liberty, for conquest, for diversion, for wars
sake alone. Russia, if need be, should uu-
sheath the sword for Tolerance. To no bet
ter purpose could her vast armies be used
than in protecting her prescribed people from
the rapacity Of their foes and thus command
ing for herself the active sympathy of the
world In the struggle with Nihilism. Be-
tween Russia and the United States the
closest amity exists. Russia has no better
friend and we had no better than her in our
hours of peril. But, II unheeded or indifIer-
emily this crime against common humanity
is passed over by that government the Gar
will have forfeited friendship and earned
like indifference from the world when Mill
ism ovorturns his throne. If the Russian
Government is willing but too weak to cope
with Its foes In extending this protection, 1t |
would be the most Christian act the Chris
Lian nations have done for centuries to |
strengthen its hands by an alliance that |
would protect these prosecuted people, en-
large Russian liberties and crush out Nihi- |
ism.