Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-18
flemish Refugees.

Inc enlIe country leels tne gISdtess
sympathy with those unfortunate Jews
who, having been prosecuted and OPP
pressed almost to the death in Russia,
have left that abode of tyTannous despo-
tism for this land of. the free and the
home of the oppressed of all nations.
Meetings TO express sympathy and ex-
tend aid to the unfortunate have been
held in New York and other Northern
cities, and few days ago certain philan-
thropic citizens of Philadelphia took
similar action, and resolved to form
themselves into a society to receive g
party of the oppressed Israelites who,
driven from the land of their birth, Pro-
pose to make that city city Of refuge
from their prosecutors.
The Philadelphia journals have, as far
as we have seen, cordially Endorsed this
phiianthropic action Of these citizens Of
their city, and it is likely that the IN
happy refugees will receive su bstantias
aid when they arrive at their destination.
This is as it should be. The generous
impulses Of the free people of this re-
public are always readily awakened at
any tale of oppression, and when we read
of the atrocities which have been COM
mitted in Russia against the Hebrews, how
they have been robbed, plundered and
despoiled, how their homes have been
burned over their heads, and they re-
duced to misery and restitution, the
generous heart of the American public
has been quick to beat in sympathy with
their woes, and prompt to offer them
asylums in their misery.
Commenting on this action of the phi
lanthropists of Philadelphia, the Phila-
delphia Press takes very sensible view
Of the case, and truly says:
''The Hebrew, in the long history of
the race, has appeared in many parts.
In every community where his chances
have been anything ike equal he has
exhibited all the qualities which make
society a power for good. Industrious
prohigacy: contained, when his fellow
citizens are lost in passion, he has been
for a thousand years the saving leaven
in that shifting phantasmagOria called
the human family. But protean as are
the parts of the Hebrew, he has never
appeared as a mendicant, ard it
will be an error for the committee
charged with the reception Of the com
ing exiles to treat them as such. That
| they are penniless, and for the moment
dependent, is the great misfortune which
they will probably most lament; but that
they viii complacently receive the lar
gesse- Of charity, under what name so
| ever extended, no one who knows the
scrupulous independence and self-asser-
ton Of the race Of Abraham will for
moment believe.
''Who ever saw q Hebrew beggaTl
Such q thing has rarely been known.
Hence, when the victims OF politi-
cal rancor and popular deception
arrive, il will not do TO receive
| them as mendicants, Indifferent to
their whereabouts so long as hunger is
| fed and nakedness covered. What
/ should be done is to provide them oppor-
tunities for immediate industry Any
/ thing further than that will be an en-
| barrassment TO them, or they differ from
| the race elsewhere throughout the world.
But it is not Of the Hebrew race alone
that this holds good. No selfrespecting
/ people viii be willingly the recipients Of
q miscellaneous bounty or eleemOsynary
| propaganda.
This is the correct view to take Of the
movement to assist the Russian Jewish
exiles who are now steadily fleeing to-
wards our shores for relief from tyranny
and persecution. They do not lsk for
charity. They only need 10 he shown
that spirit of philanthropy which
should always exist between man and
man. Let them but be given a fair op-
portunity to help themselves and expert
ence has proven that they will speedily
become useful citizens Of our free re
| public.