The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-05-13
SHD JEWISH QUESTION IN rALks11xE

TO the Jewish question in Palestine must be
my excuse for again abiding to It. Although.
In consequence OF tho strenuous opposition OF
the Turkish Government the tide Of emigra-
ton into the country has been checked. the
desire OF the Russian and Roumanian Jews to
escape from the persecution to which they nre
subjected In Europe to the Holy Land hns in
no degree diminished. On the contrary. coloni-
Mtion societies continue to be formed and
FUNDS collected both In Russia and Roumania.
and the English Government has lately re-
monstratei with the Porte on the breach OF
treaty which tho prohibition OF Jews to settle
In Palestine involves. with Whit success 70.
mains to bc seen. Tho diplomatic action OF
the present Government OF England Ia by no
means OF robust kind. Curiously enough. tho
russian policy on this interesting question
appears to DO undergoing o change. Tho
russian Government seems disposed to espouse
In Turkey tho cause Of the rnce which 1t OPP
presses SO numerically ut home. N. do
Neliclof the Russian Minister ut CONSTANT
nople. has lntely addressed n note to the Porte
In which he complains that tho imperial
authorities at JANA place every possible
obstacle in the way Of jewish pilgrims from
Russia who wish to disembark there In order
to proceed to Jerusalem. Tho Porto has re-
Piled that no restriction whatever has been
that the Jews. like everybody else. arc free 10
60 there. The Porte. however. draws attention
to tho imperial decree. recently published.
which strictly prohibits the provincial authori-
ties from allowing Jews. under any condition
whatsoever. TO aottle In Palestine. and statos
that should any Jews. In spite Of such express
prohibition. sock to establish themselves there.
tho law OF exclusion would DO vigorously en-
forced. Now. this imperial decree Is In direct
defiance OF the treaties entered into with Eu-
rope by the Porte. under which all foreigners.
OF any nationality whatsoever. have q right to
scttlc In Palestine. The proof OF which Ia that
American and German colonists have estab-
lished themselves here; that O society has been
formed In Petersburg for promoting COLOMBIA
ton In Palestine by Russian Christian sub
jects. A Jew. therefore. who is a Russian sub
ject has manifestly as good right to buy
piece OF land In the country and settle upon 1t
ns Christian. As this moment the Rus
siNn Consul-General at Beyrout 10 warm
~ espousng the cause OF q Russian Jew
colonist. who forms one OF colony OF twenty
five Russian and Koumanian Jew families
who have bought land and settled not far from
the Lake OF Tiberias. A Moslem youth wishing
to examine bis revolver. which the Jew refused
to nlow him to do. the weapon accidentally went
of In tho struggle. and MORALLY wounded the
Moslem. Tho whole Mussuman village was IN
in arms. and II was only by the exercise OF much
tact on the part o! the native Arab Jews that
general masncre was ayertcd. The young jew
was thrown into prison. although 1t WAS recog-
nIzed as an accident. and has been confined In
filthy coll for moro than four months. His
case was warmly taken up by tho Rus
sinn authorities. and the plea Of tho
Porto Is that he had already signed a paper de-
cia RING hipNscn n anh Due
sian officials reply to this that he has since
travelled under his Russian pass port. hns been
recognized as Russian subject by the author
tiles. and that the Arabic paper he signed was
enormously repre- ssnted to him ns being only
permission from tho local authority to buy
lind md build o house There the matter
stands at present and warm correspondence
is taking plnce on tho subject. 1t is significant
% showing tho attitude which tho Russians
ere assuming In tho matter. The Russian Vice
Sonsul moro not long since brought some Rus
hmonstfNnSes VI tho IocN authorities II rs
evident that II the Russian Government adopts
tho policy OF encouraging jewish emigration
into Palestine. and Of protecting the emigrants
whom here. they will have obtained an excellent
excuse for political Interference In the country.
This was always the danger. and might have
boon avoided by n moro enlightened and far
S'NhtSA h'''N) VII IitTL VI lHc lOTt0. ma
tho Turkish Government encouraged jewish
emigration on the condition Of every em!grant
becoming Turkish subject. they would have
added to the population by mn Industrious class
OF people, who would speedily have increased
its material prosperity. while tho Government
might have so controlled and regulated tho
emigration and the colonization that thcre
would have been nothing to fear from Il. BY
adopting tho opposite policy OF u forcble rc-
sistance. based upon the violation o! treaties.
they have put themselves In the wrong AMI
subject tho unfortunate cmiErants to such hard
ships that the most lively sympathy abroad has
bsan eyci ted thus far. and II corresponding in
dignniion aroused ncains: the bigotry and in
tolerance which should denv this suffering
race nm asylum whcro their presence would not
only be harmless. but in tho hiEhrs, degree nd-
vantngeous to tho Turkish province they hnd
chosen for their home. o! Into the prospects
OF both tho Jewish agricu ltural colonies which
have been established in Gaiilee havo I'M
proved. The assduity and perseverance with
which. In srito Of their inexperienced Of the
obstacles thrown in their way. and OF tho hard
ships insorarnble from settlement in a new
country. they hive lnbo red on tho soil. tho
progress they have made. and their prospects
for the future. all go tn sh ow that under favor.
able auspices colonies OF this nature cannot
but succeed: and this belief hns taken too
firm q hold on the Jewish mind both in
Russia and Roumania for it to b. lightly
abandoned. At present tho pressure on tho
part Of the Roumanian Jews to emigrute hither
Ia greater than In Russia. whero thcre has been
a lul in the persecution but unfortunately the
lloumnninn Government has no diplomatic
agents in these parts. md Ia Indifferent to the
fate Of the jews who leAyo their country. In
former times the British Government had a
habit OF TAX NIX walls and atrHy. 81 this descrip-
iiPn, nndor its protection. Thus nearly tho
eraiea, To- Palestine thirty year. aro. and
granted them. and to this day they travel
with British passports. and pay nve shiIings u
yoar 10 renew their registration. which secures
them tho pr tocti0n o: the British Consul II
my Government were phiinn, nropic enough to
adopt similar plRn how. thor" would be M
difficulty In thcsa poor noumrninns emtaring
the. country and settling here: hut IT'S courSr
which naturally involves responsibilities. and
opens door to possible com plicat,ons. and in
these practical days peoples sufYnrlngs, unless
something ia to bs made OF them, do not fur
for the amount oil trouble which they might
involve. Otherwise here is grand on
pprtunity for country like America
whose nostion. outside the scope OF East