The state journal. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1883-1885, 1884-09-27
BLAINE AND THE RVS.
A Hitherto UnpubIished Letter of Seer,
tary Blaine in Behalf of the Prosecute
Israelites in Russia,

oAA4NE AMI The JEWS
A Hitherto Unpublished Letter of Secre-
tary Blaine in Behalf of the Prosecuted
Israelites in Russia.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26.-The follow
ing are the essential portions of hereto
lore unpublished dispatch by eX- Secretary
Blaine, concerning the condition of the
Jews in Russia, which has been procured
from the State Department;
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON,
November %, 1S81-James r. Lowell
Esq, etc.-Sir: You will remember that
with your dispatch of the Goth Of July
last, you transmitted memorandum Of
the laws and police regulations of Russia
affecting persons of the Hebrew faith,
which you had received from Sir Charles
Dixie, one of Her Majesty's Under-Secre-
taues of State for Foreign Affairs. Al
though no information was then given as
to the motive Of this courteous and very
acceptable communication, | naturally in
ferred that it was in a measure the
result Of the consultations which the
United States Minister at st. Petersburg
had been directed to hold informally with
his British colleague at that Court touch
ing the treatment of such American or
British Jews as should. because of bust
ness engagements or other causes calling
them to Russia, unfortunately find them
selves under the operation of the proscrip-
tive laws Of the Empire against all Israel
ties, native or foreign.
The question has for some years very
seriously engaged the attention of this
Government, as presented in the cases of
American citizens of Hebrew faith visit
ing Russia on peaceful. law observing er
rands Under the direction of the late
President Garfield, the representation of
what we believed to be our just claims in
the premises was vigorously renewed
through the United States Minister at st.
Petersburg by means of instructions, of
which | enclose for your information
copies with the relative anneXes These
instructions still properly reflect the views
of this Government that there shall be a
change in the treatment Of American
Israelites in Russia. In view of the cir
cumstance that the case ofMr. Lewisohn,
British subject expelled from the Rus
sian capital at that time, attracted the at
tention of her Majesty's Government, it
seems to the President that the almost
identical interests Of the two Govern
ments in the premises justifies similar
and, if practicable, concurrent action on
| their part, and to that end write you the
| present instruction.
The dispatches Of the American Minis
| ter at st. Petersburg show that the Rus
sian Minister for Foreign Affairs has
made frequent assertions of strong de-
sire on the part Of his Government 10
seek a solution which would harmonic
all interests. While declining to admit
| that the existing convention may exempt
| American citizens from abjeCt submission
| to The religious laws of the land, the
| Minister has on several occasions prom
| ised that the military authorities, in the
enforcement OF those laws, would give to
American citizens the widest practicable
latitude in interpreting the obligations OF
| the statutes. In point of fact, tits believed
that American (and presumably British)
! sojourners in Russia enjoy, under the
| almost absolute discretionary powers OF
| the Imperial military commanders, the eX-
| t:emest privileges and immunities which
are granted to any foreigners.
This Government colceives, however,
that it should not be content with leav-
ing the persons and the material interests
| Of it's citizens in Russia TO the discretion
airy control OF the military arm, however
friendly its declared purpose may be.
And in this conception it may very
properly assume to be joined by her
| Maiesty's Government, which has ever
been so watchfully jealous of the moral
| freedom Of its subjects in foreign lands.
The statements OF the Russian Govern
| ment that it was about to seek harmoni
Gus solution have been supplemented by
very distinct indications of the probable
direction in which the solution" will be
sought. There is, unfortunately, little
doubt that the Imperial Government con
| templates even more sharply defined re-
strictive measures against native Hebrews,
apparently under the belief that by re-
pressing their injurious activity" as it
| is phrased, the causes of discomfort which
the native Christians feel against the Jews
will be measurably lesSened, and internal
| harmony between these conflicting ele-
mcnts be restored.
1t cannot but be inexpressibly painful
to the enlightened statesmen of Great
Britain, as well as of America, to see a
| discarded prejudice CT the dark ages
| gravely revived at this day-tO witness
an attempt to base the policy of great
and sovereign State on the mistaken
theory that thrift is crime of which the
unthrifty are the innocent victims, and
that discomfort and disaffection are 10 be
diminished by increasing the causes from
which they arise. No student Of history
need be reminded Of the lessons taught
| by the prosecutions of the Jews in Cen
trail Europe and on the Spanish PENN
sula. Then, as in Russia to day, the He
brew Jared better in business than
his neighbor; then, as now, his
economy and patient industry lred
capital, and capital bred envy,
and envy persecution, and persecution
disaffection and social separation. The
old tradition moves in its unvarying cir.
cle--the Hebrews are made a people apart
from other people, not Of their own vo-
lition, but because they have been re.
pressed and ostracized by the communi
ties in which they resided. The Ghetto
| of medieval times still teaches its elO
| quent lesson, which the nations have done
well to heed. In Great Britain and in the
! United States the Israelite is not segre
! gated from his fellow-men. His equal
| part in our social framework is unchal.
denged; his thrift and industry add to the
wealth of the State, and his loyalty and
patriotism are unquestioned.
1t was perfectly clear to the mind OF
the late President that an amelioration OF
the treatment of the American Israelites
in Russia could only result from very
decided betterment of the condition OF
the native Hebrews, that any steps taken
| towards the relief of the one would neces-
sarily react in favor of the other, and
that, under all the peculiar and abnormal
aspects of the case. it is competent and
proper to urge the subject upon the at
tention of Russia To his successor in the
Chief Magistracy, these conclusions are
no less evident, and 1 am charged by the