New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-30
THE RUSSIAN VIEW.
FEELING AGAINST THE HEBREWS.

Amid the storm of popular Indignation which
has been aroused throughout the Western world
by the attitude of the Imperial Government Of
Russia toward it's 100000 Jewish subjects, it
is necessary to remember that there arc in this
particular matter. as in every other. two dis
tinct and separate sides to the issue. Hitherto
the foreign public has only been made acquitted
with the Jewish side of the case. This is due to
the fact that almost all the principal news
papers Of Europe. such as The Times and
Telegraph" in London; the "Tagblatt," the
"Fremdenblatt" and the Prcsse,' at Vienna. and
those Of Northern Germany nearly without
exception, are either owned. controlled or in
Huenced by Hebrew gold. Moreover. the editors
and correspondents to whose utteranoes 'the pub
lie is indebted for such knowledge as it possesses
about the Jewish problem in Russia belong nearly
in every instance to the Semitic race, prominent
among them being Mr.. Levi Lawson, the preprie-
tor and Editor Of " The London telegraph" aud
Mr. Blowitz. the Paris correspondent Of The
London Times"-a journal which is well
known to be financially controlled by the great
est Jewish banking house in the world More
over, the principal writer of The London Times"
all Jewish matters is NJ. Katchefsky, better
known by his pseudonyme of Stepniak, whose
position as a leader Of the Nihilst movement-S0
per cent of which is composed of Hebrews-natu
rally causes him to adopt extremely prejudiced
views concerning this question.
Inasmuch the finishing touches are being
put during the present week to the construction
of a superb synagogue, which has been in course
of construction here for two or Three years past,
and which eXcels in magnifcence and size any
edifces of the kind, either in Paris, London or
New-York, there is considerable ground for be-
lieving that the terrible portrayals of Jewish mis-
md in tn fhe aocf
overdrawn and exaggerated and it is high time
that the public should learn the other side of the
controversy. and hear for the first time what the
Imperial Government has to say concerning its
difficulty of dealing with the Jewish problem
Here as in nearly every other country" says the
"Nord,' the officially recognized and accredited
organ of the Imperial Foreign Office, there is
invasion of the indigenous Aryan by the Semitic
II Is true that in Russia, as elsewhere, there arc
among these Semites not only men of high in
tellectual calibre but also men of charitable and
generous hearts. But the is not made in their
image. The common Semite-very intelligent
very shrewd, and not too scrupulous-makes
himself very free with the Russian people, whom
he exploits with all the ingenuity of his race
The common run Of his vocations lies in being
tavern-keeper and money-lcnder of the viage-at
usurious rates-money changer and dealer
service by such proceedings and in such
proportions that the law is obliged to take
special measures against his desertion. Finally he
furnishes the ranks of Nihlism-which is opposed
to all the beliefs and traditions of the Russian
peOple-a contingent which is estimated at 80 per
cent. This is the regulation thing to which have
to be added such occasional incidents as the mon
strous and incredible exploitation of the Russian
army and people by fraudulent Jewish contrac-
tors during the war of 1s77-'7s."
The "Nord," after abiding to the popular
antipathy to the Jews which all this has i'm
planted in the hearts of the Russian people, goes
on to make the following official declaration :
The Imperial Government" it states, viii not
give scope to this popular resentment. But it
may perhaps, be fOsccd to apply against the
Semites measures which will reconcile the prn-
ciplcs Of humanity with the needs of the Russian
people, and with their right to be master their
house."
With regard to these measures the Russians
not slow to draw attention to the fact that
the principle of exceptional legislation is
not Of exclusively Muscovite growth 1t f1ourishes
they declare, foreign soil as we'll, and in
illustration thereof they cite the treatment in the
United States of the Chinese whose presence they
consider far less Objectionable less demoralizng
and less injurious TO public veal than that of the
Jews.
The object of the exceptional laws concerning
the Hebrews in Russia is identical with that of
analogous legislation against the Chinese in the
United States, namely, the protection of the in
terests of the poorer classes of the American
workingman and of the Muscovite Moujik or
peasant. The latter is to all intents and purposes
a child, especially in matters where money is con-
cerned Large. hearted, hospitable and generous
ho ic Of fba
principles of economy. If an abundant harvest
happens to fill his pockets. he does not dream of
laying anything aside for rainy day, but spends
everything TO the very last kopeck in merry
making and drinking. In fact. he throws his
money out of the windows and the Jew it is who
is waiting in the street to receive it in his Clt
stretched hand When bad times come, the
Moujk finding himself penniless, is obliged to
appeal for assistance to the Hebrew money-ender,
who makes the best of the bargain. The result
is that the majority of the twenty-five millions of
male peasant landowners in European Russia are
heavily in debt to the Jews, who rule display
more greed than discretion in the rates of interest
that they extort. These relations of creditor and
debtor which exist between the Jews on the one
hand and the Russian masses the other
responsible for the most considerable part of the
bitter sentiments that prevail For debtor can
scarcely be expected regard with feelings other
than of aversion creditor who in nine cases out
If ten is Enthusiastically relentless in eXacting
his due Moreover the religious faith of the
Mouiik is of the ignorant and unreasoning kind
which preyaied among the lower classes OF Western
Europe in the Middle Ages, before progress and
education had appeared on the scene to engender
religious tolerance. Hence it is not astonishing
that the Muscovite peasant should consider all
Jews IN the light Of Pagans and unbelievers, and
regard them as the murderers and assassins of
Christ, Just in the way that people of West
ern Europe were won't to do in the days of the
Crusaders.
In 1865 the late Gar, who was one OF the most
liberaLminded men of the age, gave orders
that the exceptional laws against the
Jews which had been in force since the