New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-21
THE CARS JUDENHETZE.
LEGAL OPPRESSION IN EVERY RELATION

tests so freely and fervently uttered In almost
all countries of the civilized world are unhecded.
The humble petitions of thousands Of loyal and
industrious Jews in Russia also UNDECIDED.
Perhaps, though, UNDECIDED is not the right word.
Some notice is taken of these things by the Gov
eminent. But the only result is the very reverse
Of what is prayed for. The hapcsS lsiaeltcs are
treated all the more severely. by way OF pun
ishing them for not rejoicing under persecution
and for having sympathetic friends elsewhere
The venerable rabbi who declared that this was
the worst persecution since the Bahylonsh cap
tivity was not far wrong. Certainly not IN all
the Dark Ages not even IN Spain, were tho
Chosen People" treated worse than now. The
eXtra-legal prosecutions need not he named. They
really too horrible, IN many cases, to name
1t seems to he generally understood that any
crime committed by " Christian against jew
will be winked at and so every Imaginable out
rage and infamv is heaped upon them. But
apart from these things. Tie LEGAL and officially
authorized oppression is bad enough 10 make this
age notable in the history Of persecution. 1t is
well, in sober earnest, to review briefly the legs-
lation, if arbitrary DEGREES be legislation. aimed
specifically at the Jews.
To begin with taxes All Russians are heav-
lily taxed. But in addition to the taxation which
they share with tho rest Of the people. the Jews
suffer several special taxes. One of these is the
box taX which is levied upon every pound of meat
butchered according to Jewish rites. which means.
of course, oil the meat eaten by Jews This in
creascs the cost of Ircat to Jews about % per
cent above the cost 0f meat to Christians. But
this tax goes further than meat. II IS levied on
the rents of all buildings owned by Jews, the
profits of all business conducted by Jews, upon
all property bequcathcd by Jews TO their heirs,
upon all clothing worn by Jews. and on variou,
other Jewish interests. For example every jew
has to pay SO 80 year for the privilege of wear
ing skrllcap at family prayers according 10
the universal custom Of his people Nor is this
the only tax his religious rites, for there is
another so-callcd candle-taX, which is levied upon
sl candles burned by Jews IN religious observances
Now, ii Is the custom for every Jewish housewife
to light at least two candles on every Sabbath
and on every festival day. The aggregate of this
cande-tax is an enormous sum. There is also,
printdng-taX, levied all printing presses oper-
ated by Jews, ranging from Sl4 to Sl4G, accord
ing 10 the size of the press
1t is safely reckoned then that these various
special levies make the average taxation of Jews
more than twice as heavy as that Of Christians.
Nor are there any cOmpensating advantages. On
the contrary. in all other relations TO the State
the jew is at a great disadvantage. Take mill
tary affairs example. Jews are subject 10
consumption as Christians are, but they are not
permitted, as Christians TO hire substitutes
II a Christian evades military duty he is fined
small amount, and if he cannot pay it there is
an end of it, But in the case Of Jew fine
of S21 is imposed, not on him, but on his family
and they must pay it or 60 70 prison. the whole
OF them Moreover. a much larger proportion of
Jews than of Gentiles drafted into service
Yet 1t is only as private soldiers that they can
serve. No jew can ever become commissioned
officer nor enter a school for the training Of
officers. All the more desirable forms Of military
service are denied to Jews utterly and almost
every privilege accorded to their comrades is for
hidden to them
In civil life the discrimination against them is if
possible. still more severe No Jew may enter
the civil service practise law or medicine No
Jew may hold any local municipal Office or take
part in any election for the same No jew may
he member of a school board, or he a police
magistrate, nor be foreman Of a jury nor be
master or vice-master of a guild
If such is the oppression of the Jews in their
public relations. what degree of liberty do they
ENJOY In their private life? There the picture
Is, If possible, more distressing still With few
exceptions Jews allowed 10 reside ONLY in
certain places Once settled they are forbidden
to move. No jew may own land in any form or
for any purpose, nor may he cultivate any land
which he may lire. Indeed, he is forbidden 70
hire agricultural land at all lie may lend money
on land if he likes, but lie cannot foreclosc the
mortgage. Nor may he act as manager or steward
Oh farm. Thus. while it is complained of t'ie
Jews that they monopolize trade in the towns. the
law itself drives them into the towns and for
bids them TO live elsewhere And then once
herded in the towns, what are they to do? They
must stay right there. They cannot even re-
move from one town to another NAY. n Jew i,
not even permitted TO walk a mile outside tire
town limits unless he first secures a passport fol
which, OF course, he must pay round sum. And
In the town he is compelled by law to be mem.
Der OF some guild trade association bnt the
master and vice-mastcr Of the guild must be
Christians, and those officers have absolute an.
thorty over the members to fine or cNpel them
at will. The result is that in all industrial pur
suits the Jews suffer just as odious dlscrin,iua
ton in public life
To 60 further still into the private life Of tho
Jews, it is to be observed that in no school are
there allowed to be more than per cent OF jew 81
pupils. In many towns the Jews form 80 pei
cent or more of the population and 50 the majority
OF their children denied school PRIVILEGES
No relief can be obtained by sendn. the children
To school IN other places, where tie number O.
resident Jews does not up TO the 10 De
cent limit, because the law expressly declares thar
children OF Jewish parents are allowed TO attcnt
school only IN the place where their parents live
In brief, this Is compulsory nOn-atcndaEce a
school Moreover, the higher seminareS nust
and art schools, etc, are found only IN three o
four OF the chief cities, and Of course are open ONLY
to Jewish children actually living in those cit les
Such thing sending Jewish child from Tin
provinces Ia study music or art at ST. Ictersbur:
is absolutely prohibited. In domestic affairs if ;
wife or II husband is converted to Christianity sh
he is, 10y that fact, divorced from the othe
who remains a Jew and the convert may MARI
again, but the jew must remain single If on
parent be converted all young children Of Tn
same sex must also he baptized as Christians
Moreover, a reward of from so 10 $50 Is Oherc
to every one who will rcpounce Judaism TO
Christianity and many family discussions natural
follow. As 10 religious worship. il is absolutel
forbidden in private houses, except by special pei
mission That is. every jew must secure a liccns
10 hold family prayers, or even to pray in pfivat
in his own bed chamber. Public worship in
synagogue is only permitted in places havin
eighty or more Jewish houses. So, in places wit
less than eighty Jewish houses, religious worshi
By Jews is totally forbidden.
Rut are these laws actually enforced? Gel