The morning call., 1891-04-30
THE RUSSIAN JEWS.

Baron Hirsch's benevolent scheme for the
relief of the Russian Jews who are being
expelled from their native land by the Gov
eminent of the Gar appears TO meet with
formidable obstacles. 1t has been found
impractieable to secure land In this country
in sufficiently large tracts at suitable prices.
By locating in Idaho or Montana or Nevada
or Utah or New Mexico, at distance from
a railroad, the area required might be pur-
chased, but the occupants, being unable to
sell their produce, would be dependent on
public benevolence for everything except the
food they could raise. In California, Oregon
and Washington tract of land large enough
to afford elbow-room for 10000 immigrants
would cost more money than the trustees
have at their command. The Baron and his
friends are therefore, looking to Brazil and
Australia, in both of which countries there
is an abundance of unoccupied land.
The wholesale deportation Of races is a
problem of peculiar perplexity. There isl
instance on record of the compulsory re-
moval of 100000 or 100000 of human
beings from one country to another unless
the two countries were coterminous. The
Spaniards, after 500 years of inceSsant war
fare, drove the Moors out of Spain; but the
Moriseoes were at that time few in number
and they had but narrow sea to cross to
find new home. The King of France ex-
PEELED the Huguenots. They scattered all
over Europe, from England to Switzerland,
and some of them did not rest from their
wanderings till they established domicile
in this country. In more ancient times we
read of whole peoples being driven from
their homes. but in most cases the bulk OF
the victims were killed outright. 1t was a
mere remnant that went out into the world
in search of a country.
The Imperial Government of Russia is
confronted with problem which is none
the less difficult because it is not new. One
hundred millions. more or less, of members
of the Greek Church are imbued with a
fanatical prejudice against 100000 or
100000 Jews and insist ON their being
wiped off the face of Russia. They hate
them because years of oppression have
effaced the best instincts of humanity and
developed theyiceS which slavery engenders.
They hate them because, while the Russian
moujik is lazy, shftless and drunken, the
Jew is INDUSTRIOUS thrifty and sober, and
because the diligence of the latter coupled
with the unthrift of the former, is gradually
making the Jew the great landowner OF
Russia. That is why the 100000 600 in
Russia desire to have the Jews expelled and
their property coDfScated.
Ten years ago Russian hostility to the
Israeltes reached such pitch that the peas
ants in Southwestern Russia, from kiev to
Odessa, rose in a fury of persecution and
committed murders and outrages which
make the blood run cold. The Christian
powers demonstrated and the Emperor, after
an investigation, had tine authors of the
prosecution, to the number of several thou
sand, arrested and severely punished. Sew
eral dTOves of them were sent to Siberia.
But 10 steps were taken to correct the evil
at its source; no pains were bestowed on
educating the Russians in liberation, and
hence. after an Interval of ten years, the
anti-JewiSh fury has broken out afresh, and
this time the Emperor bows to the storm,
orders the old anti-Jew ordinances to be
put into force, and bids his Jewish subjects
prepare for exile.
The Emperor will find before he is through
that it is easier to talk about exiting the
Jews than to exile them. 1t is a big job TO
start 100000 or 100000 people on their
travels against their will The Emperor
may march an army corps against men,
women and children and compel them to
move at the point Of the bayonet, but where
is he to move them to? Germany will OF
have them, nor Austria, nor the principali-
ties, nor Turkey. II he puts them on board
ship there is no country where such num-
bers of helpless paupers would be allowed
to land. To drive them like sheep across
some unwilling frontier would be simply to
ensure their death from starvation.
Might it not be more sensible to try to
solve the nroblem nv teachinp liberation to
the members of his own faith?