Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-27
RUSSIA DEFENDED.
"A HEBREW WHO DOES NOT sYMPA-
fHIZE WITH HIS PEOPLE.

He Says the Exiles Courted Their Fate by
Open Violations of a Known Law
Baron Hirsoh's Scheme Runs Against
Numerous Difficulties.
LONDON, Sept 26-"In Darkest Rus
sia" points out that Baron Hirsch's scheme,
if successful, can only provide for about
three per cent of the Russian Hebrews A
letter which first appeared in the A,sti-
| ,Tdcobin, which was signed can Israelite
Wsnderer," has been republished in the
afternoon newspapers, and is attracting
considerable attention. 1t strongly defends
| Russia, and declares that the laws relating
TO the Hebrews are by no means so bad as
imagined. Referring to the domicile law,
this letter says it has never been altered, but
has been operated with so little rigor that
one-third of the Hebrews reside to-day in
governments from which they
were excluded generation ago.
This, he saws, is sign of gradual improve
ment, which is the best to be expected from
seni-civilized country like Russia. Con-
tinuing, the writer says that 90, 900 Hebrews
reside in st. Petersburg, and that q 81 mi
lar number reside in Moscow
''EXpulsions," he adds, ''are entirely due
TO violations of the law. Ever since Rus
sia opened her cities to Hebrew traders they
have been recognized by the guilds of pro-
fessional men and mechanics. 1t has been
the aim of the Hebrews, who are excluded
from that privilege, to obtain settlement
in the central provinces. The Guild of Me-
chanics' certificates have been forged,
fraudulent policies have been printed and
regular trade in them has been prosecuted
for years.
Certificates have also been used long
after the original grantee was dead, and
thus thousands of Hebrews without means
or a trade have settled iu Russia, where
they had no more right to be than pauper
emigrant has to land in New York Num-
bers of mechanics also have forsaken their
regular occupation and have taken to ped
ding, thus violating the conditions under
which they were allowed to settle. Others
left the town where they ought toshave re-
mained.
Between 15O, 900 and 100000 Hebrews
now reside in Russia in open violation of
the law on fraudulent permit, or by bribing
officials. Being undisturbed they have be-
come more confident and have invested
money in houses, which is against the law,
and then when orders are left to enforce the
domicile law the expulsions are often ac
companied by brutality, But every Hebrew
so expelled courted his own fate. They all
know what they are DONG Wnen tneV pass |
the pale of their domicile,
"Poor Hebrews suffer the most from the |
rigor of the law, being, as peddlers, porters |
and such like, at the mercy of every petty |
official, by whom they are bounded from |
pillar to post. If Baron Hirsch's scheme |
includes these poor Hebrews it takes up the
most unpromising material it is possible to
deal with. They have neither physique for
field work nor resource of any kind. They |
and their families must be supported from
the moment they leave Russia until an in
selves unaided The Government will not
allow the capable, sturdy better class, who
are all military reservists, to leave the
country.