The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-10

try on the face OF the globe has many religious
holidays as Russia has. Add 10 this the re-
ligious holidays that Jewish orthodoxy compeis
these people to observe, and you have class
who by the religion OF their country and
the religion of their creed have been
trained to the very detestable habit of
idleness Take a man of 20, used 10 OBJ
serve the weekly sabbath from Friday
noon TO Monday morning. and forced 70 be idle
at all annual holidays of the Greek church. and
glad to be idle at his own annual holidays, and
then claim that he can be converted into a tiiler
OF the soil in q country where IL takes sixteen
hours day for Cos days In the year to be sue
cessful farmer. submit that such q claim has
no foundation. The entire wealth OF the
lsraelites OF this country cannot accom- lish 1t.
Talk about them becoming agrfculturists. 1t
Is preposterous. They have no more idea OF or
inclination for agriculture than the man in the
moon. Until comparatively recent date
nearly all the governments of Central Europe
forbade the Jews to own land. Hardly any OF
them live in the rural districts, and those who
DO live in the villages are shoemakers, tailors,
very few blacksmiths, and the majority OF them
small traders, possessing all the greed and
meannsss generally found among that class OF
people. The expectation that they will sustain
themselves Independently by agriculture is en-
tirely without foundation. do not contend
that Baron Hirsch's plan 10 impracticable, but
he VIII have to continue aiding his colonists
until a new generation arises from them. and
this new generation, consisting of those taken
from Russia when very young and those born
ON free colonial soil, will make very desirable
citizens such as our own Jews make today.
will admit that I found many mechanics
among the poor Jews in Russia; more SO than
In either Austria, Germany or Italy; but their
trades viii be OF no practical value 70 them in
this country. Take. for instance, the Russian
boot and shoemaker. He might as well not
claim to be shoemaker at all when he gets 20
this country for all the good it will do him. A
factory made boot or shoe Is entirely unknown
in Russia. All footwear is handmade. When
you want new pair OF shoes you go to the
shoemaker, who still sits in the same crouehed
position on q low stool, with the imperfect last
in front OF him that his grandfather used. He
takes your measure and makes you strong but
clumsy pair OF shoes. On the other hand, in
this country even those who wear taiior-mads
clothing never think of having shoes made TO
order. In almost any store can be found elegant,
well1tting factory shoes TO suit the most fsstid-
ious. One might think the Russian could uti-
LIE bis trade In factory in this country. Not
So He cannot even hold his own in q factory
with the American lad who never saw before
how shoe is made 1t viii take the Jew longer to
unlearn his old trade than it will the American
TO learn the new one. The same 10 true OF the
blacksmiths. The proprietor OF American
livery stable would take shot at q man who
would shoe his horses or mend his carriage in
Russian primitive style. The chances are 9
little more favorable for the tailor. He belongs
to what is known to the trade custom tailors,
some Of whom are good workmen and some
poor. We still have in this country many peo-
pie who have their clothing tailor made, though
this Is rapidly dying out But who ever heard
OF any scarcity of custom tailors in this country?
Looking at the matter as one who is anxious
for the welfare of his country, and knowing, as
do, the Russian Jews, say frankly that ii is
best for both that the proposed colonization
scheme should be tried in some uninhabted
region OF the globe. There Is no state In this
Union. 10 my knowledge, that can afford to adj
init them. ABE SPRING.