The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-24
THE RUSSIAN JEW AGAIN.

Inc ftutSlAO JSW IN DrOugUL DelOrs tue eve
of the world not because he seeks notoriety
or because he has been guilty of any ofens,
against his Government or nature. but be
cause the pressure Of tyranny on the Russian
people is such that some excuse must be
found for lives made hard and uncomfortable
and for want Of better scapegoat and TO
cover the inhumanities of their father. the
Gar, the unhappy Jew is made TO bear the
burden. Professor Goodwin Smith throws
what he calls new light on the Jewish ques-
ton" in recent issue of tho North Ameri-
can Review. but as far as the Jew is con-
cerned bis light is but darkness. lie most
unJustly blackens the jew while exclaiming
against the calamitous and piteous part of
the annals OF humanity" which Jewish his
tory now makes. and he assumes to justify
his prosecution and considers his expulsion
as an effort to free the Russian peasants from
alien usury and domination.
This accusation Of alien domination is in
measure true. because in Russia the present
legal status of the jew is that Of an alien"
and he does dominate bis neighbors because
his industry. skill and personal economy will
make business succeed where the ordinary
Christian would certainly fail. From a writer
in Blackwood. to whom we are indebted for
! the clearest exposition OF the character of the
Russian Jew, we learn that his general prin
cipes IN business are quick sales at small
profits. but that lie understands honesty
to be the best policy, and that he
will take the greatest care to main
tain good reputation. Moreover official
OF. ,to L., IL Al
est charged by the Jewish usurer to the peas
ant in the Western provinces is far lower
than the rates charged by the Russian
koulaks in the provinces from which the
Jews are excluded. The native Russian. too.
entorces hrs claim with rigor while the jew,
who has no support from the authorities. has
frequently TO accept total loss In the Jew
money-lender the Russian peasant often finds |
the only person from whom capital can be OBJ |
tanned 80 often necessary for success in his |
agricultural operations. The interest is high |
but the security is of the most uncertain ma
ture.
The handspring Of the Jew is his indomi-
nsble determination 10 succeed in spite Of
every difficulty which adverse laws can place
upon him. Accustomed to hardship. COM
pact in themselves. adhering rigidy TO a sys-
TEN Of religion whose precepts include not
only principles of morality. but of health.
they have formed an impenetrable body and
have been hammered into steel
They have not been permitted had they
so desired, to disintregate and assimilate with
the people OF Russia. In morals as in physics
action and reaction are equal and opposite.
and for every blow that the Jew has received
sooner or later the reactive effect has been
elt by the Russian oppressor. Contrasting
he prosperity of the jew. despite oppressive
egislation. with their own poverty-and thew
he favored children of the Czar-envy has
turned TO hate, and the desire Of the Russian
peasants is now the destruction of the Jew.
In wonder striking contrast 10 the inhu-
nanity of those whose every obligation OF Z
uty and professed religion is violated is the IN
aralleled benefactions of Baron de Hirsch.
rho, with magnificent provision and a per-
ect organization. has in a spirit Of grand s
undertaken to free his co-reie u
'nsts in Russia from the terrible and far S
eaching evils of utter injustice and miseoy- t
Dut StIanRe 10 Say tDlS very eUOrt 20 re-
Give and restore the Jew as a self-supporting '
'age-earner in this country has met the C
lost violent and bitter opposition from Il
organized labor among the Jews in New Il
ork and thus the unhappy Jew, driven as Il
D alien from his native land by the head of b
10 Greek Catholic Church. is received with n
lspicion, If not with aversion. by some of ! p
s own co-religionists in America. il
more pitiful sufferer is not to be found in W
story since the destruction of Jerusalem by OF
tus If there was ever a time when mans d
to man" should be averted N
principles Of philanthrophy and Il
ETY. it is in the reception and liberal treat NJ
ent in America of the exiled Russian Jew. "
The meeting tonight will emphasize pub tn
ly the sense Of indignation and horror with tn
lich the treatment of the Russian Jews bv be
E Gar has been regarded in Richmosd. to