The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-19
THE RUSSIAN JEWS.
Mr.. Spring Discusses the Motives Of Their
Persecution.

SEATTLE, Aug 1s, 1891
To THE EDITOR: In my article on Jewish i'm
migration, recently published in your paper,
stated that the inhuman action of the car in
forcing the Russian Jews TO leave their native
homes is due to political motives Ny intention Ia
to Prove in this paper that the statement often
made by pretended students of Russian events,
that the car is compelled to rid himself of his
Jewish subjects owing TO their usurious manner
of doing business, is erroneous. Even if il were
true, it would not defend the tyrant's actions,
because II the Jews are usurers il is Russian law
that has forced them to become so: but, as a
matter of fact, the car doss not expel the Jews
owing 70 their business methods, but on account
OF beastly desire to intoxicate the Russian
peasantry into delusion that all their ailments
spring from the Jews, and that the expulsion of
them will give the poverty ridden peasantry
new hopes and stronger faith in the good win of
the ear.
To prove my position IL viii be necessary to
review the recent political history of Europe,
and since IL is safe to presume that q survey of
the very important conflicts which took place
in Europe during the three last decades will in
terest some of your many readers, | ask in
diligence to refer to the early sixties
In 1854, when the people OF this country were
praying for relief from a cruel war and for a re-
turn of peace with the opportunity TO again as
sumo their natural occupation, the industrial
development of the country, the governments of
other. In 1864 Austria and Prussia combined to
rob Denmark. They succeeded, and, as usual
the dividing OF the spoils was a much harder
task than the procuring of them. The outcome
was severe struggle between Prussia and
Austria in 1850, which resulted in a victory for
Prussia There and then Bismarck saw the
possible realization of his long-cheris he'd dream
viz: the Capitalization of all the German
provinces into one vast Prussian empire. While
the result of the war of 1866 gave Bis
marck chance 70 recuperate and en-
large his army for the final struggle
OF ls707l, it also attracted the attention of Rus
STA TO the fact that Austria had been consider
ably weakened by the war. Russia therefore az
once concentrated her forces on the Austrian
frontier, with view TO the taking OF GaIieia.
but unlike Prussia. she was not then in posi.
ton to begin hostilities. Nihilisn ragged ferneIv
In her interior, and Poland still had some fan.
tastic hopes OF recovering her lost grandeur.
Russia as well as Austria knew perfectly wen
that the Polish nobility and agitators would not
hesitate 70 combine with the nihilists in an at
tempt TO carry out their designs, though I'm
principle the Poles and the nihilists were sbso-
lutely antagonistic TO each other. menace to
Russia and Austria alike thus presented itself.
and war between the two countries was thereby
avoided The outcome of the war of 1901 is
too familiar to need mention. The acquisition
IN those years by England Of vast territories in
various portions of the globe must also be borne
In mind.
AL this called the attention OF Russia 10 thu
fact that two small European kingdoms Eng
land and Prussial had succeeded in becoming
large empires, while she herself was making no
progress. Ignatief, then Russian prime min
lister, presented to Alexander II. new plan.
Viz; TO make peace with Austria, to crush
nihillsm by methods unknown even 20 the dark
ages, and TO seek new territory in the Balkans
with the hope OF ultimately realizing the dream
OF Catherine, which was to remove the throne
from Sc. Petersburg 20 Constantinople The in
uigues OF Ignatieit and his spies in Asia Minor
ana European Turkey are well known to Eng
hsh-reading people. Ignstief succeeded in con-
ylnefng the European powers that war with
Turkey Was inevitable. II is grim satire indee d
when one remembers that the rnoss urdinching
tyrsnt claimed and convinced Europe that he
was compelled 70 go to war with Turkey for the
SAKE OF freeing number of Christians from
Aohammedsn religious oppression The war of
lssS-ss vaa fought grsntly by Turkey and