Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-28
Baron H,rsoh's Philanthropy

In tho North American Lerieo for July
Baron DE HrasoH, the celebrated Jewish
philanthropist, answers the question,
What motives have led me into my work
of Philanthropy" As might have been
expected, Baron DE HInscHs article Is de-
voted specially to the problem of relief OF
the Russian Jews. and in this connection
he combats what he truthfully says 10 On
error that has become maxim and typi-
cal reproach against the Jews that they
have no inclination for agricultural or
manual labor" The lsraelites, contends
Baron DE IIRsCH. were in the time OF
Christ agriculturist par excellence, while
trade which. Judging from the practice OF
the Jews Of to-day should DO the inheri-
lance OF Israel, was IN the hands
OF the Greeks. tho Ph@nicians, ana
the peoples Of the Mediterranean States.
Political independence aud love for the
fields and for handicrafts were, further
contends tho Philsnthropist, co-existentin
the Jewish life, and be has CONVICTION
that devotion TO and capacity for these oc-
equations can DO reawGkened. This mas
inspired the Baron's Jewish colonization
ventures and pointed the way OF what ne
considers his duty. and he cites as ms en-
couragemcnt everalinstances of successful
Jewish agricultural colonies, notably omen
tho Argentine Republic. Here, says Baron
DE HIRscH, several hundred Jewish families
who some years ago were e1iled from nus
STA. whore they were wandering trades
people, have. despite untold suierings
and the greatest hindrances, succeeded III
taking root IN their new home. They have
now become good farmers, who know how
10 farm as we'll as if they had never done
ANYTHING else. They lay out their farms
in the best manner, build themselves neat
and picturesque houses. and every one IN
the vicinity EMPLOYS them as carpenters
and builders.
The maxim" and "reproach Baron
DE HRscH refers to is nowhere more com
mon than IN Russia, vet the strongest sup
port Of the Phlanthropist's position IS
found in the Cars domains. According
TO little pamphlet entitled :" Tho Perse-
cut1on Of tho Jews in Russia" just issued
by the RussoJewish Committee OF Lon
don, the Russian official statistics declare
that OF the 24Oi.2j3 Jews living in the
Pale Of settlement in 1888, no less
than 2g3.507 were artisans. In al
dition TO these q large number OF Russo
Jewish artisans resided outside tho Pale
As regards the alleged Discrimination OF tho
Jews TO engage in agriculture, the Govern
ment inspector reported in 1880 that be
saw no signs Of incapacity for agricultural
life in the jewish colonies-that. too, III
the face Of the moral, material, and physl-
cal difficulties that had been thrown In
the path OF the colonists at their first set
Element Further the verylaws now being
enforced in Russia which contine the Jews
within the Pale TO the towns, and restrict
the purchase or even the renting by Jews
of land on lease constitute refutatlon OF
the charge though they are entirely OF
niece with Russian consistency" There
seems no question that between the time
when ALEXANDER II. modified the restric-
tons thrown around his Jewish subjects
and the agitation started by lGNATIEF the
race in Russia made rapid strides, not only
IN the spheres of agriculture and handl-
craft, but in the professions. The Russian
jew, both within and without the Pale,
was in the ascending scale; and though
the late Cars experiment, if such 1t may
be called, was Of comparatively short du-
ration, it lasted long enough to Justify the
belief Of Baron DE HIEsCH that of his
own power 1.-The poor (Russian) Jew.
who until now has been hated a.
an outcast. will win for himself peace
and Independence; love for the ground
he tills and for freedom; and become
n patriotic citizen in his new home. Baron
DE HIRsCH and his co-wOrkers recognize
that years of repression and oppression
have ground the masses of the Russian
Jews down to very low level. They re-
cognize that to throw them into thickly-
settled CON munties where the privileges
of trade are free to all would BIO to foster
those artificial pursuits which are not the
inheritance of Israel. They recognize that
philanthropy means not only relief from
present su1erings, but the encouragement
of a development, social, moral, and
material. which among the exiles would
keep pace with consciousness that they
were PRODUCERS.