New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-31
RECALLING THE DARK AGES.
AN APPALLING STORY OF RELIGIOUS IN
TOLERANCE AND PERSECUTION.


Letter from ST. Petersburg to the Berliner Tageblatt
May 10.
The persecution of the Jews in the central part of
the country recalls the fanatacism OF the darkest
days the Middle Ages What false prophets preached
OF Caesarism through the intolerance Of orthodox
disciples; reality which proves as nothing else the
duty required by, the state, who perform every duty
performed by other citizens, are termed by law,
as enemies. Why Simply because they acknowledge
a religion In which the founder Of Christianity
born.
since 1881, when Ignatief promulgated the terrible
Jewish laws the lives of the 100000 Russian
beggary existence have been passed in unbroken war
against the frightful abuse and persecution of the
accusations against the Jews Of crimes against the
state, the authorities, Russian citizens and Draconic
honest subjects late ate cause of this hhumas con-
dton the desire of dishonest Government servants TO
bent upon the plumber Of their fellow citizens Rob
bers Men who obliged to live crowded together
paint the Jews to the Car as terrible robbers
like so many sheep who have no whole piece Of cloth
ing upon their backs: whose rags draw tears to
the eyes Of the behoder whose only pleasure Is the
practice of the commands 81 their religion If the
head officer Of the dstrict-the Prisaw-happen 10
gambling debt the poor creatures are not even sure
OF their miserable lives. As in the Middle Ages the
unfortunate people save with great difficulty few
hundred dollars for their children only to be robbed
week, every day, every hour by the almighty police
men, And when their money Is gone they are driven
The Ignatief laws forbade the Jews the right Of
soJourn outside OF the cities and the market places the
renting Of farms, the acceptance OF mortgages. The
hardest measure, however the confinement Of all
Jewish inhabitants of the country to certain govern
ments or districts In addition to Poland these dis
Mohilen, yohyma Podoa the eight governments Of
three governments of Russia Minor and Jekatdrinos
law Tauria Cherson and Bessarabia the four govern
these districts the Russian Hebrew dare not Co. unless
he has secured special privileges by education or
money. Merchants OF the hrst order-that rs, those
Hebrews with academical degrees have the priv,
llese Of settling in other parts Of Russia: nad
that privilege as the attempt has been made IT,, to
sds% S that are SS the tor
Of decreasing the percentage of Hebrews within them
Even the privilege Of STUDYING at the university Is TO
uate from the gymnasia after heavy monetary sacrl
fees on the part Of their parents, have not received
For the aborer it is still harder, one day the
head of a city government orders the Jews TO sell
another day he drives them from the city. And vet
these same Jewish citizens obliged to perform mill
than their Russian neghbors Is It any wonder that
try to gain the favor Of their suRe a1Grr 9g a
they take advantage of source of income which is
easy t. control9
to the Russian public only by accident 1t was re
ported in Governmental circles that the agE Prince
thus only could the increase in the number OF Jews in
Moscow be explained. They decided. therefore 10 get
he had been Influenced by feelings of pity and hu-
manity They feared to see the Jews increase in
earth. They deprived the aged man OF one OF the
principal offices in the kingdom and sent him to West
of the people whom he had protected from
their beds and exposed them to the elements hunger
conduct At times they say that the laws require it
at times they acknowledge its egaty, but assert that
they cannot permit the ancient capital Of Russia to be
few days ago twenty-five Jewish workmen were
sent back to the Jewish districts The majority Of
these men had worked as pirates in Moscow since
1874. In eXtenuaOn Of the expulsion II was alleged
not among the trades
cutter for instance is called upon to do the work Of
the poor fellow t% sRoC accomplish ho the
matreated and prosecuted by the police. The greatest
sufferers hoary headed men who are no longer able
In the village Of Lepetischa 100 families have
received orders TO leave the place because it is alleged
1882 What do registers signify in Russia Little
attention Is paid to registration and the Jews have sci
be Impossible. therefore, to obtain Governmental
proof Of the establishment Of these families Many
village before 1s82 That we was not sufficient Client
DAYS or submit the degradation OF being chained
gether and led away as common criminals -,
the Schools founded by the jews is an excellent illus
traton of the cruelty allowed by the laws Almost
%5Hrn G @ fod d are Of w taf city S
Der Of the colony named Welnsten founded a
Is aeS Ss in PRs'D fy aSa i Ss sS
the institution, only five Jewish children admitted
to the college halls ais , The Gther pupils number about
similar state of affairs exists in Goslowka, where
the well.known railroad contractor, S. s. Won Pola
Of young men succesdsd in PREPARING themselves for
candidates were enrolled the list of attendants
A few weeks ago the twenty fifth anniversary Of an
institute for ladies of noble birth celebrated in
ST. Petersburg. Baron Guenzburg had founded tho
institute with his own, money. Gpenzburg, it IS true;
by the Car. The other guests. however. took such
pains 10 ignore and insult Baron Guenzburg that he
One of the most degrading of the recent edcts is
that of the GovernOrGeneTa Of odessa In accordance
with H. the local police directed to punish Jews
Who not show them proper respect on the streets The
poor Hebrews. in order 10 protest against the degrading
order 20 PGS c ed n Win be- rescnded Ho%
ever the men still obliged TO take their hats of
before all city officials if they wish TO escape punish
The Jews called foreign vagabonds' by the police
form a class by themselves. This term. in reality is
10 he applied only to foreigners who do not comply
immediately with their orders to emgrate. The police,
however seem TO take pleasure in including native
Letetschef in Podolia were brought before the civil
and criminal courts to answer the charge OF Tagabond
bonse and fortune. which lie had inherited from his
father the other was a respectable cabman. Both
Sere sentenced to prison In all probability they win
remain there until their relatives can prove that thev
arc few weeks ago poor fellow from Troscaniz was
summoned TO trial because he. was unable 10 prove
rbere he had been born. At his request period Of
even DAYS was granted TO him 10 produce the papers
in proof OF his statements. Owing to the condition
n he registers mentioned above this impossible
lVbat was the result The unfortunate man was
enfenced to four years Imprisonment and 10 lifelong
ansbment 10 siberia Shortly after his Incarceration
his relatives succeeded IN obtaining documentary evi
ience nroying his nativity. The courts, however,
ierlined TO reopen the case change the sentence
The man has a wife and seven children who have been
thrown up0n their own resources.
docs The Car know what happens In his great
rmnlre7 Mo- For many years the reports OF the
Gals presented 10 His Majesty have been filed with
les and misrepresentation. The Hebrew Is the chief
onrce of income to the officials. A policeman is able
IN force as much money from jew In a single day
,s his income amounts to in month For these
reasons his reports cOored and distorted. They
ire mil OF false accusations And the ruler of the
and msIed by the statements promulgates laws which
their foundation In the avarice Of his subOrdnates
The people OF Europe who read Of the inquistoral
conduct of the Russian officials evidently overlook the
connection which the measures against the Jews have
with the spirit now ruling in Russia. The Jews. MS
has been the case IN all history. are sacrificed first
But they Will not be the last 10 suffer Nothing that
x not orthodox Russian is 10 be tolerated everything