The Newtown bee., 1891-12-04
xEwrowN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER I, 1891.
THE OPEN PARLIAMENT.
Russia's Treatment of the Jews.

hC Vi tLS Jews III huSSld
is not question of recent origin. Since
the annexation of Little Russia, early in
the 18th century;there has existed Rus
so-Jewish problem and like all race prob
lens, it is of extremely difficult solution.
In the beginning of Russia's troubles
with the Jews, during the reign of EN-
press Catharine |, it was deemed advis-
able to order the expulsion of Jews from
the newly annexed territory. Peter III
adopted similar measures and modified
the policy of Catharine l only in this re-
spect, that he allowed the Jews to visit
South Russia for the purpose of attend
ing the fairs there. The Empress Anna
granted permission to the Jews to visit
her country for purposes of commerce;
but, finding them uncongenial visitors,
she was forced to withdraw this conces-
sion. The Empress Elizabeth resorted
to measures still more restrictive; but
not until the reign of Catharine III was
the Pale of Settlement defined and Jews
permitted to claim home only within
the boundaries of New Russia.
The difficulties between the Car and
the Jews do not seem to be of a religious
nature. The Poles, while Poland exist
ed apart from Russia, were glad to ac-
cept the services of the Jews to aid in
prosecuting and driving out the peasant
ry and, in answer to the call of Poland,
large numbers of Jews focked to that
country and settled there. With the an
nexation of portion of Poland to the
Russian empire, the government dared
not assume passive attitude of ignoring
the Jewish race. A portion of South
Russia was allotted to them as dwelling
place where they might enjoy compare
tive freedom; but restrictions were plac-
ed upon their spreading into any part of
the empire outside the Pale of Settle
ment. These restrictive laws, however,
were maintained with such laxity that
Jews did not contine their settlements to
those districts which had been set apart
especially for them, but spread into the
interior Of Russia with such alarming
rapidity that the state of affairs became
almost unbearable and severe measures
WClC ucCtSSdEy III W hCcp bflC IdCC
in check. To meet the exigencies of the
case, the persecution of the Jews began.
The legislation of the present Gar is
not to satisfy mere caprice, but is in
pursuance of a policy which has prevail
ed, with various notifications, ever since
Jews and Christians first met on Russian
soil. But, within the last decade, impu-
tations of intolerance and religious per-
secution have been very widely dissent
mated. The Jewish press and Jewish
telegraph agencies of Europe have of late
been more active than ever before to
champion the cause of the oppressed Is
raelite and to decry the policy of the
Gar and his advisers. The allegations
CT the Jewish organs have gained much
credence and the entire civilized world is
awake to the fact that there exists in
Russia problem of vast proportions.
How the problem can be solved for the
best interests of the empire and for the
amelioration of the wretchedness of the
Jewish people is an important question
of to-day.
the Pale of Settlement be abolished and
that the Jews be permitted to settle at
will in any part of the empire. In this
way, they think that all existing barriers
and race distinctions may be broken down
and that the Jews and Christians may be
amalgamated into one people. This ar
rangement, though it seems feasible to
the partisans of the Jews, is not, in real
ity, practicable. The natural qnalifica-
tions of the race are not of a character
to make them valuable or desirable citi-
zens. In Russia, country of such enor-
nous extent and such vast resources of
agricultural wealth, it is imperative, for
the best interests and prosperity of the
empire, that large percentage of the
population engage in agriculture. But
the proclivities of the Jews are for set
thing in cities and they have no love for
farming.
To be sure, it may be argued by the
friends of the Jews that the laws of the
Russian government prevent them from
becoming agriculturists. The apologist
for the Jews regrets the existence of such
laws and maintains that, If they are to
continue residents of the empire, the best
way of making them useful citizens is to
leave them abundant liberty to discover
the most advantageous outlets for their
talents. But the record of three centur-
les has proved that there is but one out
let for their talents, or possibly two-to
ha Of YN,,h1sn Irsn
and to act as middle men between the
producer and consumer. For these two
occupations, the Jews furnish altogether
too many recruits.
In relation to the Jews aversion to
agricultural pursuits, it is interesting to
recount fact in regard to their position
In this country. From data collected in
the United States, December 81, 1889, in
reference to 10,818 Jewish families in
GLIDING go, $50 persons, it was found that
of the total male population above Is
years of age, S,031 were reported as
having some definite occupation. OF
these, there were reported 2l47 wholesale
merchants and dealers; 1897 commercial
travellers; 5977 retail dealers, aud only
Ill farmers and gardeners. These are
statistics gathered in our republic, where
no law restricts the free privilege of ev-
cry man to follow his own inclinations in
the choice Of an occupation by which to
gain livelihood; where there are vast
tracts Of unoccupied lands on which the
immigrant Jews might settle, and where
farming is especially remunerative. In
1,ft than Ia lie ~.