San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-11
RUSSIAN JEWS.
DENIAL THAT TREY ARE CRUEL
LY TREATED.
A Prominent Hebrew Comes 10 the
Defense of the Government
The Israelities Themselves
Said Not 10 Desire Appeals
In Their Behalf

| the Herald from st. Petersburg
under date of March 81, SAYS:
1.-THE London Times is, on the Jew
ish question, no more TO be believed
than it was when it sought to fasten
the faint of murder upon Mr.. Parnell
on the strength of the uninvestigated
forgeries of an obscure mercenary
In the sense in which the British
press raised the issue the Jewish
question does not exist. 1t is a myth
The condition of the Jews in
the empire is hard, and so is the
helpless German peasantry. But there
is no spirit of cruelty or persecu ton
in the Car and government, and
there Is nothing that warrants out
side interference. The Jews of Russia
themselves protest against the false
hoods and exaggerations that have
been spread broadcast throughout
the civilized world. They denounce
the Times as an enemy making capital
at their expense. In order to get at
OIL sUdlCLlOhU
Russian Jews, / went to the house of
Jew, who is the foremost man of
his race in st. Peters burg. He Is a
man of wealth, wide experience and
answering loyalty to the Jew
ish faith. He is also the most i'm.
portant member of the st Peters
bug congrstion, and stands at the
head Of the builders of the colossal
new synagogue. was accompanied
by DR.. Crawford, the United States
consul general, who at my request,
courteOusly assisted in bringing bout
the meeting. This representative
of the Jewish people made his state
ment in the presence of the consul
general, speaking freely, on the
understanding that his name was not
to be used.
1.-THE Jews of Russia wish no out
side appeal in their behalf" he said
"they do more harm than good. Pro-
tests from England or America are
unwarranted, because there is moth
ing in the situation that cannot fair
ly be considered the domestic buzz
ness of Russia. The exaggerations
of the Times have greatly injured our
cause and the Guild Hall memorials
to the Gar is regarded by those who
have the in terest of the Jews at
heart as foolish although we'll
meant piece of interference
SIS it fact that the special treat.
ment of Jews in Russia is due to a
spirit of religious persecution"
"Of course religion has something
30 do unity 1 htrf
is not the explanation. The grounds
upon the whole that is not the ex.
PLANTATION. The grounds upon which
those who are in favor of the special
laws relating to Jews proceeds are
not religious so much as economical
They point to the fact that the Jews
are keen business people and well
educated as a rule, and that thew
are increasing by births three times
as fast as the rest Of the Russians"
SIS 1t true that the Jews are In
creasing so rapidly:.in Russia?"
sit Is true; and the an ti-Semites de-
clare that unless care is taken to hold
back our people they will over1un
and overwhelm the Slav race, They
fear that the Jews will get such con-
troll that after q while that by natural
increase they will put the Slavs in q
secondary place and reduce them to a
sort of bondage"
"And it is that idea that generally
inspires the repressive laws of which
the Jews complaint"
THAT is it."
"Do you think the Car has any
feeling of hatred for the Jews?"
"Not at all. The Car is kindly
natured, honest and manly monarch.
He aims to raise his country very
high. We would be willing to leave
our cause in his hands"
"How can help be extended to you
practical help?"
"None can come from the outside.
The agitation must begin among the
Slavs right here in Russia. Ny own
idea is that the best way to deal with
the question is for the Russian gov
eminent to repeal all the restrictive
laws and then triple or quadruple the
penalties for all crimes that are sup.
posed to be specialties OF Jews. For
instance, the crime of usury might be
punished by ten or fifteen or thirty
years imprisonment"
But the government asserts no
matter what the law meant. Jews
manage to g5t around them in some
technical or sort of way and ulunder
the stupid peasantry."
"Well, assuming that to be the
truth, let the government deal only
with those who are guilty of such
excuses. There must be some way
of framing law that will catch the
guilty"
"Is it not true that the Russian
Jews are living undisturbed in Great
Russia without any legal right to do
so?n
Eyes, admit that it is quite cor
rect, but these people are nominaIly
IL =