The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-30
IN BARBARIC RUSSIA.

In BARBARIC RUSSIA.
How the Jews Are Perseouted by the Inhu-
man Governor of Moscow.
LONDON. Dec. %. The latest advices
from st. Petersburg and other parts of
Russia show that the persecution of the
Jews and the Inhumanity Of the Cars off,
cials toward that unhappy race are greater
than ever before. Six edIcts have been
issued aiming to disperse the Jewish sub
jects of Russia. weaken their position and
trading centers and crush out their relig-
ion. These edicts are enforced with the
utmost rigor In many parts of the empire
and with severity everywhere. The Mos
cow papers boast that. since the beginning
of 1891. twenty thousand jews have been
converted to orthodoxy. The unhappy
converts who have been driven to a pre-
tended denial of their religious faith in
order to escape intoIerable persecution
have been depOrted to the district Of
TcherKesvo. about five miles from
Moscow. There they are vigorously
governed by priests of the Russian
Orthodox Church. who require them TO
attend the services of that church, and to
comply with its various rules. watching
narrowly for any sign of evasion or repent
ance. These priests have entire supervision
of the wretcbed colony, and the alleged
converts from Judaism are only allowed
leave TO return TO Moscow upon o certlti-
cate from the priests. certifying that the
convert holding such certificate Is assured
In the faith of the orthodox church. When
thus released, their troubles are not over.
The police and police spies keep q careful
watch over them, aud If they fall atten-
tion to their obligations as members of the
orthodox church. they are reported as re-
canting TO the Jewish faith. Should the
charge of recantation be established. the
usual punishment is deportation to ST.
IBERIA.
The police have been making a careful
scrutiny of the birth papers of the jews.
with q view to driving more OF them out OF
the towns, none being allowed 10 reside IN
towns except those who are natives. In
Moscow. where the anti-Jewish crusade re-
ceived O great impulse through the zeal OF
the Grand Duke Sergius. brother of the
Car and Governor of Moscow, against the
Jewish race and religion, persecution con-
tinues with undated severity. jews who
are not natives Of Moscow have been given
twenty-four hours to return to their native
towns. A Jew who has conducted an inn
pOrtaDt mercantile establishments for
thirty years near the central p0stotfice has
been compelled to close up bis business ana
leave on twenty-fOur hours notice. No
mercy is shown to any Jew. no matter how
meritorious, who can be brought within
the scope of the cruel edicts. Thousands
of lewis working people have been driven
from their employment to become beggars
and wanderers. Old soldiers who wore
medals for faithful and gallant service in
Russla's army are treated with as little
mercy as other Jews. No recognition
whatever is given to their claims upon the
country.
Merchants OF the best standing are driven
out like the poorest laborer, and not only
deprived of their business. but robbed of
the money that Is owing TO them, for their
debtors. encouraged to injustice by the IN
just course of the authorities, refuse to pay
the debts. we'll aware that their Jewish
creditors are virtually without remedy.
Summarily deported to their birth dis
%tricts," merchants who were recently In AZ
fiuence. find themselves helpless and I'M
poverished in localities with which they
have long been unfamiliar. They may not
even have a single tie there. and may have
been absent q longer period than an aver
age human lifetime, but that makes no
difference to the Russian Oft cia The old
man of seventy or eighty who left his ma
tive place must 60 back and be torn from
the arms of his children and his children's
children, unless they choose to accompany
him.. The scenes witnessed in consequence
are most pltiful. and would move. one
would think. even the heart of the Grand
Duke Serglus.
Moscow has lost, in consequence of the
persecution tuefe, q MULTITUDE OF It's most
valuable residents. Many of che Jewish
tradesmen and artisans who have been
driven from Moscow have gone to LOdz, a
place a few hours by rail from Warsaw,
and which has rapidly risen to q popula-
ton of 125. 000, mostly jews. Under the
impulse of Jewish skill and industry LODI
is fast becoming an important manufact-
uring center, the manufacturers having
orders for three months ahead. Trade In
Moscow Is collapsing through the loss of
Jewish capital and labor, which had no
small share in building up and maintaining
the industry and prosperity of that place.
While in Moscow, under the barbaric adj
ministration of the Grand Duke Sergius.
the persecution of the jews is as fierce as
ever. in Poland the oppression OF the Jews
is for the time being somewhat relaxed,
and throughout Russia generally the treat
ment of Jews is not on az harsh a scale as
in Moscow, although severe and almost in
tolerable every where. The regulations es-
pecially and universally enforced through
out Russia are those limiting the residence
of Jews within certain fixed localities. the
prohibition of Jewish artisans from work
ing in places beyond the control of official
boards of trade, and the restriction as to
unauthorized synagogues, 1t being forbid
den to Jews to worship in any but An au-
thorized synagogue. The condition Of the
jews. except in Lodz and q few other
places, is becoming steadily worse, particu-
larry in the ease of those who have no
~ Ill. - q