Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-10-06
CHAPTER IN.
HOW JUSTICE WAS MocKED.


OF all official inquiry should he made into
causes that had led to the roting, massacre,
and destruction in the Jews quarter OF the
city OF st Petersburg. But anyone at all
acquainted with the burleSque Russian
justice which was melted out to the Jews
knew perfectly we'll beforehand what the
result OF such an inquiry would be-
1t was useless for the prosecuted race to
hope that they would be compensated for
the wlltul destruction oftheir properly;
while those who had to bewail the loss of
their friends and relatives who had been so
cruelty butchered moaneil in silence. And
they prayed that the day might soon
dawn when they would be delivered from
the barbarities ola Government which.
while Boosting that it was enlightened and
civilized, would By its acts have disgraced
many Oriental countries about which the
world has from time to time affected to be
highly indignant. Blu. as yet Russia and
ways to have scarcely emerged from the
darkness and ignorance OF the medieval
ages: All that is bad in Governments-op-
preston, persecution, harsh laws, the sup
preston OF the liberty of the subject, the
liberty OF the Press, freedom of speech,
kingdom, and the man who dares to raise
his voice against it all can hope for no mer-
cy.
The official court ofinquiry was consti-
tuted and opened with great flourish OF
trumpets and much display Of ed-tapism
and that pomp which the semi-barbaric
Russian official SO dearly loves. Count
the court in spite ofhis well-known and
undisguised hatred of the Jews.
4 formidable array of witnesses were
called forth, and great care was taken that
the Christia should outnumber the Jews.
1t was great thing for the Government
that they were enabled to say that the riot
had had its origin in the killing OF the
Christian by the Jew in the Apraxin-dvor.
1t was nothing to the point that the unfor-
tunate Jew had been provoked almost to
madness by being beaten and knocked
down ty the Christian first OF all.
These Jews have too much liberty, and
have become insolent,' Count Suvorof OBJ
the lesson that they are not to take the lie
OF a Christian because he happens to have
committed an assault. The law is just, and
recognises no distinction between lew and
Christian in its administration. If Jew
hath grievance. let him bring it before the
court. and he will be heard and his grev-
ance redressed.'
When this was said a groan escaped from
the lips OF one who had been called as
witness, and he exclaimed, with rash bold
ness
1T is lie, shameless lie" cried Aaron,
starting to his feet. and looking grand in
his fiery anger Il slew human brute
who would have polluted my child by his
touch; and the father who hesitatcs to pro-
tect his daughters honor is unworthy to
walk Gods iai- earth"
''Peace, peace" exclaimed the President
passionately; and then to Alexietf who was
present, he said: This Jew must be re-
majesty and dignity which We represent.
The business of the court, which. in the
name of God and the Gar is constituted
to see that justice is done to all those who
are aggrieved, cannot be disturbed by such
unseenlly interruption. Therefore, take
him away
Alas! how the Goddess of Truth must
hide her face and weep as she hears sucl: a
black lie as that uttered in her name"
He who thus gave expression to his
thoughts was Aaron Arama, who. althou h
prisoner charged with the crime OF will
fully Staying one Of the Cars sabjectS, had
been brought forward to give IS evidence
He had laid his dead wife to rest; and then
broken hearted as he realized the loss and
destruction of all that had given him holl
on lie. he yielded to the force he could
not resist.
The scowl that swept over the dark face
OF Count Suyorot showed how the barbed
dressed his confreres he said:-
"Did not say that these Jews had be-
come insolent? and here, out of the mouth
of one of their shining lights, we have dir
oct evidence oft; for this man who thus
dares to insult US, who are charged to ad-
minister impartial justice, is guilty of the
crime of murder.
Then did the Inyrmidons of Peter Alex
Jeff lay their hands, at his bidding on the
old Jew and forcib bly, remove him tr, M the
court. And as he went he raised his
hands, joining them as if in supplication,
and sad with suppressed tierceness:-
AS surely as the sun shines when the
sky is cloudess, the Jews hour of ven
geancc will strike. Then let Russia trem-
bic for her people, who now groan beneath
q barbaric desprtism, and whose souls can
hardly be called their own, will rise in
their might and fling off the accursed yoke
Ahich brushes them into the dust even as
the slaves of old Egypt were crushed
This little speech fell like b. mbshell on
the sliShtest loophole OF escape for the ILL
starred Arama it was quite close now as
with brutal roughness he was thrust from
the court, and being laced at once in q
drosky, wa driven under a strong escort to
the fortress o. St. Peter and Paul A man
who had the daring to use such seditious
language was considered so dangerous t at
only the strongest dungeon in the fortress
was likely 10 keep him quiet.
The disturbing element of the court hav-
ing thus been got rid OF, the business proceed
ed with an affected solemnity that was very
much like blasphemy. Peter Alexieti, the
Chief of the Pr Ice, was then examined.
and he testiGc 0 the quarrel in the
bazaar between the Jew and Christian
and how, with ferocious violence" the
Jew had slain the Christian without any
provocation. At this the wrath OF the peo-
pie had risen. and before they could be
called to order they had rushed to the
Petersburgskais and attacked the Jews
houses. But even then they would hardly
have procee led to the length they lid had
no. Aaron Arama unjustifiably fired upor
them Staying an honest mouiik named
Skayronsky. The mob revenged this
murder, and the result was the lamentable
loss of lite that had occu red
Such Wa Alexietf's lying version OF the
affair. and he further added that he had
lost not moment in getting his men out
and then finding that with the force at his
command he could not cope with the rio.
tiers. armed as they were. he had invoked