The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-19

within the pale is somewhat larger than In
the non-Jewish provinces. but the deaths
from drunkenness were only one-fifth as nu-
merous. OF obvious fiscal Significance is the
fact that the arrears OF land tax due the
Government from peasant proprietors were
only one-third as large within the pale OF
settlement as they were within the nom
Jewish provinces. The comparative chas-
tity OF the Jewish population Is demon
| strated by the fact that the number OF
houses OF Ill repute within the pale Is rela-
lively small. The charge. too, that incen-
| dlarism Is habitual among the Jews Is re-
futed by the official statistics. which show
| that incendiary fires are not half as nu-
merous within the pale as outside OF 1t.
1t is true that the Russian Jews are not
| agriculturists. but to blame them on that
score would be like rcproaching man for
| not being able to swim when he is not per-
| mitted to go near tho water. Under Rus
| sian law jew Is not allowed to farm, or to
| become miller or fisherman; he cannot
| buy or lease land. nor. II he happen to own
| land can he till It, In the Cherson colo
| MES, where few Jews arc exempted from
| the restrictions just mentioned. they are
sturdy and successful farmers. Confined.
even within the pale. to the occupations OF
| artisans and small traders, the Jews have
accomplished results which are amazing
The capital employed by Jewish merchants
OF the pale in 1886 was $4,000, 900 roubles.
The value of their manufactures was
47.3OO.OOc roubles. They pay to the Govern
ment taxes amounting to 5O.0OO.O0O roubcs
annually on three articles alone. namely.
alcohol. tobacco. and sugar. A review OF
oil the fiscal statistics OF the pale leads Mr..
WHITE to tho conclusion that tho departure
OF the Jews would subject the Russian rev.
enue to direct and immediate annual loss
Of over 1O00OO.O0O roubles. Besides this.
long series Of economical disturbances
must be taken into account. such as the
crippling of non-Jewish commercial houses.
tho shrinkage Of banking and exchange
transactions. the full in tho value of Rus
sian products arising from the contraction
and stagnation Of markets and the dimin-
ished volume OF railway and steamship re-
turns. II the outcome OF all the indirect
and ultimate effects be computed, Mr..
WHITE believes that the money loss to
Russia from general exodus of the $780,
900 Jews would not be less than 1900. 900 600
roublcs. and he does not see how In the
face OF such loss 1t would he possible for
Russia to remain among the solvent States
Of the world.
The Russian Jews have been accused by
those who seek to justify their expulsion
from Russia Of being deficient in courage
and in the sense of honor. Mr.. ARNOLD
WHITE points out that the Russian Jews
contribute to the military service
$1,000 OF their young mon. the con-
tingent required from them being largely
in excess Of the proportion drawn from the
rest Of the population. AS to the quality Of
these conscripts. we have the testimony OF
Russian Generals who bear witness to the
dauntless courage exhibited by Hebrew
soldiers at tho Shipka Pass. It appears In
one instance that call for twenty-five men
to engage in a iorlorn hope was answered by
thirteen Jewish soldiers. With regard to
their sense OF honor. we are told that Rus
SLAMS accept their word for weighty con-
tracts in place Of bond. 1t being illegal to
lease land to Jews. no written contract can
be made. and the land must be leased ON
parole. A Russian proprietor told Mr..
WHITE that he had let land on these terms
for years and had never been cheated Of
rent On the whole. the facts here cited in
cline one to believe that the unpopularity Of
the Jews in Russia is due to their native
superiority over the non-Jewish subjects Of
the Gear. Some members OF the Russian
governing class do not hesitate to say that
II the repressive laws Of Russia were re-
pealed. and the Jews were allowed access to
every post in the service Of the empire.
eight years would not pass before every
place worth having outside of the army and
navy would be filled by an official OF the
Hebrew faith.