The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-30
SAD SCENES IN RUSSIA.
Shameful Treatment of Jews by
officials OF the Gar.
FORCED TO DESERT THEIR FAITH
Thousands Are Driven From Their En-
pioyment TO Become Beggars-The
Condition OF the Jews In the Czsr's
Domain Steadily Becoming Worse.

LONDON, Dec 3O.-The latest advices
from st. Petersburg and other parts OF
Russia show that the persecution of the
Jews and the inhumanity OF the Cars
officials toward that unhappy race, are
greater than ever before.
Six edicts have been issued aiming TO
disperse the Jewish subjects of Russia,
weaken their position and trading centres,
and crush out their religion. These edicts
are enforced with the utmost rigor In
many parts OF the empire, and with sever
ity everywhere.
The Moscow papers boast that, since
the beginning OF 1891, twenty thousand
Jews have been converted TO orthodoxy.
The unhappy converts, who have been
driven TO pretended denial OF their re-
ligious faith, in order to escape intolera-
bic persecution, have been -depofted- to
the district OF Tcherkesovo, about f1ve
miles from Moscow. There they are rig
orously governed by priests of the Rus
sian Orthodox church, who require them
TO attend the services OF that church, and
10 comply with its various rules, watch
ing narrowly for any sign OF evasion or
repentance.
These priests have entire supervision OF
The Wretched Colony,
snd the alleged converts from Judaism
are only allowed leave to return to Mos
cow upon a certificate from the priests
certifying that the convert holding such
certificate il assured in the faith OF the
Orthodox church. When thus released
from the ordeal at Tcherkesovo, their
troubles are not over.
The police and police spies keep o care
full watch over them, and III they fail in
attention to their religious obligations as
members of the Orthodox church, they are
reported as recanting to the Jewish faith.
Should the charge OF recantation be es-
tablished, the usual punishment is depor-
tation to Siberia.
The police have been making a careful
scrutiny OF the birth papers OF the Jews,
with view of driving more o. them out
of the towns, none being allowed to re-
side in town except those who are natives.
In Moscow, whose governor Is Grand
Duke Sergius, brother of the Gar, Jews
who are not natives OF the city have been
given "a hours to return to their native
towns. A Jew who has conducted an inn
portant mercantile establishment for 30
years near the central post office, has
been compelled to close up his business,
and leave on "a hours notice.
Thousands OF Jewish working people have
been driven from their employment to be-
come beggars and wanderers. Old soldiers
who wore medals for faithful and gallant
beTNlCe III hussla = army, are trtateu Win
ss little mercy as other Jews. Merchants
OF the best standing are driven out
Like the Poorest Laborer,
and besides being deprived of their bust
ness, are robbed OF the money that Is
owing them.
Merchants recently in affiuence find
themselves helpless and impoverished in
localities with which they NAV have long
been unfamiliar. The scenes witnessed
are most pitiful. Moscow has lost a
multitude Of its most valuable residents.
Many of the Jewish tradesmen and
artisans driven from Moscow have gone to
Lodz, few hours ride by rail from War
saw, and which has rapidly risen to
population of 125, 900, most of them Jews
Under the impulse OF Jewish skill and
industry Lodz is fast becoming an inn
portant manufacturing centre, the fac
tories there being busy night and day, and
the manufacturers having orders for three
months ahead Trade in Moscow is en- the
other hand collapsing through the loss OF
Jewish capital and labor.
In Poland the oppression of the Jews is,
for the time being, somewhat relaxed.
The regulations, especially and univer-
sally enforced throughout Russia, are
those limiting the residence of Jews with
In certain fixed localities, the prohibition
of Jewish artisans from working in places
beyond the control OF official boards of
trade, and the restriction as to unauthor-
lied synagogues, 1t being forbidden 10
Jews to worship In any but an authorized
synagogue.
The condition of the Jews, except in
Lodz and a few other places, IL becoming
steadily worse, particularly in the case OF
those who have no means to bribe Russian
officials.