New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-27
THt, JEWS IN RUSSIA.
TIE NEW EXODUS. A Study Of Israel in Russia. BY
Harold Frederic. $40, PIP. 300. G.. 2. Putnam's

TIE NEW EXODUS. a Study Of Israel in Russia. BY
Harold Frederic. svo. PIP. 300. c. P. Putnams
Sons.
The title OF this work is not happily chosen. The
historic exodus involved the redemption Of and
the creation OF a nation. The Pharaohs did not
pel the Hebrews from Egypt They desired TO have
them remain In the brickyards and strenuOusly re-
sisted the exodus. When the slaves went out Of
Erypt they were not dispersed among The nations
They became q conquering race. capable Of entrench
ing themselves in the mountains OF Ephraim and
JUDAH and making strong stand Tor their religion
and their national rights. In what Is described In
this volume new exodus all the character
istic features OF the old exodus are reversed. The
RUSSIANS are prosecuting the Hebrews. not because
they want them remain In the country. but because
.ley are aiming deliberately TO drive them out II
Is all exodus without deverance or redemption. and
does not differ essentially from the dispersion OF the
ten tribes after the conquest Of Central Palestine by
the Assyrians. The Hebrews who are starved and
bounded out Of Russia are scattered over the face
Of Europe and America. 1t is New Dispersion rather
than a New Exodus.
While the title /, unfortunate and homogeneous. the
method OF the work is less open to criticism. 1t en-
bodies the results Of long and panstaing journey
through Russia made without official assistance and
knowledge. The author was convinced that he conld
not place any depcndenc" upon information supplied
by the Government. and accordingly employed his own
powers OF observation. What he found was Russia
which had never done anything more than to promise
10 become civilized some time. He saw II In cot
tagcs fields, churches. camps and markct-paccs-and
every where depressing the picture WAS II furnished
the background t. n still sinister scene. that or
r. whole race being hunted from its homes despoicd
Of its possessions. bounded by the Cossack ana pun
dercd by the tcllnovnik. and all implied by any one
The persecution and expulsion OF the Hebrews he
discusses In these pages the effects OF the re-
dictionary Pan Slavic upheaval which Is carrying
Russia backward toward Aslac barharsm. lhey
are driven out not because they are Jews. nut De
cause they are not Russians. 1t was natural 10 peR"
with the Jews. but the expulsion OF the other non
Russians will inevitably follow.
Tie authors main contention IS that the over
whelmlng bulk OF the native population mas oecHiieu
TO learn 10 initiate or 10 be In anywise anrc''u
BIZ European civilization, The commercial ana IN
dusiral activity Of the country Is In the hahns Oh
people who not Russian. 1t Is not alone uHi,
the business OF ST. Petersburg Moscow. h'eH anu
Odessa Is principally conducted by people whose
fathers or grandfathers crossed the frontier The
great annual fairs dominated by foreign blood
II Is the landed proprietor who has German steward
who gets a good return from his estate and collects
his rents The Russians as whole lack the QualucS
which command success according to western s'ahu
ards While they growing poorer the aliens are
waxing prosperous and commercially powerful lhey
would be more amiable than they are repu'ed TO be
~ they could endure such test ms this. The broad
notion which has taken possession OF their minds Is
that they can do nothing In connection w1ra othef
rnces but that they can do great and wonderful
things BY themselves. Pan-Savism thus implies ex'
cuson Of other races; and beginning Is made with
the Jews.
weaIe the author has travelled In Russia and
mastered the recent literature OF this strange move
nent, he has not succeeded In writing luminous
book about 1t. lie seems to have been appalled, by
the magnitude OF the subject and to be embarrassed
BIZ a consciousness OF tie mpossibiity of telling In
q single volume what has happened during the last
=. stain reu1 NJ
c,ose the las, chapter with the sense Of having
ouired clear and positive IDEAS OF the subject II
there we're fewer congratulations and historical ret
respects and more detailed Information respecting
the authors personal observations in Russia 1t would
he q stronger and more coherent work.