The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-15
RABBI KRAUsHoPF RETURNS.
EncouraEed to Hope for the Success
of His Russian Mission.

of His Russian Mission.
From the Philadelphia Press
Rev. DR., Joseph Krauskopf, rabbi of
Congregation Keueseth Israel arrived
home yesterday from his trip to Russia,
where he had gone to present for the con-
sideration of the Russian government
plan for the amelioration of the condition
of the Jews of that country. He brought
most encouraging reports of the result of
his mission, and has every reason to feel
that his Journey has been one which will
probably prove conducive of great good
to the race in whose behalf he under
took it.
DIR. Krauskopf landed at New York at
about O'Clock in the morning, alter an
uneventful voyage on the Fuerst Bis
marck. he was met by a delegation of
fifty people, headed by his assistant in
church work, Rev. J. Leonard Levy.
They received him royalty and soon he
was in special car on his way to the city.
At his home 1547 Diamond street, he re
ceived a number of in innate friends dur
ing the rest of the day, although the
time set for his public reception is Mon
day evening next Numerous floral trib-
utes came pouring il from friends
The project which DR.. krauskopf has
pushed forward with much success was
attended with many great difficulties.
Under the laws of Russia no Hebrew can
enter the country. But DR.. Krauskopf
de ermined to try to test his right of
American citizenship and armed with
passports and letters of Introduction he
knocked at the gate of the cars realm
for admission. A reporter saw him last
evening at his home and he spoke very
enthusiastically of the results of his trip.
SAW THE MINISTER OF FINANCE.
The purpose Of my trip" said he "was
to ask of the Russian government a grant
Of land on which to coloniZe the Russian
Jews of that country without expense to
the government at all. The expense is to
be borne by various countries. 1t is our
idea that the Jews of each country shall
raise fund for this purpose. I went 0
the American minister and with him had
an Interview with the minister of finance,
one of the highest officials in the country
He asked that the proposition be sub
mitted in writing, and said it would be
considered by the Council of the EN-
pire as well as by the car himself, as
soon as he RECEIVERS sufficiently from his
illness. This looks very favorable, in
deed in fact, much more so than / anti
cipated y hen started out on my Journey.
had hardly any expectations of even
getting into the country. yet l found the
gates Hospitality opened to me and every
convenience was given me to enable me
! TO carry out my project / was not
hindered or hampered, that is, not more
so than any other traveller in Russia, and
! was given every opportunity TO see Tor
myself the actual condition of life Of the
Russian Jews.
If nothing else has been gained. that
alone would repay me a thousand fold for
| the journey. The condition of the Rus
sian Jews there is indcscribable. There
are ), coo GOO of them in that country, the
great bulk of whom are in the Polish and
Bess- Arabian provinces on the German.
Austrian and koumanian frontiers. They
are denied the right of even living in
villages, or Of owning or tilling land. Con-
! sequently all crowd into few unrestric-
ted cities, thus causing an Undesirable
congestion of people.
Il visited some of the Jewish colonies
founded by Emperor Alexander l and
| Nicholas, eighty and I'VE years ago re-
! spectively There are thirty-nine of them
sitting in the southern part Of Russia,
near Odessa. ! wanted to see whether
! the Russian Jews could make good farm
/ ers and take care OF themselves. Although
| they had the poorest land imaginable in
| these colonies, found that by hard work,
! economy and thrift they had developed it
| in a wonderful degree. There are over
/ 30,0 600 souls there, and they are fully a 0le
/ TO take care of themselves.
High otfcials in the colony, who are
| appointed by the government, told me
! that there are no better farmers or no
! thriftier or harder working people than
! these colonists."
GREATLY ENCOURAGED.
How was your project received in Rus
sia?"
Everybody favored it, although, of
! course. officials would express no opinion
on such an important matter. spent an
evening with Count Leon Tostoi and met
several other prominent men, who are
not as well known in this country though
I they are distinguished at home, and all Of
1 them spoke highly Of the project as an
| important step toward the solution Of the
| Jewish question.
The need Of a speedy solution one
could not doubt who ever saw the crowded
/ towns where 10000 people occupy the
! space which 10000 would almost crowd,
! and see the poor wretchCs living on her
ring. a piece OF black bread and an onion
a day and being literally beasts Of burden,
| suffering all kinds Of degradation ana
! torture to earn even such living
Or. krausKopf said that in accordance
with the request made, he sent an outline
of the project in writing 10 the American
| legation and IL was forwarded TO Minis
ter of Finance Witte, in whose hands IL is
| now.
DR.. krauskopf is looking well after his
voyage. although he says IL has been
more work than vacation TO him. He
will rest a few days and then get down 10
| active work here again.