The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01

won't assimilate with the rest, we must
necessarily look I'D them as strangers"
The Correspondent-"The government
does everything in its power to hinder us
to assimilate. Then, after preventing us
from assimilation, it charges us with the
crime of its own making.
The Prime Minister without paying at
tention to the remark)-I maintain that we
Roumanians are extraordinarily tolerant as
a nation. AS for myself pride myself on
my tolerance. Have not granted you this
audience on Sunday, not to inter-
fere with the observance of your Sabbath?
1 assure you, those who call me an anti
Semitic are mistaken. One Of my best
friends is Daniel in Jassy, a Jew banker.
When I studied in Bonn one of my profess
sOrs was a Jew.
II deny that our opposition to the Jews
is dictated by any other considerations
than that Of self-preservation. Yes; it Is
the instinct of preservation that forces
us to take drastic measures against for
eigners. As to the new law forbidding for
eigners to follow a trade in Roumania as
artisans and tillers of the soil, it was not
framed with reference to native Jews. The
regulations specifying the application Of
the law will prove that, they make a
formal difference between foreigners and
native-born Jews. 1 authorize you to tell
your compatriots that the government has
no intention TO lessen or take away their
rights"
The Correspondent-But you have already
taken away our right of peaceful assem-
blage.
Prime Minister-The right Of assemblage,
of protest, is not citizens right. but po-
litical privilege.
POINTED QUESTION.
The Correspondent-If the governments
intentions towards the native Jews are
good, why did not the government declare
so in Parliament? A declaration of that
their peace of mind. AS it is, they are
forced to conclude that their entire dis
reimbursement is contemplated.
Prime Minister-I prevented that very
declaration to keep the anti-Semites quiet.
If it had been made anti-Jew agitation
would have spread over the whole extent of
the kingdom.
The minister rose to indicate that the in
terview was at an end. Believe me-" he
said in conclusion, that 1 have the inter
ests of the Jews very much at heart. There
(pointing TO a basket full of papers) are
all the documents. I will study the ques-
ton just as soon as 1 can find time"
The last remark is characteristic of the
governments whole attitude. Now that the
Jews are fleeing the country in all direc-
lions, the prime minister promises TO
study their case-when he has got the
time" But meanwhile the hunted and dis
franchised Jews are not permitted to hold
meetings nor protest in any other way
against measures intended for their I'M
doing.
Quite recently the minister was asked
whether the 5000 Jews now serving in
the Roumanian army would likewise be de-
prived of the chances for a livelihood at
the end of their term.
His answer was that the law regulates
these matters. Well, the new law says
plainly that no foreigner" shall work for
pay in Roumania and imputes that all Jews
are foreigners.
There is only one hope for Roumanian
observation-disclosures by the powers. The gov
eminent fears public opinion abroad as the
following paragraph from the Gazetta Con-
servatore proves:
Monsieur Braesco, editor Of the semi