Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1903-05-22
PEASANT vs.. MONEY LENDER.
Count cassini Says That 10 the Cause
Of the Jewish Massacre.

Of the Jewish Massacre.
Washington, May 19.-Count Cas-
SIM. the Russian ambassador, in con-
versation yesterday with representa-
tive Of the Associated Press, relative
to the Jewish troubles in Russia, said:
There is in Russia, as in Germany
and Austria, a feeling against certain
OF the Jews. The reason for this un-
friendly attitude is found in the fact
that the Jews will not work in the
fields or engage in agriculture. They
prefer TO be money lenders. Give a
Jew couple OF dollars and he be-
comes banker and money broker. In
this capacity, he takes advantage OF
the Russian peasant, who he soon has
in his power and destroys. 1t is when
the patience of the peasant is destroy
ed that a conflict arises. Ordinarily,
the Russian is very patient person,
but it is only natural that he should
entertain a feeling Of resentment for
the one who has wrought his ruin.
Emperor Nicholas l sought to help
the Jews by ordering the establish
ment Of agricultural colonies in south
ern Russia, hoping to induce the Jews
to engage in agricultural pursuits in
stead of money lending, but the effort
was unsuccessful, nor have other pro-
iects establishing Jewish states been
successful. The situation in Russia,
SO far as the Jew is concerned, is that
OF the peasant against the money
lender, instead of the Russian against
the Jew. The Jew ruins the peasant,
with the result that conflicts occur
when the latter have lost all their
worldly possessions and have nothing
to live upon. There are many good
Jews in Russia and they are respect
ed Jewish genius is appreciated in
Russia and the Jewish artist Is hon
ored. Jews also appear in the financial
world in Russia The Russian govern
ment affords the same protection to
the Jews that it does to any other Of
it's citizens, and when riot occurs
and Jews are attacked, the officials
Immediately take steps to apprehend
those who began the riot and visit
severe punishment upon them. In the
past, Russians have been punished
severely for attacking the Jews. But,
notwithstanding these attacks, the
Jews continue to do the very things
that have been responsible for the
troubles which involve them"
Continuing the conversation, the
ambassador said:
1.-THE. Russian readily assimilates
with the people of all other races, and
if he cannot assimilate with the Jew,
it is apparent that the fault must lie
! with the Jew and not with the Rus
sian"
The ambassadors attention was
called to the statement contained in
press dispatches from St. Petersburg
| today to the effect that ministerial
decree had been issued, forbidding the
Jews to arm themselves for their own
protection II have received no in
formation regarding the nature of the
Decree" he said, but I know that
when the facts are made known it
will appear differently and will be
shown that the decree does not dis
criminate against the Jews. The fact
that Lieutenant General Raaben, the
governor OF Bessarabia, has been
called to St Petersburg shows con,
clusively that the imperial authorities
are seriously regarding the Kishenev
affair and are taking prompt measures
to punish the guilty and to prevent
repetition Of these disturbances.