The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-07-17
: STATUS Of THE JEWS.
No Relief For the Sufferer to Be
Had in Russia From Misery
and Persecution.
CRUSHED InPoylsHEu AND KILLED.
Frster~d Ina HIS Moveme
capped IN Ills Nocatton-nc - tn
able 10 Protect Htms~lf-N slave
without u Masters Protection tn
shield Him frosn Abu.~.


Atlantic City. \. j.. July lJ.--.Iohn
A. Weber, of Buffalo, \. ", late com
missioner of immigration AT the por'
% New York, and chairman OF the
special commission authorized by the
congress IN ISIS To investigate in
Europe the causes melting immigra-
ton 70 this country. was speaker
sunday. before the Jewish Chaufau-
qua on the subject of The Status Of
The jews in Russia
In his address Mr. Weber charged
the Russian restrictive laws a. being
responsible for the misery and psrse-
eution II which people read and hear.
lie stated that there would be no
peace no substantial relief for he
sufferers until the total disappear
ance from Russia of either the Jew
or the special laws directed agairst
them.
Taking up the laws regarding the
right Of residence which the speaker
characterized as especially hard AMI
oppressive he briefly sketched tie
history Of the official DEGREES regu-
ating the area within which the
Jews were permitted TO live during
the past forty years.
Summing up the status OF The Jew
Iva Russia, Mr.. Weber said;
To-day he Is an alien in the land
nf his birth. a subject who bears an
undre share of the burdens Of good
government without the privileges II
the meanest citizens. Fettered an his
movements. handicapped in his voca-
tinn. restricted in his educational OPP
porirnities. he is unable to protect
himself and is powerless 10 success
fully invoke the protection of the
authorities. slave without the self
interest of a master TO shield him
from abuse-he stands helpless,
friendlcss and defenselesS. brute
force. egged on not only by religious
Intolerance. but by contending forces
that strive to strengthen the govern
rnent on the one hand and To destroy
il on the other. the irrepressible con-
fict IT the age between government
hN autocracy and government by the
people The Jew is. therefore. the
spoil of the rabbIe. the spoil of the
Official. the football Of fanaticism. the
buffer against which strikes the
wrath of bigotry. intolerance and
sayagery."
After asserting the moral obiiga.
zion and the right Of the United
States 10 protest to the Russian gov
eminent against its treatment OF the
Jews. Mr.. Weber said:
~ can not look with unconcern up-
nm The arrival Of thousands Of hunt
-fl. terror-stricken human beings. |
who come 10 Us. Crushed in spirit AMI /.
impoverished in substance. to enter
into competition with our respected |
and seif-respecting labor. Neither is |
IL an answer 10 say that we have the I
remedy in cur own hands by closing
our ports against these people. This 4
would violate our every instinct ~ 4
humanity and would war against the \
policy which has made this countr, 7
great and prosperous and which viii 4
continue to add TO our progress and .
prosperity il immigration j. con.
fined To normal causes alone The
abnormal immigration from Russia IL
due to the laws and methods Of that
country and this gives u legal
and moral right TO object. Self-in-
terest and humanity unite in a loud
call 10 invoke such rights
Referring 70 the hope that con-
siderable part Of this stream from
Russia may be diverted 10 other
lands. Mr. Weber quoted he state
mcnt Of an immigrant at kovno in
the Pale:
II am going to America, for in that
direction lies hope. Here have only
fears n confront me. The hope may
prove decisive. but the fears are a
certainty. My great ambition j. %
breathe at least once the free air
with which God has blessed the
american people"
These" continued the speaker,
'are the words Of an uncultured Jew.
and these are the sentiments in the
heart Of every jew in Russia"
Continuing. he said:
"Be patient with these unfortunate
PEOPLE. and do not judge them by the
ordinary standards. Their lives from
tie cradle up have been passed under
extraordinary conditions The grown
VI generation can never forget their
uisircaimcnt. they can not Danish Z
fear and suspicion upon command,
Int their children can he fitted 10 en-.
ter upon citizenship and made 70
clcrify your race and reflect credit
hpon onr American institutions.
Mcsicsns Punish swiftly.
Sun T'runrfGro Itrl. uI. rrto. 7