The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-20
GEAR DISMFsSEsa GOVERNOR.
Hut There 10 No, Neal Russian Regret
Over kishineT Massacre

Special cdb,e Despatch to THE SON
ST. PETERSBURG May l9.-An imperial
ukase issued to-day retires Lieut. Gen
Won baaben, Governor Of Kishineff
Although 1t was hardly possible for the
Government to avoid dismssing Governor
Won Raaben, there il little evidence Of real
displeasure over the happenings at Kishi-
mem. Although the massacre showed that
the local authorities could not be trusted
TO protect the Jews NJ. Plehwe. Minister of
the Interior. recently issued a circular for
bidding the Jews TO form associations for
self-defencs. Such action may possibly
be defended on general political grounds
but II Is difficult to And any excuse for the
indulgence extended to the ant-Sem!te
press.
number Of newspapers, no, ably the
Nopoe Vremyd, Spet, Znamya and Bes.
sdrdbWs, have done everything in their
power to excite hatred Of the Jews.
The censorship, which exercises arbitrary
powers over the press, has not interfered
with them. Even now. when the effects
OF the crusade have been made clear to the
whole world, they are permitted to continue
their attacks and even to declare that the
massacre was a well-earned lesson that
served the Jews right, and that they but
reaped what they had sown.
They are allowed to urge that more re-
pressive measures than those already in
force should be taken against the un.
fortunate people, but no corresponding
freedom OF speech is given to defenders
OF the jews.
Several newspapers have been punished
for their outspoken comment. For in.
stance. the Pra'o, one Of the leading legal
reviews in Russia, has received warning
for having published an article of which
the following Is the only passage to which
exception could be possibly taken:
The true explanation OF the Kishnef
affair Is to be found in our legislative and
administrative system, on which the re-
lations of the Christian population to the
Jews Is based. From this point OF view
the Jew is a parah, something evil. He
can only be tolerated. and he must be ham
pered in every possible way and confined
within artificial boundaries among an I'M
educated section OF the population.
There is traditional feeling of con-
tempt against the Jew guilty only OF having
been born a Jew. This cruel and brutal
way OF regarding whole race finds sort
Of indirect confirmation and recognition in
the dominant regime, and thus IL has be-
come possible for the moujik who kills
Jew to believe with all sincerity that it is
not punishable. There cannot be a doubt
that a great majority of those who took
part in the riots did not anticipate any
dangerous consequences to themselves.
This is certainly the most tragic side OF
the terrible event not for the Jews alone"
In addition to the formal warning to
the Prdro, the author Of the article, who is
a we'll known professor Of law and the son
Of former minister, was called before the
Minister Of Justice and censured for his
opinions.
In justice to the Russian people they
should not he made to share the odium
which the Kishineh affair has brought upon
the nti-Semite agtators, upon the local au
thorities and upon the Russian Government.
II would be hard to And nation in the
world that is more tender-hearted and
tolerant than the Russians The whole
Liberal press has given strong expression
to it's horror over the outrages at Kishineh
and many Of the clergy, including the noted
Father John OF Cronstadt and the Bishop
OF Jitomir, have denounced them from
their pulpite.