The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-20

n ~
ish feeling. more or less connived
II / at by the authorities. have led
- to many Jews being killed and
t1Sg.S2I many more being left destitute.
49, first az Kishlnef and later on
at GomeI. during the present year.
The three tales, allegories. or legends. in
Guided in this publication. have been con-
tributed by Tolstoy for the benefit of the
sufferers. They were intended, in the first
place. for publication in a Miscellany-the
publication of which was projected for the
benefit of the Jewish sufferers by a talent-
ed Jewish writer. s. N. Rabinovitch. bettef
known in Russia under his pseudonyni of
Schalem Meichem. In order. however. to
obtain as much money as possible, it was
subsequently, arranged TO publish them
simultaneously in several languages
The following letters from Tolstoy TO s.
N Rabinovitch tell their tale:
The terrible crime committed in Kishinef
has astonished and panied me. have In
part expressed my attitude to this shame
full business In letter addressed to Jew
fish acquaintance of mine. Of which inclose
q copy. A few days ago we sent from Mos
cow collective letter TO the mayor of
Kishinef. expressing our feeling about this
terrible affair.
''I shall be very glad TO contribute to your
Jewish Miscellany. and will try TO write
something suitable TO the circumstances.
I.sUnfortunately, what most wish to say
namely. that the guilt-not only of the
1Sishinef horrors, but of all the discord APP
parent In a certain small part mot the peas
ants) of the Russian people--lies solely with
the government But that is just what may
not say In any publication printed in Russia.
'Yasnaya Polyana. May, o. s.. 1903"
The following is the letter to a Jewish
friend referred to in the preceding:
IT have received your letter, and receive
many such. The writer's all-like you-de-
rnand of me the expression of an opinion
about the Kishinef events. But I think
that some misunderstanding underlies these
appeals. 1t is thought that my voice car
ries weight, and a demand is therefore
made that I should express my opinion
about occurrences so important and having
such complex causes as this Kishinef crime.
The mistake lies I'm expecting OF me the ac-
tivity OF publicist, whereas 1 am a man
entirely occupied with one very definite
question, having nothing in common with
current events-namely. the question OF re-
ligion and its application to life. To de-
mand OF me public expression OF opinion
contemporary events is as unjustifia BILE
as TO demand IL OF any more or less we'll
known specialist. I may and do. utilize
some event OF the day to illustrate a
thought may be dealing with but to ex-
press opinions publicist on all con-
temporary events-even though they be
very important-wouId be impossible for
me. even II I considered IL desirable TO do
so. Were to attempt II I should have to
express immature and commonplace opin-
ions. and to repeat what others have al
ready said: then. obviously. the importance
people attribute to any opinions-and that
makes them direct their demands to me-
would not exist.
LAS to the Jews and the terrible Kishinef
events-my relation to them must, think,
be apparent to all who are interested In my
view OF life.
My relation to the Jews cannot be other
than as toward brothers whom I love-not
because they are Jews. but because and
they are all sons OF one Father-God; and
this love needs no effort on my part for
have met and am acquainted with very
excellent members of the Jewish race.
MY attitude toward the Kishinef crime,
also. is naturally defined by my religious
outlook ON life. Even before L had heard
all the terrible details afterwards learned
from the first mention in the newspapers
understood the horror of what had hap
pened. and experienced a depressing and
mixed feeling OF pity for the innocent vic
tim OF the mob's brutality-consternatio at
such brutality the part OF people sup
posed to be Christians-a feeling OF aversion
and loathing toward the socalled educated
people who melted the crowd and sympa-
thized with it's conduct, and, above ALL of
horror of the real culprit in the whole mat
ter-our government. with its priesthood
which stupefies the people and makes fanat-
ics OF them, and It's robber- band OF officials
The Kiskinef crime is simply a direct con-
sequence OF the propaganda OF lies and vio-
lence that is carried with such intensity
and such insistence by the Russian govern
ment
THE attitude OF the government to this
event Is only n fresh proof OF its coarse ego
tism. which does not stop at any cruelties
when repressing a movement IL thinks dan
gerous. and OF its complete indifference
comparable TO the indifference OF the Turk
ish government to the Armenian massacres)
10 the most terrible cruelties, so long as It's
own interests are not involved.
THAT Is all could say about the Kishi-
nef affair and have said IL all long ago.
IF you ask me further. how think the
Jews should act? my reply is again one
which flows naturally from that Christian
teaching which try TO understand and to
follow.
The Jews, like all men, need but one
thing for their welfare-to follow In life.