Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-10-19
JEWS IN RUSSIA,

Michael Davltt, who has been visit
Ing the places whore the Jews In Rus
sia are largely concentrated, gives a
rather dark picture of the situation. He
found the towns crowded with artisans
and traders, many Of whom were des-
tiute and too poor to emigrate. They
are prohibited, he says, from going
from one place to another nor are they
permitted to engage in every occupa-
ton that might offer them a living
one reason for the preJudices that
exist against the Jews, Mr.. Davitt says
is the circulation of the absurd story
that the Jews annually capture and kill
christian children as a part of their
observance Of the day Of atonement.
Russians, we are told, actually believe
this legend, and that is perhaps not so
very strange. In old Rome, notwith-
standing its civilization and broad
views, many believed that the followers
Of the Na2arene killed children and ate
their flesh and drank their blood, and
persecution pleaded this as an excuse
for its fearful atrocities. But 1t Is
not necessary to go to Rome or to an
tqulty for illustrations Of the absurd
ity OF the belief OF some otherwise well
informed persons. In our own country,
and in our own generation, blood curd-
ling tales of "avongng angels" and
blood atonement' have found open
ears, and stirred up hatred and bitter
ness. People in every age and every
country are but too wiling to believe
the stories invented by malice and ig-
norance about those who happen to be
unpopular
Mr., Dayitt believes IN Zionism as a
remedy for the ills under which the
Russian Jews are working. How the
plan can be carried out Is the question,
The Russian Jews are, generally speak
ing, very helpless. They need assistance
to get out of the land OF oppression,
and II they settle In new locality, they
need help to make 1t a home and a
place of refuge. The Jewish Zion prob
lem Is one OF the greatest difficulty, but
1t is not impossible. 1t should not be
more intricate than 1t was when
Moses led the multitudes out Of Egypt,
or when Ezra and Nehemiah broke the
Babylonan letters and re-established
the temple service, AZ neither time
could the work have been accomplished
without special interference by the Al
mighty, in behalf Of His chosen people
Nor can Zonism of today become a
reality without such aid.
In this connection 1t may be Of some
interest to notice, that a Jewish BIZ
bic scholar in New York thinks he has
found a Scripture prophecy on the es'
tabishment Of Zion in Africa, as now
contemplated by the leaders Of zionism
We quote from the Christian Herald:
1T is Il remarkable coincidence. Il
nothing more, that there is in prophecy
| a hint of some such arrangement. i
| can not be said that there Is a distinct
| prophecy OF Jewish state In Africa
| but when we remember I'm how many
/
a situation or event which they did no
| themselves understand, and which be
| came significant only when history haC
interpreted IL, the prediction is worthy
Of consideration. In writing OF IN,
doom OF Egypt Isaiah says xix. 1920
In that day shall Ave cities IN the lane
Of Egypt speak the language Of ca
man. and swear 10 the Lord OF hosts
one shall be called The city OF destruc
ton lmarg,, Of the sunl In that day
shall there be an altar to the Lord II
the midst of the land of Egypt, and
pillar at the border thereof to the Lord
And II shall be sign and Tor a witness
unto the Lord OF hosts In the land O
Egypt for they shall cry unto the Lor,
because OF the oppressors, and he shal
send them a savior, and a great one
and he shall deliver them 1t Is sig
nificant fact that the Jewish cry unde
the expressions Of Russia should hay,
elected from the power controllinl
Egypt an offer of a region In proximity
TO Egypt, I'm which more than the Nv,
cities enumerated by the prophe
might be built, the Inhabitants OF whicl
would speak the language OK Canaan
We have yet to learn what decision tn
Iionists viii reach with respect to tn,
British offer, but that II has been ia