The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-06-12
THE KIsHINEFF MASSACRE.
The NoSt Reliable Information Con-
vicIs the Russian Government of
Completely in the Horror.

the Jews Of Kishineff, the capital OF
B~essarabia, in Russia, on April 19 and
%, the days of the Russian Easter Gel
ebratiOn. The reports Of the affair
which have reached this country by
wire and mail have Il tina the police
n other officials IL Kishinef actually
urged on the rioters. and n a some OF
them took an active part II he atur-
MALTA of murder. rapine, and plunder!ng
that left 5000 families homeless and
destitute, $50 persons wounded, 7 30
dead. What purports TO be he text OF
a. remarkable dispatch from Won
Plehve. Russian Minister of the Interior,
to the governor of B~essarabia, sent
three weeks before the massacre, IS
printed in the newspapers, from which
it appears that the outbreak was fully
expected. Instead of e~njoiniDgt h gov
ernor to preserve order, how r, Won
lEsnve dwells upon the "undeslraDlIlty
EinstiIling by too severe measures
anti-gOvernmental feelings into the pop
UIaLOn," and tells him TO use 'admonl-
tons, without at all having
however, to the use OF arms II was
only after this peculiar Easter celebra-
ton had been running amuck for two
days that the minister authorized a mil
itary demonstration. The troops We're
ordered 10 fire into the air, and at the
first discharge the mob dispersed and
quiet was restored. Some of the rioters
were hurt by the Jews who tried TO de-
fend themselves, SO "a ministerial cir
cular forbidding the Jews to defend
themselves haS been issued, according
20 a dispatch from St. Petersburg, and
lit is expected" the dispatch proceeds
that this step will stimulate Jewish en-
igratiOn to America"
All these bits of evidence are accept
Cd by our newspapers as proof that the
cars government is responsible for the
kishineff massacre, ard they do not
hesitate to point at him the finger of
scOrn and derision. This is the author
of the peace conference and the mani
festo of religious liberation, exclaims
The New York Jewish Daily News.
This is the ruler who seeks Vaster ter
ritOries, the guardianship of weak peO-
pies, the white mans burden!" eX-
claims The New York World. This IS
the monarch who admonishes the Turk
to REFORM eXclaimS The Pittsburg Ga
zette. This is the ruler, remarks The
Philadelphia Inquirer, who thinks that
the men and wOmen who dare to discuss
political and religious progress are not
fit to live in Russia, and must be eXiled
and communicative! No such gov
eminent, declares The New York Times,
Ca be called civilized, or can ask the
respect OF decent governments and
The New York Commercial Advertiser
says:
Russia, indeed. today stands before
the world not as one OF the great pow
ers Of Christendom. buC as a gigantic
force which makes for barbarism- In
the far east, her emisSaries have de-
strOyed respect for treaties. They have
violated the law of nations. and they
have lone it with the shamelessness of
OrientaIs IN whom there is no touch of
the higher. nObler civilization of the
western world. In Finland, the iber-
ties Of a free people are being remorse-
leSS.y trampled under foot in defiance
of n. written promises of the Russian
aut t"Tat. And now in BesSarabia. the
work Of devils has gone on unchecked
until the imagination is appalled, by
the mere recital of the nameleSS hor-
rors. Surely. the rulers of no nation
can pile up Offenses such as these and
go U~Escourged. \ few more chapters
added 10 q chronicle SO black will cause
the name # Russia 10 be held in uni
versaI Diet station as that OF an enemy
OF all marzind."
The Philadelphia Ledger says SINH
larly:
The modern world cannot counte-
nance crimes like this. II cannot even
suffer them 10 pass with mere private
and unofficial protest. If the Russian
government. sounding proclamatiOns of
religious freedom on its lips. has no pro-
lection for its citizens OF the Jewish
faith: if its provincial governors look
out OF the windows OF their palaces upon
three days massacre without lifting a
finger TO save property from destruc-
ton. men and babes from torture and
death. II women from dishOnor. then
the Russian government has no title
to the respect of civilized powers. and
deserves 10 be dealt with as are barba-
rOus nations when they outraged hu-
mainly.
The swelling woe OF the Kishineft
horror is upon the Christian as we'll as
the Jewish world. They were Jews who
suffered: Christians who inflicted the
suffering. 1t 'behoves the Chris
tiJUS of enlightened lands where
ssccarla1 prosecutions are i'm
possible and inconceivable to purge
their religion from the blood with which
its white garment have been stained il
E-~~Sarabia. The Christian nations
hate. dominate abhor and eXecrdt- the
deeds Of K.Shinef. and il IS within their
just province TO demand of Russia that
she punish the guilty and see 10 il that
from this moment the persecution -
Israel ceases"
Says The London Jewish Chronicle:
We charge the Russian government
with responsibility for the kishinef
massacre We say il IS stepped 10 III.
eyes IN the guilt OF this holocaust. I
Europe does II o disassociate itself from
the [eprOuS -aErr OF this barhar7ar NOW