The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-15
Calls Upon Nicholas to Prevent
Recurrence of Murderous
Riots.
1ntimates That He Should Practice
What He Has Already
Preached.
Minneapolis Hebrews Are Repre-
scented Among the Signers Of
- the Document.

The Jewish petition to the Car OF Rus-
STA, protesting in diplomatic language
against the Kishinef outrage, is now In
sAe hands Of the president. and. when
revised to fit conditions which have arisen
since it was drawn Is likely to become
d document of international importance.
Because of the sudden change in the plans
of the B'nai Birth, but few citizens of
Minneapolis were privileged to see the
text Of the petition. But Jonas Well, pres
ident of the local lodge of B'nai Birth,
has retained a copy Of the already famous
document "A
While it has been most carefully drawn,
the petition Is plainly a suggestion to the
great white czar that II he does not con-
duct his government along the peace and
harmony lines he laid down for himself
in his famous utterances regarding re-
ligious and other freedom in his empire,
the 5000, 900 Jewish citizens will take part
in a great migration. Incidentally the
petition contrasts conditions here and III
Russia, and says pointedly that religious
war"
Information received by the local lodge
of B'nai Birth Is that the petition In
the hands Of President Roosevelt Is prac-
tically the same as that circulated here
and reading as follows:
To His Imperial Majesty, the Car:
The cruel outrages perpetrated at Kishiner dur
Peprobation thruout the world. Until your maj
esty gave special and personal directions the
local authorities failed TO maintain order or sup
press the rioting.
The victims. were Jews and the assault wal
the result Of race and religious prejudice. The
rioters violated the laws Of Russia. The Local
officers were dcrelict in the performance OF thell
DUTY. The Jews were the victims OF indefenslble
lawlesness.
These facts are made plain by the official re-
port OF and by the official acts following tne
Tot.
Fresh Outbreaks Feared.
Under ordinary conditions the awful calam
ity would be deplored without undue fear OF
recurrence. But such is not the case IN thu
present instance. Your petitioners are advised
that millions Of Jews--Russian sub1ects-dweli
ing in southwestern Russia, in constan
dread of fresh outbreaks They feel that 1gno
rance. superstition and bigotry, as e1empllfed b!
the rioters, every ready to prosecute them
that the local officials unless thereunto specially
admonished cannot be relied on as strenuou
protectors of their peace and security; that
public sentiment Of hostility has been engendere'
against them and hangs over them as con
tlnuing menace. -: ,s.-. ... E,
Even II It be conceded that these fears are t
some extent exaggerated, 1T is unquestionabi
true that they exist, that they arc not ground
less, and that they produce enects OF great IN
portance.
The westward migration Of Russian Jews
which has proceeded for over twenty years. l
being stimulated by these fears and already tina
in magnitude the Jews from Spain and TO ran
with the exodus from Egypt
No estimate Is possible OF the misery Sui
fered by the helpless Jews who feel driven to fo
sake their native land, to sever the most sacre
ties, and to wander forth to strange cour
tries.
Neither Is 1t possible to estimate the miser
suffered By those who are unwilling or unaDl
to leave the land of their birth; who must pal
from friends and relatives who emigrate; VII
remain in neverending terror.
Religious persecution is more sinful ana mol
fatuous even than war. War Is sometime
necessary honorable and just; religious .pers
cution is never defensihle
The sinfulness and folly which give impult
to unnecessary war received their greatest, chez
when your majesty's initiative resulted In an II
tsrnatonal court OF peace.
Tho Direct Appeal.
With such an example before 1t, the civilize
world cherishes the hope that upon the same In
tative there shall be fixed in the early days
the twentieth century the enduring principle
religious liberty; that by gracious and conVi
cling expression your ma jesty Will proclaim, N
only for the government Of your own subject
but also for the guidance Of all civilized me
that none shall suffer In person. property, IL
erty honor or life because OF his religious belle
that the humblest subject or citizen may Worsh
according to the dictates of his own consclenc
and that government, whatever Its form or age
cies, must safeguard these rights ana lmmunltl
by the exercise of all its powers.
Far removed from your ma jesty's dominion
living under different conditions, and owing all
riauce to another government, your petlt1one
yet venture In the name of civilization to ple
for religious liberty and tolerance; to plead Tn
he who led his own people and all others TO c
shrine of peace will add lustre to his rei
and fame by leading new movement that sht
commit the whole world in opposition to reli
1ous prosecutions.