The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-10-05
CouaaR MONDAY OCTOBER 5 sOs

successful although Firms. Armenians
and even Georgians have proved to be
less tractable material, and offer good
deal of resistance to the methods en-
ployed to extinguish their national life.
Whatever the nature of the methods the
one object of the policy is to make ev-
cry subject race an integral portion Of
the Russian empire. In the case of the
Jews Russia has departed from this
policy. Instead of giving them an OPP
portunity of becoming united with the
general population of the empire, it en-
phasizes the natural tendency of the
race to exclusiveness by erecting a ter
ritorial barrier beyond which, with few
exceptions, they dare not pass. Fifteen
western provinces OF the empire form
the Jewish pale. Here, at any rate, Jews
have the right to exist. But even with
in the pale they are subjected to harass-
ing restrictions. They are confined to
the towns by a law which prohibits
their purchasing land in the country
districts. They are not permitted to
own property in a belt of land EXTEND
ing fifty versts from the border. They
are permitted the exercise Of their own
religion, but may not proselytze, though
the Orthodox church has perfect liberty
to proselytize among Jews. They are
not allowed to carry on business on
Sundays or church festivals. And their
rights within the pale are further re-
stricted by the prohibition to live in the
cities of Yalfa. Sevastopole. Kieff, and
Nikolaieff.
A limited number Of privileged Jews
are privileged to reside in any part of
the empire. These are members Of the
first guild of merchants and persons
| who are in possession of an academical
diploma. Such persons are allowed to
keep not more than two servants of
their own persuasion. Their children
share their parents rights of freedom
of movement, the sons until they are of
age. the daughters until marriage. An
acadernical degree, however, is beyond
the reach of all but very few. The
doors of secondary schools and univer-
stiles are strictly guarded so that the
smallest possible number of Jews may
enter, and the restrictions In this re-
spec. are being made more severe. In
| the st. Petersburg university, for in
stance. the statutes formerly provided
that the proportion of Jews admitted
to the university may not exceed 10 per
cent. Of the whole number Of students.
| During M. BogoIiepoff's term as minis
| ter OF public instruction the provision
was altered so as to limit the proportion
of Jewish students In any one faculty.
The peculiar hardship Of this regula-
| ton will be understood when it is re-
membered that Jews, owing to the i'm
possibility of their entering the service
of the state as teachers or professors,
| are practically debarred from inscribing
themselves in any faculty except that
os medicine. aE~<
The law is not only an instrument of
restriction: it is an instrument Of per-
secution. The police take advantage of
every legal technicality to harass the
| Jews. The spirit Of the law is one of
| uncompromising anti-Semitism. Often
enough the zeal of the police goes be-
yond the utmost permissible bounds.
and decisions of lower courts against
the Jews have to be reversed by the
1 senate. The one loophole Of escape from
the rigor Of the law is to be found in
/ official corruption. In Kieff. Tor in
stance. number of Jews resiIe within
the boundaries OF the city unmoiested,
in spite OF the prohibition A bribe
closes the eyes tif the police: and The
bride has become so much a matter OF
course shat it Is of.en included lii the
rent In st. Petersburg and Moscow
the law is evaded in similar way. But
in the case of the Jews bribery has it's
limits. and they have to restorr 10
| strHtegenn. The story is told of young
Hebrew physician who, in order to Sc
cure for his parents the right to reside
near him In st. Petersburg had to reg
lister his father as his valet and his
mother as his cook.
At first sight it seems iflexplieable
| that the government should pursue such
a policy of repression. 1t would seem
more reasonable to allow the assimila-
tive power of the Russian race to do it's
work to grant the Jews the privileges
OF other Russian citizens. and by per-
Uniting them wider sphere of activity
diminish their natural tendency OF ex-
1 -