New-York tribune., 1903-06-16
THE PRESIDENT TO JEWS.
DEEP SYMPATHY SHOWN.
Bat Cannot Promise -4ction Regard
ing the Kishinef Massacre.

massacre OF Jews at Kishineff The statement
consists OF memorandum submitted by the
B'nai 8 Brith Oh the massacre in April. terta-
tive draft OF petition TO the Gear which it was
desired that this government should unofficially
or semi-officially assist in delivering and procur
ing reply 10. and copies Of the replies of Secre
,ary Hay and President Roosevelt to his callers.
In these replies the attitude of this government
on the KisEinef affair is officially defined After
he memorandum had been submitted to him
thc President said:
Mr. Chairman: I need not dwell upon fact
SO patent as the widespread indignation with
which the American people heard of the dread
ful outrages upon the Jews in Kishineff. have
never in my experience in this country known OF
a more immediate a deeper expression of SYM
rs-hy for the victims and of horror over the
appalling calamity that had occurred. 1t is
natural that while the whole civilized world
should express such feeling il should yet be
most intense and most widespread in the United
States. for Of all the great powers think may
say that the United States is that country in
which, from the beginning Of its national career
most has been done in the way of acknowledging
the debt due TO the Jewish race and of endeav-
oring TO do justice TO those American citizens
who are Of Jewish ancestry and faith
Patriotism OF THE JEWS
one OF the most touching poems of our own
great poet Longfellow. is that on the Jewish
Cemetery in Newport. and any one who goes
through any Of the old cemeteries of the cities
which preserve the records of Colonial times will
see The name of many an American of Jewish race
who in war or in peace did his frll share in the
founding of this nation. From that day TO this,
from the day when the jews of Charleston, of
PHILADELPHIA of New York. supported the pa
-riot cause and helped in every way, not only
by money, but by arms Washington ana his
colleagues. who were founding this republic
from that day TO the present, we have had no
struggle. millIaTy or civil. IN winch there nave
not been citizens Of Jewish faith who played an
eminent part for the honor and the credit of
ne nation. I remember once General Howard
-,fr7rT to mo Tna "a
a6e commanders. upon whom he had placed spe-
cal reliance. were Jews Among the meetings of
the Grand Army which ] have attended one
stands out with peculiar vividness-a meeting
held under the auspices Of the men of the Grand
Army OF Jewish creed in the temple IN torty-
fourth-st-Tenlple Emanu- -El-to welcome the
returned veterans of the Spanish American war
OF Jewish faith.
When in Santiago when I was myself in the
army one Of the best colonels among the regu-
lar regiments who did we'll on the day. and
who fought beside me. WAS a Jew. One OF the
commanders Of the ships which in the blockade
~ the Cuban coast did so well was jew In
nv own regiment promoted five men from the
ranks for valor and good conduct in battle IL
"a s0pened by pure accident, for knew nothing
Of the faith Of any one of them. that these in
cl,.ded Two Protestants. two Catholics and one
Jew and while that pure accident, IT was
not without its value al illustration OF the
ethnic and religious makeup Of our nation, ana
Of the fact that il a man is good American
that is all we ask, without thinking OF his creed
or his birthplace. In the same way when
was Police Commissioner in New-1ork had
experience after experience of the excellent Work
done-an excellent work needing nerve ana
hsrdfhood. excellent work cS hat ] might cali
the Maccabe type-in the Police Department
under me by police officers Of Jewish extrac-
ton.
SOME PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.
Let me give you one little incident with direct
hearing upon this question of persecution for
,are or religious reasons. You may possibly re
czl 7 am sure certain Of my NeW-1 1oTk 1rlefos
viii recall, that during the time I was Police
"a abroad
sorry 70 say clergynan-to start an anti-JeW-
izh agitation in New-York, and announced ms
intention of holding meetings TO assam Ihe Jews:
The matter was brought 10 my attention VI
course 1 had power to prevent those meet
ings- After gooG deal OF thought ,. oeIalIeu q
Jewish sergeant and forty jew pohcerneh 10
n-otect the agitator while he held his meetings;
so ne made his speeches denouncing the jews
protected exclusively by Jews, which always
thought was probably the very most effective
answer that could possibly be made TO him, ano
probably the best object lesson we could give Of
the spirit in which Americans manage such
matters.
Nov let me give YOU another little example
dealing with q Russian Jew, an experience that
! had while handling the Police Department
and that could have occurred, think, nowhere
else than in the United States There was
certain man i appointed under the loloWlhS
conditions I was attracted TO him by being
told on visit to the Bowery branch OF the
Young Mems Christian Association that they
had a young fellow there, Jew, who had per
formed a feat Of great note in saving people
from a burning building. and that they thought
him called UP, and told him to take the examl-
ration and see If he could get through he
did and ne passed. He has not only been
excellent policeman, but he al once out Oh
his salary proceeded 10 educate his younger
brothers and sisters, and he got either TWO or
three Of his old kinsfolk over from RUSSIA
through the money he had saved ano proVided
homes for them.
HORROR FOR THE TRAGEDY
I have given you examples of men who have
rcd nd IN administration
Police Department in New-York and my regl-
ment. In addition thereto some Of my nearest
social friends, some OF those with whom nave
been closest in political life, have peen men OF
Jewish faith and extraction Therefore new
tabiy have felt a degree of personal SEinpaIIy Ep1
and personal horror over TINS dreadlul ua6eos
great as can exist in the minds OF any OF
you gentlemen yourselves. Exactly as snouIu
claim the same sympathy from any one ol o sou
for any tragedy happening TO any Chrlstlah peo-
pie. I should hold myself unworthy OF my
present position if ] failed TO feel just as deep
sympathy and just as deep SORROW ano JuSt q
deep horror over an outrage like TINS zone tq
the Jewish people in any part OF the earth l
am confident that much good has ALREADY peeI pei.
done by the manifestations lhroueno~ul ~ Us
country. without regard 10 creed WhalsoeVeI'
of horror and sympathy over what mas oc-
Cured
II is gratifying to know what we would Of
course assume. that the government OF RUSSIA
shows the feelings Of horror and indlgnat@loh ION
with which the American people look upon lAe
ol.trases at Kfshineff. and is moving vigorously
not only to prevent their continuance but 10
punish the perpetrators. That government
takes the same view OF those outrages that our
government takes of the riots and lynchlngs
which sometimes occur in our country, but 40
not cbaracferfze either our government or our
people
r2T-sSIa KEEPING PROMISES.
have been visited by the Russian Ambassa-
DOR or his own initiative, and in addition 10
what has been said 10 Secretary Hay the Rus
sian Ambassador has notified me personally
without sny inquiry on my part, that the Gov
ernor of Kishiileff has been removed; that De