The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-06
y i, =: = :.
The Russian JeWbaitinp.

The explanation by the Russian director
Of police, cabled to the Christian Herald
Of New York, Thursday, relating. to the
kishinef massacre, comes from. ain off,
cial source, but it conveys no additional
information.
Lopoukhine admits the fendish race an.
tagonism existing among the Russian
peasants toward the Jews, and he might
have admitted at the same time that the
anti-Senlitism of the educated classes is
extremely bitter. He represents this ha-
tired to be SO intense that the government
dare not give the Jews new rights of citi-
zenship for the reason that such liber-
atty. would result in an instruction Of
those amiable peasants. It would not do
to offend the peasants by treating the
Jews with any degree Of fairness, for they
are the most steadfast friends OF the ear.
The director plainly intimates that there
is not any hope Of betterment for the
unfortunate Jews, and there is little doubt
that it Is the intention of the benign Rus
sian government to force them out~-of
Russia. The director freely admits that
the police at Kishinef made no "effica-
cious intervention and were worthless as
Ia law enforcing force, while the Chris
tian'' inhabitants did their bloody work,
or looked on with eager satisfaction at the
atrocities perpetrated upon the Jews The
Russian government disapproves, the di-
rector says; but then, what good does the
disapproval do when it is afraid to pro-
teet the Jews and give them rights as
citizens? The director, in his report, re-
minds us Of the lynching Of negroes in
/ this country, and he might have recalled
the Wyoming massacre, in which China
men were the victims. The difference in
our case is that we have no systematic
national negro batting, and Americans do
not massacre them en- bloc, as Jews are
with US, but the defense Of negro batting
comes only from such men as Tillman of
South Carolina.
The Russian official press expresses sur
prise at the demonstrations in this country
against the Russian -Semitism. It is
claimed that Russia should have different
treatment for her long friendship toward
/ IA0 oA4SOO oSdk&SS, cIIAu IAAS' PuO4AS 11cSt.
ings like that held at Washington last eve
ming, to protest against the massacre and
call upon our government to use 1t good
offices to get Russia to relieve the Jews
Of the deadly intolerance which blights
their lives, are regarded as hostile acts.
The president, upon his resumption OF
business at Washington, will take into
consideration the somewhat xnotty prob.
lem. It is knotty, because the Russian
government is afraid to- give the Jews
any relief thru any increase of their rights
and privileges, lest a domestic Insured
ton follow. Moreover, 1t Is not desirable
for our government to antagonize Russia
on question Of domestic philanthropy
and humane treatment Of class, wher
as to Indians, negroes and Chinese, the
white robe Of our .officious philanthropy
will be found badly spotted in places.
: The Russian contention that we are in
debted to Russia for her friendship Is
based chiefly upon the fact that every
government In Europe was friendly to thu
|southern Confederacy and sympathetic
with 1t during the struggle for the union
J except Russia This courtesy and friend
liness on her part this country has Away.
acknowledged. Russia, however, at ont
time laid claim to the Pacific coast, By
reason of her possession OF Alaska and
her colony In California. She Abandoned
her claim only when the Monroe doctrin,
warned all Europe against colonizing
either in the north or the south continen
, Of this hemisphere Russia, of course; dit
, US a very good turn when she let us hav,
j Alaska for $1,000, 900, altho, at the time