Evening star., 1903-07-15
WORD SENT TO RIDDLE
Instructed Regarding the
Jewish Petition.
TO SOUND RUSSIA
ASCERTAIN WILLINGNESS TO RE-
CEIvE DOCUMENT.
Committee Entirely Satisfied With the
Plan of the President and
Secretary Hay.
TO SOUND RUSSIA

The Jewish petition laid before the PreSl-
dent yesterday by the B'nai Birth commit
tee has been received here, and Secretary
Hay has communicated by cable with Mr.
Riddle, the American charge danaires al
st. Petersburg. respecting the means to De
employed in bringing it to the attention of
the car. 1t is believed that MIR. Riddle's
instructions are to notify the Russian gov
ernment of the existence of the petition aud
ascertain whether it is willing to receive 1T.
The Jewish committee. 1t is stated is en-
tirey satisfied with the plans framed by
the President and Secretary Hay for thS
presentation of the matter to the Russian
government. No further announcement Will
be made here until Mr.. Riddle has been
heard from.
Text of the Petition.
The text of the petition Is as follows:
"To His Imperial Majesty the Car:
THE cruel outrages perpetrated at kish1-
neff during Easter of 1903 have excited hor-
ror and reprobation throughout the world.
Until your majesty gave special and per
sonal directions the local authorities failed
to maintain order or suppress the rioting.
THE victims were Jews and the assault
was the result of race and religious preju-
dice. The rioters violated the laws OF Rus
sia. The local officers were derelict in the
performance of their duty. The Jews were
the victims of indefensible lawlessness.
reports of and by the official acts following
the riot.
Under ordinary conditions the awful ca
lamity would be deplored without undue
fear of a recurrence. But such is not the
case in the present instance Your peti-
TONERS advised that millions of Jews
Russian subjects-dwellng in southwestern
Russia, are in constant dread of fresh out
breaks They feel that ignorance. super
Stition and bigotry, as eXemplified by the
fin IIy fn To hon,
that the local officials, unless thereuntO
specially admOnished, cannot be relied on
as strenuous protectors Of their peace and
security that a public sentiment Of hos
tility has been engendered against them
and hangs over them a continuing men,
ace.
Even If it be conceded that these fears
are to some extent exaggerated, 1t Is un-
questionably true that they exist. that they
are not groundless and that they produce
effects of great Importance.
The westward migration Of Russian Jews
which has proceeded for over twenty years
is being stimulated by these fears, and al
ready that movement has become SO great
as to overshadow in magnitude the expul-
sion of the Jews from Spain and to rank
with the exodus from Egypt
No estimate is possible of the misery suf-
fered by the helpless Jews who feel driven
to forsake their native land. to sever the
most sacred ties and to wander forth to
strange countries.
Neither is it possible to estimate the
misery suffered by those who are unwill-
ing or unable to leave the land of their
birth; who must part from friends and rela-
tives who emigrate; who remain in never
ending terror.
Religious persecution is more sinful and
more fatuous even than war. War is some
thing necessary. honorable and just; re-
ligious persecution IS never defensible.
The sinfuiness and folly which give i'm
pulse to unnecessary war received their
greatest check when your ma ieSty'S initia