The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-22
TAKE issue
WITH CAssINI
Dr.. Cyrus Adler and Judge sulzber-
ger Discuss the Ambassadors
Recent Interview.
Count Tolstoy Openly Blames the
Russian Government for the
Kishinef Massacre.
Washington Officials May Be Called
Upon to Interrogate the Cars
Government.


Jewish Historical Association and editor
of the Jewish Year Book, in response to
an inquiry, said:
Some days since there appeared in the
Washington newspapers what purported to
be an interview given out by the Russian
ambassador with regard to the recent
anti Jewish riots at Kishinef This state
ment appeared in numerous papers thru
out the country, and in view Of this fact
it may be fairly assumed that a person oc-
cupying so responsible a position as am
bassador would have supervised this
statement and that 1t may be taken from
his point of view as authoritative.
HE begins by pointing out that the 'un-
friendly attitude toward the Jews is due to
the fact that they will not work in the
field or engage in agriculture In 1900
there were more than 10000 Jews in Rus
STA engaged in agriculture, the larger por-
ton Of them beng in southern Russia. It
is true that the tendency towards agricul-
ture on the part of the Jews in Russia has
been arrested, but this has been since 1891,
when the May laws Of 1882 put stop to
the emigration Of the Jewish inhabitants
Of towns into the villages. 1t is not
wholly generous for a country to prevent
Jews from living in agricultural communi-
ties and then blame them for not being
farmers.
.He next charges the Jews in Russia
taking advantage Of the Russian peasants
in this way. The ambassador will prob
ably not be inclined to assert that any
really large percentage of the more than
5, 600, 900 Jews in Russia are bankers or
brokers. Moreover the i'll feeling which
he describes as existing between them and
the peasa nts does not apply to the particu-
lar incident at issue.
"Izishinef which was formerly in Rou-
mania, by the way, is q town which has
about 100000 Inhabitants, SO that the
question Of the fury of the villagers would
hardly come into the discussion. Since
the ambassador makes great point of
the unWillingness Of the Jews to engage
in agricultural pursuits, and since he pro-
claims the failure Of the agricultural co1-
oniess it might be interesting for him to
know that in 1899 there were 278 Jewish
agricultural colonies in Russia, upon which
there were employed 63, 223 people,. U.s.
1.-THE ambassador states that Jewish
genius is appreciated in Russia and the
Jewish artist l1onored. The May laws,
reference to which was made above, re-
stricts the number of students at the uni
yersities and gymnasiums, carrying these
restrictions even to- private technical
schools established by the Jews them
selves. Jews were forbidden to be army
doctorsj the college for veterinary sur
geons was closed to them and they were
prohibited from acting as engineers, ex-
cluded from the civil service and only
allowed ito become members of the legal
profession upon a. special permit from
the minister Of Justice.
lone of the reasons mentioned by the
ambassador for the hostility on the part
Of the Russians is the unwillingness of
the Jews to assimilate One single Incl
dent indicating where the fault lies may
be mentioned. The last figures available to
me for the recruits In the Russian army
are those of 1896 which show that dur
ing that year 1881 Jews were drafted
into the Russian army, yet none of these
is upon any account allowed to become
a commanding officer. The Russian Jew
has, however. the privilege Of being
killed in defense Of his country.
| ut is thus shown flynn hasty exam
nation Of the interview Of the ambassador
that he has in no case given an accurate
statement Of the causes which produced
the riot at Kshinef under discussion and
one Is led to the painful conclusion that
he either is unacquainted with affairs in
his own country or that he Wilfully in
| tended to mislead the American people"
Judge sulzberger's Comment.
| Philadelphia, May 22.-Meyer Sulzber-
airy, replied to the assertions of Count
Cassini, Russian ambassador, that the
troubles in Kishinef are due to an upris-
| ing Of peasants against the money lenders.
Judge Sulzberger said:
Count Cassini, is confronted with the
fact that there have been rapes and muir
/ ders Of women, horrible cruelty to babies
and murder Of unoffending men commit
ted. His first instinct is to excuse the
criminals and throw the blame on the vic
I Tins. "A man with that attitude Of mind
| is not to be argued with. His real con-
viction, Of course, Is that common people
| have no rights and that what happens tc
1 tee for sHf err SnJj
Isince there are so many Of them that he
| can easily spare a few thousand. It was
/ the attitude Of the French mobiles before
the revolution, and that it must be shared
! by a great many OF his fellow mobiles is
proved by the fact that while all this
massacre was occurring In Kishinef and
went on three days, five Russian regi-
ments were quartered In the town. It is
therefore certain that the police and mill
/ tary departments permitted the massacre
! and are responsible for 1t.
Their responsibility is now assumed
and shared by all. the people who think
with Count Cassini. AS regards his
i puerile remarks, 1t is enough to say:
'First-That the great bulk OF Jews OF
Russia are the poorest people In the world
and have no money to lend.
4 Second babies do not lend
money
''Third That murderous criminals are
not usually borrowers.
1 "On the other hand, there have been
known high officials living lives Of luxury
or debauchery who were in need Of many
4 thousand roubles, and to whose depleted
pocket proceeds Of loot and the price 81
! protection might bring new lease OF
reyelry. 81 s 4; 81 55' sz
mo doubt, In the usual relations Of life
i the: count is q gentleman In his manners
/ and practices, but, after all, he is a Rus
sian nobleman. II he wants the opinion
OF an unprecedented American commission
er let him read the report made to the
United States government by Colonel
4 Weber and DR. Walter Kempster, printed
at the government printing Office In 1892
4 There are in It such passages as even 3
Russian nobleman would blush to have
submitted to the women OF the United
1 States. ss ST.
1 Washington Is Watching
Washington, May 22.Reports that
many Jews are leaving Russia to escape
persecution has attracted the attention
I Scontinusd on the Second Paas.1