The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-07-22
Ts Present the B'Rai Birth Petition 70
me Russian ainister Of Foreign At
fairs, Setting Forth The Bar
barities With Which the
Iews are stiII Threat
ened.

ssd States charge d'aEaires at st.
Petersburg, yeciting IN detail the petl-
xion and directing him TO present the
sauae to the foreign Office il 1t we're
wiling 60 receive It. 1t is stated by
Riddle that the foreign Office
Eould not receive it under any ci--
cunsSances, and Secretary lay SO
nformed the B'Nal B Rith committee
IN brief telegram.
The official statement OF the facts IS
rs follows:
TIE Russian Government has de-
clined to receive or to consider the
pesit5on In rs5@sion TO the condition
If the Jews IN REssia signed by several
Sshpusand ci5izens and cabled to St.
Petersburg By direction Of the Presi-
dent.
AZ the conference on Tuesday, the
9th OF July, at Oyster Bay, the Presi-
Tent conferred with Messrs. Leo n.
Levi Simon Wolf and Oscar S.
Strauss, In regard TO the presentation
cf the petition and decided TO send the
following dispatch TO Mr.. Riddle, the
American charge Hd'afaires in ST.
Petersburg
Department Of State, Washington,
ID. C., July Is. 1903.-To Riddle, st.
Petersburg You are instructed TO ask
IN audience Of the minister OF foreign
aEairs and to make to him the follow
ing communication:
ExceIency: The Secretary Of State
laassructs me TO inform you that the
President has received from large
nuuber of citizens Of the United States
oE all religious affiliations and occupy
ing the highest positions, In both
abilc and private life, respectful
Desition, addressed to his Majesty, the
Emperor, relating to the condition
nE Jews in Russia, and running as fol-
lows:
70 His Imperial Majesty, the
Emperor of Russia: The cruel outrages
Derpetrated sst KishineG during Eas-
Ser, Of 1903, have excited horror and
reprobation throughout the world.
Until your Majesty gave special and
Eersonal directions the local authori-
lies failed TO maintain or suppress the
ESoSing.
6 The victims were Jews and the
assault was the result of race and reli-
gious prejpdice.
The rioters violated the laws Of
Rassia.
The local officials were derelict
IN the performance of their duty.
The Jews were the victims OF IN
-defenssbie lawlessness. These facts
ars made plain by the official reports
IS and By the Official act following the
not.
= Under ordinary conditions the
saWful calamity would be deplored
ishout undue fear of a recurrence.
Bat snch is not the case in the present
Instance. Your petitioners are advised
Enat millions of Jews-Russian subjects
dwelling in Southwestern Russia are
an constant dread Of fresh outbreaks.
They feel that bigotry, Ignorance and
g1perstition, as exmplined by the
rs@ssrs, are ever ready to prosecute
them; that the local officials, unless
shereunto specially admonished, can
not be relied on as strenuous pro-
sors of their peace and security !;
that public sentiment OF hostility has
been engendeyed against them and
hangs over them as continuing
menace.
IS Even If it be conceded that these
fsars are to some extent exaggerated,
is unquestionably true that they ex-
iss; that they are not groundiess, and
Eflat they produce effects OF great:
Importance.
g The westward migration of Rus
sian Jews, which has proceeded for
srer twenty years, is being stimulat-
ed by these fears, and already that
movement has become SO great as to
oysrshadow in magnitude the expulsion
of The Jews from Spain and to rank
with the exodus from Egypt.
. No estimate is possible Of the
misery suffered by the hapless Jews,
who feel driven to forsake their native
land, to sever the most sacred ties
and to wander forth to strange conn-
tries. Neither is it possible to es-
Gimate the misery suffered by those
who are unwilling or unable to leave
sae land of their birth who must part
from friends and relatives who emf
crate; who remain in neyer-ending
terror.
e Religious persecution is more
sinful and more fatuous even. than
war. War is sometimes necessary,
honorable and just. religious persecu-
ton is never defensible.
st The sinfulness and folly which
gave impulse to unnecessary war, re,
ceiyed their greatest check when your
Majesty IN initiative resulted in an IN,
ternatienal Court Of Peac.
ssNith such an example before il
Eas civilized world cherished the hope
that upon the same initiative there
shall be fixed in the early days OF the
twentieth century the enduring prin
ciple Of religious liberty; that by
gracious and convincing expression
your Majesty will proclaim not only
fer the government of your own sub
serts, but also for the guidnace OF al
eiyilized n.en, that no one shall snfsel
in person, property, liberty, honor o.
life, because Of his religious belief
sEhas the Eumblest subject or eitizel
may worship according 70 the dictates