Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-18
MSH|NEFF OUTBREAK
Many Resolutions Adopted
Throughout the Country.
NOT YET RECEIVED
OFFICIALS HAVE NOTHING NEW
ON WHICH TO PROCEED.
A Possible Opening Suggested - Rus
sia Claims That There is Parallel
in Our Attitude Toward Chinese.

Obviously for lack of time, none of the
MANY resolutions relative to the Kishinef
outbreak adopted yesterday in almost every
important center of population in the Cniteo
States has yet reached the State Depart
ment so the officials have nothing new De-
fore them upon which to proceed. 1t IS I'M
possible to tell now whether further instruc-
tions have been sent to Ambassador McCor-
mick or if he has left them to Mr.. Riddie'the
charge, who, by the way, is highly esteem
ed for his abilities by the department. So
far the department has before 1T only
mass of newspaper clippings, describing the
Kishineff massacre, and it scarcely feels
authorized to move upon that basis, even
if it had the power to do so. Supposing a
desire to investigate further in disregard OF
the formal assurance of the Russian govern
ment to Ambassador Mccormick, the de
partment would probably have to content
itself with the sworn statements of the few
refugees from Kishineff who have reached
this country. 1t would not be possible to
procure information through the American
embassy or the American consuls in Russia,
who would promptly become persona non
grata if they, by such action, cast doubt
| upon the formal Russian statements.
A Possible Opening.
1t has been suggested that the brief cable
gram from ST. Petersburg this morning
opens the way for diplomatic action on the
part of the United States in this matter.
That statement was to the effect that the
Russian government had forbidden the
Jews to arm or defend themselves, with
deliberate purpose of forcing them to emf
crate to the United States, for nowhere
else in Europe could they find refuge. Such
action would be similar to that taken by
the Roumanian government in its effects
and the State Department laid down the
doctrine that the dumping of hordes or
emigrants likely to prove paupers upon our
shores was obnoxious to the United States.
However, it may be noted that in spite of
the vigorous protest against Roumania
action contained in the circular note to the
powers from the State Department, the
Roumanian government never admitted our
right to interfere, even on the basis OF I'M
migration. and conditions continue very
much as they were. SO far as the Jews in
Roumania are concerned.
Our Attitude Toward Chinese.
Attention is called to what is a singular
parallel between the attitude of the United
States toward the Chinese and that of the
Russians towards the Jews, attention to
which was called by Russian official 1t
is asserted that though Russia is an agri-
cultural country the Jew will not work
steadily on the farm He saves the wages
of few days work until he has accumu-
lated twenty kopecks, which he invests In
peddlers goods and becomes merchant
He turns his money over rapidly, and in
short time controls the country store and
soon after he has taken advantage of the
simple Russian moujiks to involve them
hopeleSSly in debt. After suffering the
pangs of usury for years the Russian peas
ants are given to periodical outbreaks, and
first in this section, and then in that. there
is a determined effort to expel the Jews,
with whom as traders the Russians cannot
compete.
The parallel is drawn by pointing to the
fact that Chinese labor occupies a precisely
o~1 AvronY "a
and the United States government does not
hesitate to exclude the Chinese. or course
this is a special plea. but it is believed to
faithfully set out the reasons for such out
breaks which occurred at kishinen.
Russian Ambassadors Statement.
Count Cassini, the Russian ambassador,
made the following statement today reia-
tive to the Jewish troubles in Russia:
There is in Russia, as in Germany and
Austria feeling against certain of the
Jews The reason for this unfriendy atti-
tude is found in the fact that the Jews will
not work in the fields or engage in aSrlcul-
ture. They prefer to be money lenders.
Give a Jew a couple of dollars, he becomes
a banker and money broker. In this ca
pacity he takes advantage of the Russian
peasant. whom he soon has in his power
and ultimately destroys. 1t is when the
patience of the peasant is exhausted that
conflict between peasants and Jews occur.
Ordinarily the Russian Is a very patient
person, IL IS only natural tildt ne SilOulO
entertain a feeling of resentment for the
one who has wrought his ruin.
Emperor Nicholas sought to help the Jew
by ordering the establishment of agricul-
tural colonies in southern Russia, hoping
to induce the Jews to engage il agricultu-
raj pursuits instead of money lending but
the effort was not successful nor have
other projects establishing Jewish states
been successful.
Against the Money Lender.
1.-The situation in Russia far the
Jews are concerned is just this: 1t is the
peasant against the money lender, and not
the Russians against the Jews. There is
no feeling against the Jew in Russia be-
cause of religion. 1t is as l have said-the
Jew ruins the peasants, with the result
that conflicts when the latter have
lost all their worldly possessions and have
nothing to live upon.
There are many good Jews in Russia,
and they are respected. Jewish genius is
appreciated in Russia, and the Jewish ar
tist is honored. Jews also appear in the
financial world in Russ a.
The Russian government affords the
same protection to the Jews that it does to
any other of its citizens, and when a riot
occurs and Jews are attacked the officials
Immediately take steps to apprehend those
who started the riot and visit severe pun
ishment upon them. In the past Russians
have been punished severely for attacks
upon Jews. But Notwithstanding these con-
f1icts the Jews continue to pursue the very
the troubles involving them"
Continuing. the ambassador said: The
Russian readily assimilates with the people
of all other races. and if he cannot assim-
ilate with the Jew the fault must lie with
the Jew. and not with the Russian
Action of the Authorities.
The ambassadors attention was called |
to the statement contained in press dis
patches from st. Petersburg today to the
effect that ministerial decree had been
issued forbidding the Jews arming them |
selves for their own protection.
Il have received no information regard !
ing the nature of the decree, but l know |
that when the facts are made known it |
will appear different and will be shown |
that the decree does not discriminate
against the Jews. The fact that Lieut. |
Gen Raaben, the governor of Bessarabia,
has been called to ST Petersburg shows I
conclusively that the imperial authorities |
are seriously regarding the recent occur |
rences at Kishineff and are taking prompt |
measures to punish the guilty and to pre- |
vent repetitions of these disturbances"