Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-03-11
THE JEWS IN RUSSIA.
Advice Given 40 Them by Charlie.
Rcade sixty Years Ago.

Advice Given to Them by Charlie.
Rcade sixty Years Ago.
Sixty years ago Charles Reade. the
famous English novelist, wrote the
following words. There has been no
change In Russia nor I'm the condition
OF the Russian Jews since then, and
his advice, says the New York Journal.
is as appropriate today as 1t was in
1910:
This sudden persecution OF the Jews
In the very nation where they are
most numerous, may 1t not be q pre-
eursory sign and a reminder from
Providence that their abiding city is
not in Russia?
! almost think some such reminder
was needed, for when was a boy the
pious Jews still longed for the Holy
Land. They prayed, like Daniel, with
their windows open toward Jerusalem.
Yet, now that the broken and i'm
poyerished Saracen would cede them
territory at one-tenth OF its agricul-
tural and commercial value, a cold in
difference seems to have come over
them.
L often wonder at this change of
sentiment about so great a matter and
In so short period, comparatively
speaking, and puzzle myself as to tire
reason
Two solutions occur to me: % Dis
persed I'm various nations, whose aver
age inhabitants are inferior in intelli-
gence and forethought to themselves,
they thrive as individual aliens more
than they may think so great a multi
tude of Jews could thrive in a land of
their own, where blockheads would be
scarce. (2) They have for centuries
contracted their abilities to limited
number Of peaceful arts and trades;
they may distrust their power to di-
versify their abilities, and be suddenly
complete nation, with soldiers, sail
ors, merchants, husbandmen, as well
as financiers and artists.
III / should happen to be anywhere
near the mark in these suggestions.
let me offer word in reply to both OBJ
jections. In the first place, they both
prove too much. for they would keep
the Jews dispersed forever. 1t is GER
tain. therefore, they will have to be
got over some day, and therefore the
sooner the better.
AS to objection one, il is now proved
that sojourning among inferior nations
has more drawbacks than living at
home. True. the Russian yokel has for
years been selling to the Jews his sum
mer labor in winter and at a heavy
discount. But the silly, inlprovident
brute has turned like a wild beast
upon them and, outwitted lawfully,
has massacred them contrary to law,
and truly Solomon had warned them
there is no animal more dangerous
than q fool and brute beast without
understanding,
Besides, they need not evacuate other
countries in hurry and before the re.
sources Of their own land are develop
cd. Palestine can be colonized effectu.
ally from Russia alone, where there
are 100000 Jews trembling for life
and property, and the rest would fol-
low
As to the second objection. history is
looking glass at our backs Turn
round and look into it with your head
as well us your eyes, and you shall see
the future. Whatever Jews have done
Jews may do.
They are people of genius. and
genius is not confined by nature. but
by will. by habit or by accident. TO
omit to try is not TO fail. What have
this people tried heartily and failed in?
Warriors. writers, builders merchants.
lawgivers. husbandmen, and supreme
in all,
Therefore, II by any chance this re-
cent outrage should decide the Jewish
leaders to COLOMBO Palestine from Rus
sia, let us freely offer ships, seamen.
money-whatever we are asked for. 1t
viii be better national Investment
than Egyptian, Brazilian or Peruvian
bonds.