The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-03-16

welcome 1t is one of the ironies of
history that 100000 of Jews should
be submitted to one of the most bitter
prosecutions of modern times, because
their ancestors settled in certain places
to escape similar prosecutions.
In this city of Warsaw there are
something like 100000 Jews out of a
population of little over 100000
Strictly speaking, Warsaw and Poland
are not within the Jewish pale, as
Polish Jews have privileges which their
brethren in Russia do not enjoy. But,
even in Poland, it takes a pretty good
microscope to discover any benevolent
actions toward them, on the part of
the government.
To an ordinary, civilized government,
citizens who are capable of building
cities and developing great industries
would be encouraged; but the settled
policy of Russia for nearly century
has been to discourage the Jew in
every way and drive him out of the
country.
A high Russian official recently
declared that the anti-Jewish policy
would result in making one-third of
the Russian Jews migrate, one-third
become converted to the Russian ortho-
dox church, while third he hoped
would Starve to death.
Within the pale Jews may live only
in towns. They are not allowed to
own land or to work on the land. They
are not allowed to reside within 33
miles of any foreign frontier. They
have no political privileges. Their civil
rights are limited in every direction,
while at the same time they are ex-
empted from nothing which the native
born Russian who enjoys all the rights
and privileges is expected to give.
The Jew pays all the taxes anybody
else pays, and in addition is usually
squeezed for a little more. When he
reaches the proper age he is compelled
to serve in the Russian army, though
he cannot by any means rise to the
position of an officer. In the schools
only per cent of the pupils may be
Jews. although the proportion in the
population of the town may be 80 per
cent Jewish. No Jew is allowed to
serve in any government Office or in
any official capacity.
Most serious of all, the Russian laws
so act as to deprive all Jews except
those of the most exceptional ability
of the right to even the most modest
prosperity.
Three things account for the Jewish
prosecutions. Originally it was chiefly
religious, as the average Russian still
has the feeling of intolerance toward
anyone who disagrees with him, as
did the Christians during the middle
ages.
Pobedonostev, percurator of the holy
synod, the most bigoted man in Russia,
honestly believes that all Jews are
destined to perdition and hell fire I'M
less they are speedily converted to the
Russian orthodox church. A large part
of the prosecutions from the religious
side is due to his initiative.
The second and probably the most
important reason is the commercial
jealousy. The Jew is a better trader
better artisan and very much better
banker than the average Russian. With
the slightest chance he makes bigger
success and arouses the intense and
bitter jealousy Of his unprogressive
rival.
The third reason is political and is
the one which M. Plchve alleges is the
most important of all. Piehve declares
with perfect truth that the jew living
in Russia is not patriotic Russian.
Considering all he has to undergo from
Russia, no sane man could expect him
to be over-enthusiastic for the czar's
government, but the fact that he is not
is made great excuse for depressing
him still more.
Probably great majority of the
Jews in Russia are simply neutral on
political questions. They do not sup
port the bureaucracy, neither do they