The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-23
WEST SIDE HEBREWS
EXPECTED OUTBREAK
Rabbi Kovarsky BIames Bu-.
reaucraey for Rioting in
St. Petersburg

That the smoldering fires of revolution
In Russia should break into flames Great
ed the widest excitement in the Russian
quarters in West ST. Paul yesterday aft
efnoon.
The first appearance of T h G. l o b e
extras detailing the scenes of revolution
and civil war in st. Petersburg was fol-
lowed by excited groups OF Russian He
brewS on almost every street corner in
the district. One man more thoroughly
Americanized than his neighbors would
read the latest bulletins from the seat of
the trouble and would freely translate the
news to those surrounding him. Nearly
every man has relatives living in Russia,
and numbers of them had recent letters
from home" telling of the unrest and
giving yelled hints of the impending rev.
olution.
The two Russian Jewish synagogues on
the West side were centers for the con-
gregation of excited people. and no topic
otheE than the beginning of the revolution
in St Petersburg was discussed.
Russians Want Liberty
.'An American can readily understand
the aspirations of the Russian people for
modern form of government said
Simon Kovarslzy, rabbi of the Sons of Zion
Hebrew congregation, State and Texas
streets yesterday in speaking of the rev.
olution in Russia. Rabbi Kovarsky is a
native Russian. having come to the
United States from Wilma, Russia, some
years ago. thoroughly educated man,
he has an intimate knowledge of condi-
tions in his native land which have
brought about what so many people be-
lieve will rival the French revolution for
unbTidled license and bloodshed.
Il have visited St. Petersburg, said
Rablsi Kovarsky, at his home yesterday,
.and the newspaper reports of the rioting
ThprSsfOlaV d.
ing to me. The NewSky Prospect is the
Sumn1it avenue of ST. Petersburg. The
homes of the wealthy and official classes
of the Russian capital are on the Newsky
pronounced as though spelled Neffsky-
Prospect. That the rioting should find its
first outburst on this street, exclusively
given over to the wealthy people and the
officials who have profited by grinding the
poorrStill further in the ground. is not
surprising. 1t. is a beautiful street, and
for milss ais lined with handsome resi-
dences and the palaces. of the higher dig
nitaries of the Russian government.
so,a Thinks Gar Safe
Il do not believe that personal harm
Will come to Car Nicholas. He is the
official head of the Greek Catholic
church, and as such is. deemed to be
the personal representative of Sod among
the people. The sczar is a kindly man,
but he is surrounded by the worst bu-
modern times. He personally knows but
little of what is going on in his empire,
and is forced to obtain his information
from the officers of the various depart
ments of state who surround him.
Russia is permeated through and
through with official corruption. No public
contract is ever awarded until the officials
responsible for the contract from the
highest TO the lowest, are cared for in the
way of perquisites. Complaints of corrup-
ton only vaguely ever reach the czar, and
those close to him are iulpeiled by self
interest to keep reports of official wrong
doing from his ears.
1t is to impress the czaT with the
grievances Of the people and to bring
home to him their demand for a constitu-
tlona1 form OF government that the leaders
OF the reform movement in Russia have
determined to appeal to him by force of
arms TO hear them.
Nejme but crazy fanatic dreams of
doing bodily harm to Nicholas but the
people want him to know that they have
grievances and what their grievances
Il Nave no direct information as to the
temper of the soldiery, but 1 shall be sur
prised if the common soldiers of the EN-
plre dof not Join with the people in en-
forcing their demands.
TsHttWhere Soldiers Stand
The iillians are men recruited in the
Cral mountain country, on the edge of
SibeInHsSHhey are good fighters, but for
the most part are mere mercenaries and
DO not know the principles that are at
stake in the contest The Cessacks are
taken generally from various parts of the
country. They are Wild sort and are
likely to eventually array themselves on
the side in the revolution that looks most
favorable to winning. The infantry are
from the fields and farms. They are a
more Intelligent people than either of the
other departments of the army and know
the reaf trouble with Russia is the official
people,
The Jews have been prosecuted for
centuries in Russia. The people who are
now demanding reforms have been among
theirfperSecutors, but we Russian Hebrews
who. are safely in America wish for them
the best that fortune can give them We
now know what freedom is, and we natur-
ally hope that measure of freedom Will
be given to all Russia. including the thou
sands of haplesS Russian Hebrews still
under the dominion of the czar''