Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-02
PETITION FROM JEWS
PRAYER OF RUSSIAN HEBREWS
TO CARS MINISTERS.
Succinct History of Their Condition
and a Plea for Their Better
Protection
special Correspondence of The star

81 EfSSbt XII. June ~. 1hlN.
Many thousand Jews Ia Russia have
signed the following petition which has
been forwarded TO the Russian committee
of ministers
The laws and regulations affecting the
Jewish inhabitants OF Russia which have
been passed during the last twenty-avo
years have apparently had for their aim
the transformation of the Jewish popula-
ton. numbering 100000. into so many beg
gars. The fact that the mob In the year
1881 organized numerous massacres of tho
Jews was employed by the authorities aa
an excuse for depriying the Jews OF thu
right to further establish themselves n
villages and to acquire property
But not only new settlement OF
the land denied them. The officials made
this the excuse, for driving out the Jews
already living in the villages in large num-
bers and herding them together still more
In a number OF cities and towns Those
Jews who dwelt within a zone OF fifty
versts from the frontier and were thus
expelled had to wander thithcr. The whole
Russian real was mapped out for the Jews
into three strictly separated districts.
The bulk of the Jews were only free to
live in the twenty departments COM
prising the so-called Pale OF Settlement
The remainder OF European Russia was
open only TO those Jews who belonged to
a merchants guild Of the trst-class for
ten years. obtained an academic degree. or
were skilled handicraftsmen.
Pale of Settlement
For the latter class there was again a
special Pale of Settlement In European
Russia as Jewish workmen were not per-
mitted to reside In the departments of
Moscow and Taurien. Lastly, there was a
district In Russia that remained forbidden
ground for all Jews without exception
Siberia Jews were not allowed 10 reside
there under any circumstances unless they
had committed a serious crime and were
banished thither
.'The result of this restriction OF residence
and the expulsion OF many thousands which
was it's concommitant WAS that the cities
and towns of the Pale of Settlement were
seriously oyercrowded with Jews. In spite
of active emigration to European and other
countries not less than 4,20o.o00 Jews lived
In the few cities and towns of the Pale OF
Settlement. closely herded together and
competing bitterly against each other
In order that their entrance tn the schools
might be hindered 1t was enacted that The
number of Jewish scholars I'm attendance at
secondary schools should not exceed 10
per cent. Abundance to the high schools
was so far restricted that few Jews had
the good fortune on the conclusion of their
career to find place in university.
But even these few lucky persons were
able to derive little advantage from the
university course to assist them IN their
future careers Jews were then prevented
and also from holding any position In the
zemstvos. Even the practice of law was
only permitted them after a special license
from the minister of justice had been OBJ
tanned and not single Jew In Russia has
been admitted a barrister during the last
fourteen years. II may be said without ex-
aggera ton that the whole tendency of Rus
sian legislat ton has been to make the life
of Jews in Russia impossible.
Percentage of Population.
''In towns of the Pale of Settlement the
Jewish population has often comprised no
less than GO per cent of the entire popula-
ton and furnished 90 per cent of the
nicipal rates. Notwithstanding this Jews
were not permitted to elect representatives
on the unicipal councils, and they pos
sessed neither an active nor a passive vote.
The Jewish population had to be governed
by a non-Je wish magistracy and their taxes
collected by strangers and in part hostile
Eersons.
1.-THE result of all these petty expedients
and measures was finally that the authori-
ties in st. Petersburg were seized with fear
and trembling. Not less than 20 per cent
of the entire population OF the Jewish Pale
of Settlement are reduced TO such a condi-
ton of wretchedness that they have to be
supported from charitable sources.
I'm great Jewish communities like those
of Wilma, Berditchef and Odessa the num-
Der of the Jewish poor amounts to as much
as % to 33 Fer cent. Coextensive with this
widespread poverty there is In all of the
Jewish communities an enormous laboring
and artisan proletariat that knows not to-
day wherewith II may exist on the NOR
row. The simple weapon which the laborer
and artisan possesses in relation with his
employer-the power of leaving his work
and seeking better conditions OF employ
ment elSewhere-has become impossible OF
use on account OF the Limitation of freedom
of movement and the prohibition Of resi-
dence elsewhere than In the few towns OF
the Pale of Settlement.
Forced to Submit.
III they do not wish to die of hunger or
go begging Jewish workmen must submit
unreservedly to the conditions prescribed
by the manufacturers. The Jewish capital
lists, too. are seriously injured by the bur-
densome effect of the special regulations
which have owing to the restraints of the
May laws. taken from them every freedom
of action, and deprived them of the power
OF disposing of their products In markets
outside the Pale of Settlement
The only possible method of amelorattng
the deeply sad condition of the Jews lies in
freeing them from the harassing oppres-
sion under which they labor so that they
shall enjoy equality of rights such as OBJ
tains in other European states. Next TO
the freedom of religious practice and the
right to take part in the administration Of
municipalities and the zemstvos the Jews
must have the right of free emigration and
the power to settle in all places.
Jews must have freedom to choose their
vocation. to acquire property and without
restriction, to obtain education in the
schools. Freedom of movement and the
power to choose at will calling are condi-
tons without which a well-ordered state is
unthinkable. Only by such rights does man
acquire the means to use his ability and
strength to obtain livelihood In the man
ner that suits him best"
-D