Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-17
Simon Wolf Writes Letter to
M. Witte.
CONDITION OF THEJEWS
ASKS DISTINGUISHED RUSSIAN
FOR AMELIORATIoN.
That Might Be Obtained
From Wealthy Capitalists
in This Country.

Simon Wolf, chairman or the poaru W
delegates on civil rights of the Union OF
American Hebrew Congregations, was the
first person to call the attention formally of
NJ. Witte the Russian peace envoy, to the
desire of the Hebrews In this country that
he use his influence for an amelioration OF
the conditions surrounding the Jews in his
native land When the envoy was in New
York Mr. Wolf addressed a letter to him,
under date OF August 8, In which he touched
upon the advantages the Russians might
obtain with wealthy Hebrew capitalists,
both in this country and abroad, by grant
Ing more liberal treatment to their co-relig-
ionists In Russia. Mr.. Wolf received re-
ply from NJ White, through his secretary,
M. Korosvotezt, in which the peace envoy
said that owing to the press OF business ne
could not give the matter the serious atten-
ton 1t required at this time, but would
answer at length in due time.
Text Of the Letter.
The text of Mr.. VOLTS letter to M. White
was as follows:
Your excellency: I beg of you to read
this letter carefully and to give 1t the con-
alteration due the gravity Of the subject
As chairman of the board OF delegates on
brew Congregations, l deem 1t wise and
proper to call your attention to the cond1-
ton of our co-religionists In Russia. / am
well aware there is no man living who has
better Information or wider grasp of the
subject than yourself. l am also aware of
the fact that with your far-seeing states
manship and keen intuition, you have. for
many years, seen the natural trend of re-
strictive laws of Russia, as practiced dis
criminately against the Jews, and, there
fore, as a loyal son of your great country,
a faithful subject of the great emperor. and
as a man who unQuestiOnab bly, loves his fell
tote M
only the motives that inspired this letter
but calmly reflect the merits, If 1t has
any, of what l propose.
Il am thoroughly familiar with the his
tory of Russia; its aggregation of different
nationalities; the fact of the Greek church
dominating as the government representa-
tive. l also aware of the economics,
the moral, social and political status Of your
country, and am equally aware of the
friendly disposition that the Russian gov
eminent has heretofore shown on and in
behalf of the unity and supremacy of the
United States-and it Is from the very fact
of this feeling on the part of your govern
ment that l, as sincere and devoted Amer
lean citizen, am most anxious to bring
about a condition III Russia that will be of
inestimable and everlasting effect, not only
for the government itself, but for my CO.
religionists.
The Jews born in Russia who have
been compelled to come to this country,
either voluntarily or involuntarily. have
proven and are proving by their splendid
and great success that they
are not, as men, different from any other
human being, but that when given a
chance under equal conditions they prove
not only their worth, but in many direc-
tons their superiority Therefore. if the
restraints were thrown off and
the Jews of Russia given the same chance
for life and happiness that citizens Of
other faiths of that country enjoy l am
absolutely confident that the Jewish
question in Russia would cease, they
would become absorbed and assimflated,
as they are in this country, and in Eng
land, France. Germany and Italy. and in
stead of being a menace they would be-
come a help and strengthen every ele-
ment of the nations prosperity Throw
the pale open, let the Jew go where he
will as other citizens do, and he Will
soon become merged, and in doing this
the state will not violate any of the prin-
ciples of humanity or the ethics OF en-
on the contrary, 1t VIII
strengthen itself and win from the civil
lized world appreciation and lasting
friendship.
Russia, at this 1uncture, needs two i'm
portant elements to insure its future
prosperity and happiness; money and
friends. The Jews of the world, as citl-
zens of their respective countries, control
much of the first and would make mag
nitlcent army of the latter.
An Important Factor.
There Is no Disgusting the fact that, in
the United States especially, the Jews form
an important factor in the formation Of
public opinion and the control Of the
finances. Count Cassini was always lament
ing, and 1 notice has again expressed his
establishment why the people of the United
States were not more friendly, ignoring the
well admitted and well-known fact that a
large number of representatives, and infu-
entail journals of the world, and the United
States no less, are owned and controlled by
81 Ii,
financial standing In this country they are
exercising an all potent and powerful infu-
ence in the direction of not only public opin-
ion, but of editorial comment. Understand
me distinctly that this power Is not used
to subvert or destroy, but to resent and de-
fend aggression on the one hand and rights
on the other and thus, owing to the lament
able and deplCrable condition of the Jews in
Russia, your government suffers a loss not
only of prestige, but of influence and friend
ship. Emancipate the Jews of Russia and
In less than five years you will not only
have conquered the good will of the whole
civilized world but you will have as pow
erful ally that element which. up to the
present moment, has not only been I'M
friendly. but inimical to the prosperity Of
your great empire. We do not hate Russia;
we do not wish her destruction we have
desire to see her Inundated, but you must
admit that blood Is thicker than water
and as long as the Jews of Russia are treat
ed as aliens there can be no peace or con-
cOTQ between US
Another very important factor which
you in your great wisdom ignore and will
appreciate is the fact that In giving the
Jews full liberty In Russia, you prevent i'm
migration to the United States and thus
settle once and for all a problem that con-
fronts the government of the United States,
and may, In the course of time, become a
subject Of international contention; thus by
relieving the situation, you at one stroke
win also the friendship not only of the gov
eminent. but of the entire people Of the
United States.
Question Of Natural Flow.
You win, of course, understand by stat
Ing the subject of immigration as being a
menace. 1t can never be menace II the
stream flows naturally, as it does from
other countries.
Il trust your excellency will give this let
ter due consideration. and be assured that
am actuated solely by motives OF the high
est consideration not only for your own
country, for your wise and good emperor,
for your own well-known liberal Views, but
also to strengthen the ties of kinship be-
tween nations and nations, and to bring
about that day when the fatherhood of
God and the brotherhood Of man shall be
the reisning and dominant principle of hui
man conduct.
You can, if you desire. find out as to my
status and position from his excellency the
o.