The Jewish outlook., 1905-09-01
Jews Self.Defenders in Russia


Basic, where he was delegate to the sew
enth Zionist Congress, in an interview as 10
conditions of the Jews in Russia, said in
part:
1T must be remembered that Basic was
filed with members of the Jewish self-de-
tense in Russia. The Jewish selfdefense is
not half appreciated in America nave
been away from Russia for twenty years
and when l heard of the self-defense 1t
sounded like romance, vague and hard to
believe. But when l came to Basic and
spoke with the men who had left the cues
where the selfdefense is an actually, ana
read their literature. remarkable for its pas
sionate ardor, for it's patriotic self-devotlon,
for the exhibition of new spirit among
Jews, l felt that l was in the midst OF the
finest thing in Jewish life to-day. And am
sure, if the delegation which visited M de
White at Portsmouth last week hau heard
the voice of the sef-defenders in Russia it
would never have consented to visit the rep
resentative of autOcracy in Russia, from
whom the Jews in Russia expect nothing.
And especially to visit NJ de White! M. Won
Plehve, said the leader of the Zionists, be-
fore his death, was competent policeman.
but of M de White, whom he saw while IN
Russia, he said, he is the rosche, for he
never appears to be what he is.
1.-The Jewish self-defense will emancipate
the Jews if there be any way. The Russian
Jews must have been pressed down to the
utmost degree of endurance before they
could have been inspired to such activity
as now may be seen in Russia. | spoke with
Temkin of EliZabethgrad, a government
rabbi. He told me of occurrences which
were well-nigh unbelievable. A riot was
threatened in Elzabethgrad. The Jewish
self-defense had the heads of the families
armed Tie streets were patroled By squads
of young men. There was perfect discipline,
every man at his post, every Jewish father
fully informed as to what was expected OF
him. 4 myself said Temkin to me, rode
through the streets to see II all was well,
and l found the streets quiet and in every
house l saw evidences of stern determina-
ton. They were all armed and ready for
the rioters. But their assaiants had taken
alarm-and there riot in Elizabeth
grad that time. Again. the same perfect
discipline the same passionate ardor and
the same serious determination, a riot
was threatened in city by the assessor,
a sort of police justice who, of his own ac-
cord, wanted to have Jewish massacre to
serve his own ends He hired large num-
Der of ruffians, peasants, and paying them
two and one-half roubles apiece began to
organize pogrom.' The situation seemed
terrible, when group of young men, patr-
OTIS if ever there were patriots, went over to
the assessors house. and, after a parey
with him, killed him in his own home, after
he had refused to call off the 'pogrom.' There
was no riot in that Town that day. You may
be sure the Jews are not the abject
cringers they used to be, and the police are
beginning to recognize that fact. In Warsaw
the police fear the Jews, and, recently when
a Jewish labor organization paraded the
streets without permit the police were
afraid to lift hand against them. This is
the new spirit of the Jews, the direct inspira-
ton of Zionism and the noblest thing in
Jewish life