Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-05-27
PROSECUTING THE HEBREWS.

An eastern contemporary notes the
constantly recurring outbursts Of per
seoution Of thc Hebrews In Russia,
and observes that It is difficult for
Americans TO understand the under
lying motives. 40 matter what goes
wrong in Russia. all classes seem to
regard the Jews as the cause of H.
The fact is that the people Of Rus
tis have been taught from their child
mood 10 dcsplse and hate the Jews,
And st Is not entirely. as has been
represented in this country because
they are shrewd business mon VINO
understand how TO amass wealth
whore others sec but starvation II is
not entirely because they are money
lenders cxacting n high interest. y is
more particularly because fanatics
have taught the people that the
Jews are under the wrath of God be-
cause of the tragedy or Calvary. \
bitter hatred IL thus instllled IN the
growing miads Of the little ones that
aftor-years can never eradicate. and
every Slavic Christian feels that he Is
doing n sacred duty when ne axes
the lifo Of member Of tho hated
race.
IT will not he denied that the bit
terness is augmented by the fact that
the Jews generally are successful IN
business But the chief cause is Of re-
ligious origin. 1t is no uncommon
thing 10 hear supplemented Russians
or Poles members OF the Greek
church. tell one another Of the cruel
tics of Jews practised upon children
OF Christian parentage, Especially
about Easter time are such stories
rampant. The Jews. they say, are M
the habit OF capturing Christian chill
dren and killing them, because they
use their blood for ritual purposes.
Where such absurd stories are given
credcnce it is easy for demagogucs
to cause riots and incite to disorders
during which they reap big harvest
OF plumber.
The Latter-day Saints have been
the victims of almost similar plots
in this enlightened Republic. and IT Is
therefore not to wonder at IL the
peasants of Russia arc imposed upon
IlA Il Hllillldi WY NV INV - 49,
very far past when a Mormon by
many otherwise intelligent people
was regarded MS a monstrosity, owing
TO the vile stories constantly circulat-
ed by defamers, who thought they
could further their selfish interests
by character assassination. For that
was the underlying motive as 1t Is
today in all nti-"Momon" plots.
Just now some Utah defamers are
tearfully assuring their friends that
they never meant any harm. They
merely asked the people here to be-
come law-ablding citizens and TO save
themselves the trouble that would
come upon them, unless they needed
the admonition. In their own estima-
ton, they are angels, at this time. But
the fact Is that those old hypocrite3
were all the time telling the most vile
falsehoods about Utah and the poo
pie in order to inspire hatred toward
the Church, under the cover of which
they hoped to rob the people of e.,ry
constitutional right. When they con-
cocted stories about plots against the
government about "Danites" and
reasonable oaths, they did so In order
that their ncfarious work should APP
pear abroad as patriotism With that
end in view they We're eXaggeratinh
and misrepresenting, just as are the
Russian agitators today concerning
the Jews. II win not do for the old
veterans OF Infamous anti-"Mormon'
crusades, who have neither learnt
nor forgotten anything, to pose at this
day as the guardian angels Of the
laws they themselves were Disregard
ing Their work ana their motives alc
clear in the light of history, and viii
become clearer still. In the mean
time. Il Is significant TO note that per-
secution In Russia is not essentially
different from that i'm any other coun-
try. II originates IN the seldsh mot
ives OF agitators It is promoted by
falsehoods aud projudiccs, and the re-
suit is that civilization itself is rec
tarded. Russia is the loser by the
prosecutions mstigated by bieots, So
Is every country that does not rhcca
It's retrogressive tendencies.