The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-04

against the Jews in Russia is
now recognized by those ac-
quaintcd with the facts as "A
mere prcteNt for persecution. 1t Is a
signal for the terrorists the Black Hun
bred, to renew their onslaughts. Those
most familiar with conditions in the
Russian Jewish pale and in Poland have
reason to believe that darker days are
coming for the sons of Israel.
Strangely enough. this cry of ritual
murder has always been raised previous
to and as a pretcNt for prosecutions.
AS early as the fifteenth century the
murder of IA boy, Simon of Trent, was
cited as an instance of ritual murder.
In this case Polish priest Of Vienna
put to the torture and finally had the
authorities execute several unfortunate
Jews. one of whom, after weeks of in
human inquisition, was alleged to have
confessed" The details of this third
degree acknow ledgment of guilt were
laid before Pope SiNtus ~. who issued
q decree against accusing Jews OF ritual
murder and also denounced the Polish
priest and his Coadjutors as actual muir
derers.
The same priest attempted a similar
accusation against the Jews some years
httT. ASslsteu ny Il
Paul Meyer he gave information con-
corning the kidnapping and murder of IA
Christian boy for ritual" purposes.
Meyer subsequently confessed the whole
affair to be fraudulent ,accusation.
Centuries ago several Kings Of Poland
prohibited the raising of this particular
accusation against the Jews and num-
Der of Popes have publicly condemned
it. Pope Innocent ". issued bulls in
May and July, l247, and September.
1853, forbidding the accusation of Jews
on this charge; Pope Gregory y. is
sued a similar bull in October. 1879;
Pope Martin V. did likewise in Febru-
airy. l422. and November, l441; while
Pope Paul III. in May, l540, positively
forbade Christians to raise the cry of
ritual murder against Jews under pain
Of accommodation. Later Popes have
also denounced the time worn and what
Michael Davitt called the murder
making" legend.
And yet. despite the history of this
false and criminal accusation against
the Jews the same pretext il now put
forward. and despite the acquittal of
Mendel Bells bands of lawlcss rufians
have already begun systematic terror
ism among the Jews of Russia.
Unfortunately numbers of Russian
minor officials derive direct profit
g"aft-from these prosecutions the
Black Hundred organizations operating
not infrequently under secret official
sanction. Though many outrages and
even murders are almost Of daily oc-
currence throughout the Jewish pale
and in sections of Polish Russia. Gov
eminent officials are making little or no
effort to prevent such acts.
Within the Jewish Pale. "A district OF
Russia about as large as France. there
are some 1000 900 Hebrews. Among
these defenceless and usually non-re-
sisting people the Black Hundreds have
again become active, taking advantage
of the race hatred reused by the re.
cent ritual trial at Kief 1t Is hoped
by widespread and systematic terror
ism to create panic among the Jews
which will ultimately result in theiI
wholesale emigration or. falling that
extinction.
Numerous motives are assigned fol
the Russian hatred against the Jews
among which may De cited commercial
jealousy. religious bigotry and the feal
which "a bureaucracy holds for a people
whose tendencies are toward demOcrac,
and social reform. Racial hatred, o
course. plays its sinister part also.
Aside from the motives behind thu
movement. however. the fact remain
that the theatre Is being staged for
widespread persecution against Jews II
Russia. The trial of Mcndcl Bell
was only the prologue to the tragedy.
Russian officials connected with tn
police of the larger towns have lon
been growing rich by working in con
cert with roaming and apparently de
tached bands of thugs and backmailer
whose depredations have recently be
come so daring and extensive that eve
the law seems powerless to cope wit
them,
Some years ago when the writer Wis
tied Warsaw he had an opportunity {
obtaining first hand information cor
corning the manner In which these on
ganized bands Of terrorists known a
Black Hundreds operate. Emboldenc
by successes. achieved mostly throup
connvanSp n Russian minor admin.
trativc officials they present to-day
serious problem to the state. Durln
the recent trial at Kief they committf
many atrocities in the outlying dii
tricts. and their supposed associate
with the influential All Russian Leagl
Of Mobiles has given them standT
and power which renders them tru
formidable.
When, few years ago. during q
earlier agitation against the Jews