The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-10-21
THE JEWS OF RUSSIA.

Russia has the largest Jewish pOpu-
lation of any country in the world.
| Although their lot has not always
been an enviable one under the rule
of the Tsars, the Great War has found
them loyal citizens of their northern
fatherland willing and anxious to con
tribute their sacrifices to the success
of it's cause. According 20 private
letters and dispatches from Russia,
many Jews have come forward to en-.
list; they have opened and equipped
hospitals for the soldiers and dis
played an eagarness to aid with their
goods and their labor. The warmth
of their patriotism has been a sur.
prise in Muscovy. The position of the
Jewish subjects of the Tsar, as it was
before the war, is told in a bulletin
just prepared by the National Geo
graphic Society. 1t reads as follows:
More than one-half of the worlds
total Jewish population, numbering
about 100000, dwells within the
Russian Empire. The total number
of Jews in the world numbers about
100000. The United States and
Austro Hungary, each with more than
1000, 900; Germany with 600,0 900. and
the British Empire with 100000 are
the other important homelands of this
scattered nation. Russia however,
to day might be looked upon as the
true fatherland of the Jewish people
as the great body of them live there
This comes primarily from the cause
that the SlaVs, more especially theI
Russian Slavs, have always Teen the
most tolerant of peoples in matters
n iuin 4,
properly speaking, is not a mission
airy church, That a Russian should
be a member OF the Russian branch
of the Eastern Orthodox church, IS !
regarded almost as a law OF nature
in Muscovy, while the Russian feels
that it is just as natural and fitting
that Tartar should be Mohamme-
dan, AMI that a Jew should follow the |
Mosaic creed.
1t is true, that most of the Jews |
were originally Polish subjects, and,
II is said, thai colonies of them lived |
in the basin OF the VOlga and Crimea
800 years before the birth of Christ. |
Through the years of their bittereSt |
the rule OF the Poles
over the Jews was a light and ami |
able one, AMI many hundreds OF
thousands of them passed to this
country. Thus, with Poland, Russia
acquired the greater part OF her Jew
ish subjects.
The Tsar's Jewish subjects are
confined, by law, to definite part Of
the empire, known as the Jewish Pale
Of Settlement. This is an irregular
belt of territory, extending from the
Baltac TO the Black Sea The Pale
includes Poland. Lithuania, White
Russia, part of Little Russia, and re-
sions in the Caucasus. A belt of land
about 30 miles wide along the inter.
national boundary is also exempt.
The Pale proper, wherein nearly all
Of the Russian Jews dwell, comprises
he entire territory of Russian Poland
and the governments or Kovno, Wit {
ebsk, Wilma, Mohilev, Yolhynia, Gro. [
mo, Minsk, ChernigOf, Poltaya, Kief, ,
'odolia, Bessarabia, Kherson, Ekat-
,rinoslay and Taurida, Kovno, Minsk,
Mohilev, and Volhynia are the most
hickly settled by Jews, who, in these
constitute about two
birds OF the entire population. Some
ews were settled as agricultuTists :
'pOn the southern Steppe, and, des- :
ute the strict law, wealthy members
II the nation are found in business In !
'etrograi and Moscow. All disabili.
les which attach to Jewish birth in 8
russia. fall away with the conversion '
4 one OF the race to Orthodoxy, but, q
nevertheless, such conversions seli. n
IN take place. This curtailment OF &
he freedom OF the Jewish snb3ects Is e
ot matter OF religious persbedtlon
ut rather an expression OF theo Rus 7
ian's dread OF t.ia superior business
bibty OF the Jew.
There are, however. certain class
8 OF Jews allowed by the law to
well without the Pale. These are
tudents In educational institutions, !,
ierchants OF the FIRST guild. profess 9
ionaI persons and skilled artisans,
nd such as have served rs years In
he army. Members OF these classes
eyertheless, must obtain special per
lission TO enjoy their sights under
DO law. No jew is eligible to gov
rnment office. unless he becomes o :.
Jnyert TO Orthodoxy.
The Jews are taxed more highly =
ian any other citizens OF Russia !.
hcir citizenship Is Of qualified kind =