The American Jewish world. [volume] (Minneapolis ;) 1915-current, 1915-10-29

All the world is making dill ISSUE ouC VI
Germany's outrage against Belgium, and
such an issue is instructive and right. In
mere suffering, however, Belgium does not
compare with Poland, fought over back and
forth by the Russian and German armies.
If the agony forced on Belgium is nothing
to the agonies through which Poland has
been going, it is equally true that OF all
the Po.es those who have suffered most
cruelty are the Jews. Their position IN
Poland in times of peace is desperate. The
anti -Semitism of the Russians is in the
main confined to class. The aristocratlc,
bureaucratic Russian disapproves the Jew,
naturally. Suppression and exclusion tit
his type of mind He does not approve
Of the upward, intellectual strivings of the
poor, and the poor Jew strives. But the
Russian people in general have no especial
ly strong feeling on the subject. With the
Poles, however, there is hostility that is
permanent and widespread. 1t is not mere
barba~ism or ignorance. 1t grows out OF a
condition that would present difficulties in
the most enlightened community now exist
ing. If there be in one country large
proportion of persons who are different
from the rest in religion, in customs, in
mental habit and sympathy, and very CO.
herent, that situation will be resented by
the majority. If the Poles and the Jews
are ever able to get on smoothly together,
therefore. it will not be until deep changes
have taken place in mankind. Poland is
in favorable position to gain for herself
something from the war as the struggle goes
on toward destruction. Russia on the one
hand and Germany Austria on the other
will be eager for the favor of the Poles.
If there is actual autonomy as a result the
Jews Will be worse than ever. The Poles,
governing themselves will treat them worse
than they have been treated. The armies
of Russia contain about quarter OF mil
lion Jews. Justly or unjustly, the death
rate among them is believed by many in
tellgent Jews to be higher than among
any other class of Russian soldiers More
over, as civilians, they suffer most because
they are distrusted by both sides. When
the Russ ans have possession of Po.and or
Galicia they Loo, upon the Jews as possible
spies for Germany; when the Germans pos
sess those countries they suspect the Jews
of favoring Russia. Add to those condi-
tions the tradition Of centuries-wlen in
doubt persecute Jews and the imagination
staggers under the conception of what that
race is undergoing now.
In Rouman;a the permanent political con-
ditions are not dissimilar to those in Po-
land, since the number of Jews there is
large enough to create persistent jealousy
and suspicion. Just as Roumania has failed
to carry out her treaty obligations to treat
the Jews fairly, so no doubt, will Poland
fail to carry out any agreement that may
be made on behalf of the Jews when the
war is over.
In Germany the situation is different, but
still difficult to see with hope. The crud-
er forms Of oppression do not exist there.
There is no pale of settlement, no denial of
ordinary education. The discrimination is
in the upper walks of life, in general exclu-
sion from participation in university, po-
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