Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-03-18
10Y AMONG JEWS
over RUSS REVOLT
Hopeful That It Means Better
Days, But Fearful Of
a Reaction.
GREEK CHURCH A Menace

Russian Jews In Washington are max
Ing holiday. The news from Russia Of
the overthrow Of autocracy and the
prospect Of liberal rule animates them
with the greatest hope for the emancipa-
ton Of their race. their kinsmen. in the
land Of the Muscovite.
There are 10000 Jews in Washington.
according to their own estimate. The
srsstar majority are Russian Jews. Many
Of them hold high places in scientific
circles; others are performing part In
general economic affairs that discovers
their competence and intelligence.
Yet those among them who know con-
ditions In Russia are reluctant 70 place
too great hope in the revolutionary
franchisement for all the peoples Of
Russia The news seems too good to be
true: further. hopes Of the past. founded
on nearly as excellent prospect, have
failed to materialize.
With faith in the purposes of the pres
ent masters Of Russia-those who have
overwhelmed the autocracy-yet there
Is fear that Russia has not been con
verified: that the days that must fol-
low the wonderful upheaval may be
marked by counter revolution which
may bring affairs back to the old and
hateful order.
Fearful Of Greek Church.
There Is fear that the Greek Church
will never consent to condition
where human liberty shall be the law
OF the land. While it is recognized that
tho peasant classes are feeling the I'm
time tho people are permeated with a
Iv-aH foys -
ideal that amounts to worship-and
devotion to the church. The natural
susperstition Of the uneducated classes.
1t 10 feared, may loso out against their
awakening consciousness OF individual
| ity and q setback come.
But yesterday was q holiday FOR the
ghetto in Washington. The rejoicing
was general Tho day was also the
Jewish Sabbath, and gave opportunity
events in the land whence they came.
Prophecy Of Napoleon.
Europe will be all Muscovite or all
st. Helena. This prophecy of the great
corsican is quoted by Simon Wolf
who has gained the sobriquet of king
Of the Jews in America" because Of his
sustained championship Of the cause
OF MS fRcS-in comment upon THO blSuh-
ton in Russia brought about by the
nearly bloodless revolution.
Europe will be all republican," Is the
confident hope Of Mr.. Wolf.
And, In his opinion, there can be no
republic In Russia except based on the
republican ideal Of equal rights and
opportunity to all men. and this means
the emancipation of the 100000 Rus
sian Jews. so long held in subsection
and subjected to ignoble and humiliat-
ing regulation.
But liberty In Russia is not yet as
sured, is the fear in the heart of Mr..
Wolf. He is not confident that the
Russian people are yet ready for free
institutions. And in the Greek Church
he says 1t without religious prejudice
f-he finds the grave peril to the new
order of things. The Greek Church in
Russia has always been greater than
tho state: his fear is that the priests
Of the church In the great communities
and in the rural sections may yet To-
ment a counter revolution that may re-
establish the power of the Romanoffs
and tho great authority Of the church.