The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1891. The Jews in Russia.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 14 May 1891, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1891. The Jews in Russia.

By the recent cablegrams it is evident that the Russians have been acting with very great harshness, to say the least of it, towards their Jewish subjects. Though the great Jewish financiers protest against the action of Russia, it would seem fair to await reports more particularly specifying the reason for resorting to such imperative measures. We are well aware from history, that the Jews, wherever they may be, keep themselves as distinctly apart from the nation they tarry with, as do the Chinese. They strongly object to inter-marriages, and one of the first instructions given to them was on this point, and after the Babylonian Captivity when Joshua commenced to rebuild the temple, he repulsed the assistance of the Samaritans, who were the children of Jews who had married women of the neighbouring nations, as he looked upon them as unclean. Their customs therefore in every particular are separate from any nation, and having been based on sound laws, their health has been proportionately better. We have an instance of this in the subject of meat killing which has been under discussion quite recently in this colony. The laws that the Jews observe point to the survival of the fittest, they approve of marriages only amongst themselves as they make sure of two healthy people being united. What is the result? This has also been shown on many occassions. They increase wonderfully, and are able to retain their personality wherever they may be. In Egypt, in the days of old, when famine was in the land, and Joseph managed the affairs ofPharoah, the Israelites obtained permission to settle in the land of Goshen, but after a period it was found that they multiplied so fast that the Egyptians feared they would soon outnumber themselves, and had recourse to the cruel edict to slay every male born child. When this was lustrated by plagues, they were bidden to be gone. They went not empty away, nor does it ever seem that they were ever destitute, even though they had to leave without much warning. When Joshua left Babylon he took with him a very fair amount of stock, and to this day, the Jew prefers moveable chattels, in preference to investment in the soil. In the early days the tribes descended from shepherds and cattle raisers, and were renowned afterwards for their fighting qualities, but since their dispersion they have taken to trade in preference to any other pursuit, and have gained the reputation for caution and hoarding. We are aware that amongst the Jews there are men famous for everything that is good, we know that they are generous to their own people, and seek after their 1 advantage, but the mass, over the world, mostly keep to themselves, and, probably from the treatment they have received, do not take part in the States adYuneemento

Under these circumstances it is. < possible that there may be another side to the trouble in Russia with [ the Jews. A writer in the Content- < porary Review points out about the 1 Eussian Jews " that it is ridiculous j to explain the whole exceptional legislation of nearly two hundred ■ years by imputing sheer devilry to < the rulers of Russia. The real reason is that the Jews are becorjiirig too many for the people amongst whom they ctwoll. They increase, in some places, at eight times the rate of Christians. They are bad agriculturists, and disobedient subjects, and do not respond to the summons to join the army. In the parts of Russia where they are allowed to live they own half the distilleries, three-fourths of the breweries, seven-eights of the wholesale spirit warehouses and half of all the drink shops." The Jews were not granted permission to roam the country where they pleased, but only certain places in Russia were open to them, but the individuality of the race has been shown, by their having, through the corruptness of the officials, wormed their way into places from which they were banned, and in Moscow, supposed to have been free of them, they number 100,000 ! In a short time we shall have the Russian version, which will throw some further light. No doubt some of the present sufferers are wholly guiltless of any offence, and are suffering from the sins of their fathers. That Russia should wish to be clear of them may be reasonable, but at present her method of getting so, does not appear to be. In reference to this subject Moonshine has a particularly good cartoon. There are three figures, on the left a burly Russian bear, in overcoat, with the cat-of-nine-tails in his belt, and with folded arms is glaring at a bareheaded Russian Jew, who in the centre is cringing and touching his forehead to the official, whilst on the right is a swelly-dressed English Jew, with belltopper, cigar in hand, and pockets full of papers, who with his hand to his mouth wispers to the poor supplicant " Come to England, ma tear. No persecution there. Boon make your fortune. Run a financial paper, or start a public company."