THE KISHINEFF ATROCITIES

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 29, 16 July 1903, Page 29

THE KISHINEFF ATROCITIES

WHAT ARCHBISHOP O'REILY SAID. The meagre cable-messages that appeared in our daily papers give no conception of the diabolical deeds that have made the name ol KishinefT, in southern Russia, a name of honor. r lv\o weeks ago we briefly summarised the position of the unhappy Jewish population in Kishinoff lioin the icpoits that appeared in the Catholic and secular papeis published in England, and in the columns ol the ' Jewish Chronicle ' 'I he last issue of the ' Jewish Chronicle ' to hand devotes* some four large pages to the publication of long ext tacts fiom the Russian and other Continental papets regarding the butchery of the peaceable and unoffendmtr Jewish population oi KishinelT There is little to add be.vond what has already appcaied in our columns, but some of th^ later and fuller details of the outtage, plunder and massacre of the hapless llolnews make sickening i cad ing, while the inflammatory articles of the ' Be-ssaiabet / ' and the- criminal inactivity or connivance of the authorities in these as in later horrors which they provoked and were clearly intended to pioxoke, aie brought out in a fuller and more lurid light Our Australian, Euiopoan, Awciican, Canadian, Indian, and other Catholic exchanges have, one and all, published oditoinl article's in vigorous condemnation of the Kif-hiiH'tt atrouties and the ) aiting ol the Jewish people by the Russian Government Archbisho') O'Re-ily was the pimcipal speaker at a public mooting held in Adelaide to e\piess swnpathv with the persecuted Jews in Ku'-sia, and to take stems to raise funds lor their rebel In the coiv-e ot his speech, the Archbishop recounted the eaily ti l.ils </ *he late venerable Dr Salvado, the besi and most loving triend that the Austialu\n aboi'uin.iK cur lad lie told how Father Salvado came to \\estern Aushalia m the c\u ly forties — a Spaniaid and a stranger in a strange- land ; how he wont fai out amema; the dusky folk and toil-ed and moiled for then, until, in a bad season, his supply of (lour and meat ran shoit ' 'With an anxious heait,' said the Archbishop, (as lepoited by the 'Southern Cioss'), 'Father Salvado set his lace towaids Perth. He joked his bullock team Clad in a imnper, fastened to the waist with leathern belt, and v\lup in hand, he trudged his weary way ot 90 miles beside his bullocks to Ihe capital of the West The Western colony comprises one million squat c miles The Catholic population in the days to which T reler numbered but the scant v total of B<)<> souls The members vvete the poen <-t of the poor — hewers of wood and diawers of w.itei — >n pn impoverished land. They wni o hardly equal to support the couple of cletjrvmcn ■who ministered to tin r spiritual wants For Father Sahfido and his black children they could do nothing. Foi Father Salvado it was an hour of almost dark despair. But Cod is good and loves to stretch out his hand when the darkness is at its worst. Relief came unexpectedly to the forlorn missioner, and that relief came thiough one who was of the Jewish faith.

' Amongst the early pioneers of the Western State W£lS Mr. Sampson. For some years he was honorary postmaster of the State s chief port. The mails came at rare and uncertain intervals. The ship's arrival was timed for once in about every eighteen months. As postmaster Mr. Sampson boarded each vessel. 1 had it from his own lips that the European mail for the Western State, including papers as well as letters, never unduly taxed the capacity of the breast pocket of his overcoat. Mr. Sampson was the kindliest-hearted of men, and somehow in a happy moment Father Salvado crossed his path. The story was soon told, and Mr. Sampson's sympathies were at once aroused. Mr. Sampson had at this timo just built for himself a new residence in Perth. The house was the wonder of the time. Forming part of -the house was a large drawing-room. Mr. Sampson's mind was made up at once. Father Salvado was a very cultured musician. T do not mean that he was an instrumentalist only. His skill was of the highest in theory as well as in practice, and he was an improviser on the organ of very exceptional skill. I have often sat and listened to him as he played a hymn tune of my giving played it twenty times through and always with harmonies of a different kind. Mr. Sampson had immediately tickets printed for a concert to be given in his own drawing-room. Be acted as unpaid canvasser for the sale of the tickets. He found the piano— a rare article of luxury in those early days— and when the hour arrived had th© concert room packed. A few days later Father Salvado set his face homewards. He wore his jumper and his belt, and carried his whip again. His team was well laden. He had flour and rice and sugar and tea in sufficient quantities to last him for a whole twelve months. ' Father .Salvado, then Bishop Salvado, was already advanced in years when it was my privilege to make his acquaintance. I was young and had all the impressionablcness of youth. His, words sank into my heart. I Never Forgot the Lessons he taught me of gratitude towards those of the Jewish laith, and of kindliness towards their race. For Australian citizens of the Jewish faith I am conscious of no feelings save those of respect and goodwill. For over thirty yeans I have been trying to labor in the interests of the weak,, the suffering, the afflicted. I take no, credit to myself for what I have done. I have acted as best I could, and yet I know my acting has oft been amiss Let me say this. I have never made an effort to aid the helpless among my fellow creatures : I have riev*?r striven to lift unhapny ones out of the deep slough of distress, that T have not found Australian citizens of the Jewish faith prepared to support me with their counsel. with their sympathy, with their puise.' The Archbishop then proposed the first resolution, which ran as follows : — ' That this meeting declares its abhorrence at the merciless outrages perpetrated at Kishineff, not only upon men, but also upon helpless women and children of the Jewish faith, and expresses further the fervent hope that the Russian Government will take early and effectual steps to prevent a tepetition of crimes, which are a stain on humanity and a displace to civilisation.' Another resolution, proposed by l>cnn Marrvat (Anglican"), was passed opening a sul>scnption for the afflicted Jewish flock in Kishineff.