The Government of Russia learns little from experience. It has
just issued a manifesto on the subject of the outrages against Jews, which is practically a justification for them. The Minister of the Interior, General Ignatieff, in a circular to the Governors, dated September 6th, says that the "activity of the -Jews, their tribal exclusiveness, and their religions fanaticism, cause detriment to the Christians ;" that they direct their efforts "not to the increase of the productive power of the State, but to the exploitation of the indigenous population ;" and that the "injurious economical activity of this people is the cause of the popular agitation against them." He, therefore, directs that while the Jews should be protected, the Governors should report upon the means of making them obey the laws intended to fuse them in the population. and of "paralysing their injurious activity." There can be little doubt that this is the one solid charge against the Jews everywhere. They produce nothing—there is probably not a Jew ploughman in the world—and live entirely by attracting from the Gentiles a portion of their earnings, -often in an " injurious " manner,—that is, a manner yielding to the Gentiles no return; but the Russian Government does not. see that the cure is perfect liberty. It is in the absence of restrictions, not under the influence of them, that the Jews slowly merge themselves in the population. Once let alone, the pursuit of their grand attraction, social position, induces them to marry Christians and call themselves Christians, and as their distinctiveness is tribal, not religious, they are then soon absorbed.
Previous page
