Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 132, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 June 1912 — Freedom for Jews in Russia [ARTICLE]

Freedom for Jews in Russia

At Times Their Condition Has Improved, but Not Steadily. - In connection with the celebration of the Passover the American Hebrew published accounts of the experiences of the race in securing a greater or less degree of emancipation in various countries. “Despite the reactionary measures against the Jews in Russia,” it says, “their status in that country has for the past 100 years from time to time been more or less Improved. During the reign of Alexander 1., from 1801-1825, the first steps toward emancipation of the Jews were taken by affording them educational opportunities. "Alexander I. directed the minister of education to draw a plan for promoting education among the Jews. When the said minister remarked that such a plan might prove a costly one to the government of Russia Alexander replied, ‘lf their means should produce one Mendelssohn the expense would be justified.’ “Nicholas I N known as the enemy of the Jews, nevertheless officially encouraged them to take up agriculture. Jewish farmers were, for a certain period, to be exempt from military service and taxation in land. Jews wishing to enter the field of agriculture in Russia were practically to enjoy equal rights. “During the early part of the reign of Alexander H., when the serfs were emancipated, it looked as if freedom would be granted to the Jews of Russia as well. Restrietlonary laws concerning the ‘Pale of Settlement* were not enforced and schools were practically opened to the Jews. Such was the uncertain

status of the Jews for a period of about eighty years, ending in 1881 with the assassination of Alexander 11. “During the quarter of a century that followed this period the condition of the Jews in Russia changed for the worse. Pogroms and riots took place. The well known May laws were enacted and enforced. The Jews were driven back to the ‘Pale,’ which resulted in a large emigration of Jews from Russia to different countries of the world, especially to America. The Kishineff and other massacres that followed were the climax of the terrible conditions. “Though nothing was directly done in favor of the Jews in Russia in the beginning of the reign of Alexander ’ll, and the worst edicts were issued during his regime, still the desperate struggle which the people of Russia

made for freedom has indirectly benefited the Jews. The struggle of the. Russian people for liberty resulted in the creation of the duma, and in what is known in Russia as religious liberty, which means allowing ene to return to the faith one had formerly abandoned and the abolition of the censorship of the press. “The Jews have Indirectly benefited by each of these concessions of the government to the people. Although the government resorts to means of disqualifying the Jews from being elected, to the duma, yet the fact remains that the Jews are eligible for election to the duma and reactionary as the present duma may be there are ten Jews who hold seats there. This is because the manifesto of Czar Nicholas 11. granting a parliament to the people of Russia, did not contain the famous phrase, ‘except the Jews.’ ” i .