THE IMMIGRATION OF RUSSIAN JEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 37, 14 February 1893, Page 2

THE IMMIGRATION OF RUSSIAN JEWS.

(To the Editor,)

Sin,—l fail to see why so much fear and agitation should bo displayed by the Trade and Labour Council of Dunedin, and also by some other so-called Liberal Associations in these colonies, re the landing of the persecuted Russian Jews. Surely a paltry 400—which number has nob been confirmed yet, and I doubt if they will be sent in one batch—would easily be absorbed among the millions that inhabit these colonies. Is this liberalism and the rights of man so much boasted about?

For my part, ib would show a nobler idea of liberalism if these self-styled Liberals had waited to sea if theso few persecuted Jews were such undesirable colonists. I would also liko to know why sshould they always be styled Russian Jews, as if to be a Jew were something disgraceful, and their religion was a bar to thorn becoming lawabiding citizens and good colonists, a fact I def'v any one to dispute.

I think it would ba more in the spirib of universal brotherhood, which we hear so much about, bub unforbunaly so seldom see practised, if, in the future, theso poor persecuted people were designated as Russian refugees, Trusting an abler pen than mine will take this cause up in a true libera! spirit, and hold out a helping hand to the unfortunate, let their creed or nationality be what ib may. We should nob forget that we are the creatures of circumstances, and tho accident of birth gives many advantages. Trusting you will oblige by giving tho above insertion in your widely-read paper, I am, etc.,

An" Exglish Jew,

(To tho Editor.)

Silt,—l notice in to-night's issue a letter from " Mosaic " arguing that it is from a spirib of intolerance the colonios wish to shut out Jewish refugees. Ho asks, are tho Jovvs either bad settlers or bad citizens, or do they form a large portion of our criminal community ? Now, for an answer to all these questions I will refer him to the report of Joseph Peunell, who was specially commissioned by the " Illustrated London News " to inquire into and report on the habits and custo.iis of the Jew when athomeiiiEastoriiEuvope—the very men the colonies ate asked to receive. If " Mosaic " will refer to the report of this man, a mosb ablo and unbiassed journalist, contained in tho " Illustrated London News," of December, 1891, ho will find Penuell says, in the courso of three long articles : " The magistrate will toll you thore are more Jews on his charge list than all the other people put together." Again, "In a word, the Austro - Hungarian Jew produces nothing, he lives on nothing, and apparently he wants nothing." Again, "I was always unpleasantly conscious thab hero were people (referring to the Jews) who, despite their poverty, never work with their hands. Whose town . .

. . is bub a hideous nightmare, of dirb, disease and poverty." Again, in referring to the Jewish quarters of Brody, "the street is nothing more than an open sewer." "No one who has seen the Jew in Russia can wonder that they want to geb rid of a creaburo who is so clannish and so dirty, who is so entirely benb on making a little money simply for himself." " They aro simply a race of middlomen and money changers." "To sco the Polish Jew at homo is to understand the desire of continental philanthropists to establish him in colonies oyer sea." "To geb rid of him (the Jew) is the sole object of "Russians : to keep him out of the country the chief aim of Austriaus and Hungarians." Now, these are all extracts word for word from Pcnnell's report, and yet "Mosaic" has the audacity to imply that it is simply through intolerance that we wish to exclude " the creatures," as Pennell styles them.

A short time back we protested again_b Booth's submerged tenth being shunted off to the colonies, and rightly, too ; but hero wo are threatened with an importation in comparison to which Booth's tenth would havo proved most desirable settlers—l say in comparison.

Now, the question is, was "Mosaic" arguing in ignorance when he made the charge of intolerance, cr did he think colonists were so densely ignorant as to lob his remarks go unchallenged. Anyhow, I thank him forgiving me a chance of bringing a few facta to light on tho subject.--I am, etc., ■ Truth. Auckland, February 10th, 1893.