THE PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8669, 11 September 1891, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS.

MEMORIAL TO THE CZAR. Tin-, following is tho full text of the memorial presented by the House of Representatives, on the motion of Sir George Grey, to the Czar on behalf of the persecuted Russian Jews :—

May it please your Imperial Majesty. We, the members of the House of Representatives in the Parliament of New Zealand assembled, in our own name, and on belntlf of the inhabitants of this colony whom we represent, approach your Majesty with the assurance of our most profound respect, and humbly crave your Majesty's gracious permission to intercede on behalf of that portion of your Majesty's subjects who belong to the Hebrew race ; We have learned with sorrow that that section of this ancient people who dwell within your Majesty's vast dominions aresubjected to exceptionaldisabilitiesand restrictions, a ml that numbersof them have been and are being expatriated from Russian soil, notwithstanding their loyalty as a people to your Majesty's throne and person, a loyalty which lias often been sealed with their blood while fighting under the Imperial standard. , We are emboldened to solicit the extension to your Majesty's Jewish subjects of your Majesty's clemency and generosity by the remembrance that in the days of our forefathers' restrictive 'legislation imposed political and other disabilities and deprivations upon the Hebrew subjects of the British Crown, and by the knowledge that the removal of all such restrictions and disabilities which has now been for some time aecom plished within the British Empire, has been attended by such happy results that we feel assured that a like extension of liberties and privileges within your Majesty's dominions would be productive of a like elTcct. The name of your Majesty's illustrious father is now and ever ill be held in honoured and grateful remembrance throughout the world forthegreat boons which through his Royal beneficence and large-hoartedness were conferred upon the Russian people during his reign, and we would gladly see the reign of your Imperial Majesty, like that of our own beloved Queen, crowned with the glory of admitting all your Majesty's subjects to the enjoyment of equal rights and privileges, whereby we are persuaded that the loyal attachment of all classes to your Majesty's throne ami person would be deepened and strengthened. We, therefore, respectfully pray that all exceptional and restrictive laws which alFeot your Majesty's Jewish subjects may be repealed, and that equal rights with those enjoyed by the rest of your .Majesty's subjects may hie conferred upon them, and that your Imperial Majesty will be pleased favourably to receive this our humble petition.

The following covering letter has been addressed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, New Zealand, to His Excellency Lieutenant-General de Richter, aide-de-camp to H.M. the Einpeior for the recoption of petitions :—

Your Excellency,—As Speaker of the House of Representatives of New Zealand I have the honour to enclose herewith to your Excellency the respectful memorial of that House addressed to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor on behalf of His Majesty Jewish subjects. I beg that your Excellency will do me the honour of laying this memorial at the feet of His Imperial Majesty. Your Excellency will see that the.House entertains towards His Imperial Majesty sentiments of the most profound respect, and that in soliciting for the Jews in Russia His Majesty's generous consideration, it is influenced by 110 political or religious consideration. I further enclose for your Excellency's information a copy of the Hansard report of the proceedings in the House in connection with the passing of the resolution under which the memorial is now transmitted to your Excellency. Begging that your Excellency will receive the sincere assurance of my high esteem and consideration, I have, etc. (Signed by Speaker).

The following letter of thanks from the Hebrew residents of Auckland was forwarded to Sir George Grey at Wellington. for his efforts on behalf of the Russian Jews:—"To Sir Oeorge Grey, K.C.8., etc. Dear sir,—Permit us, on behalf of the Hebrew residents of this city, to tender to you our most grateful thanks and warm appreciation of your exertions on behalf of our persecuted coreligionists in Russia. We believe if your example was closely followed by the other British colonies, good only could result. The non-expression of public opinion exhibited by a large portion of the civilised world has. in our opinion, resulted in strengthening the hands of the enemies of civil and religious liberty, and wo feci that you have added another debt to tlio many we, as Now Zealand colonists, owe you." The letter is signed by a large number of our Hebrew fellow-townsmen.

The Wellington Hebrew congregation has unanimously passed a resolution of thanks to Sir George Grey for the kind and sympathetic remarks made in his speech in proponing that a memorial be sent to the Czar re the Jews in Russia.