THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
The only Jewish publication in the State of Michigan
Devoted to the interests of the Jewish people
Vol. II. No. 4
DETROIT, MICH., MARCH 23, 1917
$1.50 per Year
Single Copies10 Cents
Russian Revolution Frees Jews
Overthrow of Czar Means Liberation of Six
Million Jews
Jewish Leaders Hail Emancipation of Russian
Jews as Epoch-Making
Gain Complete Civil and Political Rights
Louis Marshall and Rabbi Stephen S. Wise See the
Dawn of New Era for World Jewry
Russia,—the synonym for despot-
The revolution itself, eminently suc-
ism and oppression of the Jewish peo- cessful and complete in every detail
Prominent Jews of the nation and doubt that, with equality of political
ple for many years,—Russia, the home as it was, was devoid of much blood- city are enthusiastic over the news and civil rights, all classes of Jews
of blind prejudice and ignorance,— shed. The military were quick to join of the complete political emancipation will rally to the Russian flag as never
"Darkest" Russia—is no more. The the revolution and aided in routing of the Russian Jews which came before.
'When Russia first began to sus-
long hoped for revolution in that un- the gendarmerie of the police. The closely upon the heels of the an-
fortunate land has finally come to a people were in complete control of nouncement of the tremendous Rus- tain her defeats in Poland the officials
successful termination. Several mil- affairs after three days of desultory sian upheaval. They are unanimous who recently have been proved trai ;
lions of Jews are now free, with equal fighting. The archives of the no- in the belief that with the fall of the tors to Russia circulated charges that ,
political, economic and religious torious third section of the dreaded Pale and the extension of full civil the Jews were guilty of espionage in
rights to Russian Jewry has come a the interest of Germany. It was
secret police, the "eyes" of the "Little
rights.
The Russian foreign office, through Father," were ransacked and de- new era in the history of the Jewish .these charges which caused Kerenski,
now minister of justice, to undertake
its new minister, Prof. Paul M. Malik-
the investigation which resulted in
off of the provisional government, has
the discovery of the disloyalty of the
The Proclamation That Establishes a New Era for World Jewnj
reiterated the declaration made by the
very men who tried to play the old
duma concerning the liberty and full
game of making the Jew the scape-
The provisional government in Russia on March 16 issued the fol-
rights for all races which are com-
goat for their offenses, a discovery
lowing
appeal
to
the
people:
ponent parts of the nation and it was
which culminated in Kerenski's dra-
"Citizens: The executive committee of the duma, with the aid and
stated that since this was particularly
matic disclosure of the loyalty of the
support of the garrison of the capital and its inhabitants, has succeeded
applicable to the Jews, as well as to
Jews and the falsity of the charges.
in triumphing over the obnoxious forces of the old regime in such a
others, nothing now stood in the way
"On the part of the masses and the
manner that we are able to proceed to a more stable organization of
of a new treaty with the United
educated
classes there never has been
the executive power, with men whose past political activity assures the
any
real
opposition
in Russia to con-
States.
country's confidence."
Jews Offer Prayers.
ferring equal rights on the Jews.
The names of the members of the new government are then given
There really have been only two
The glad tidings of the proclama-
and the appeal continues:
classes who have insisted that dis-
tion of the new government were
"The new cabinet will base its policy on the following principles:
•criminatory laws against them should
hailed with indescibable rejoicing on
"First—An immediate general amnesty for all political and religious
be enforced, and that there should be
the part of the Jewish people in every
offenses, including terrorist acts and military and agrarian offenses.
no relaxation in the policy of oppres-
city, town and hamlet in Russia. It
"Second—Liberty of speech and of the press; freedom for alliances,
sion. They are the bureaucrats and
was a (lay of thanksgiving. The syn-
unions and strikes, with the extension of these liberties to military offi-
the police—the former because they
agogues were crowded as on the Day
cials within the limits admitted by military requirements.
deemed it politic to create a myth be-
"Third—Abolition of all social, religious and national restrictions.
of Atonement: Fervent prayers were
hind which they could shelter them-
offered for the success of the new
THIS PROVISION GIVES FREEDOM TO THE JEWS.
selves whenever the people gave ex-
"Fourth—To
proceed
forthwith
to
the
preparation
and
convocation
regime. Business and the ordinary
pression to their dissatisfaction with
of a constitutional assembly. based on universal suffrage, which will
routine was practically suspended for
existing conditions, and the latter be-
several (lays, while the people fra-
establish a governmental regime.
cause they were able to thrive on the
"Fifth—In
place
of
the
police,
a
national
militia,
with
chiefs
to
be
ternized as never before.
graft which they exacted from the
elected and responsible to the government.
The readers of the Jewish Chronicle
Jews
under cover of the multitude of
"Sixth—Communal elections to be based on universal suffrage.
arc familiar with the details of the
minute
regulations intended to make
"Seventh—The troops that participated in the revolutionary move-
Russian revolution through the daily
the lives of the Jews miserable.
ment
will
not
be
disarmed,
but
will
remain
in
Petrograd.
news reports, but a brief summary of
"Few have any idea of the nature of
"Eighth—While maintaining strict military discipline for troops on
events of the past historic week will
the laws and regulations enacted in
active
service,
it
is
desirable
to
abrogate
for
soldiers
all
restrictions
in
.serve to clarify the unexpected up-
Russia with special application to the
the enjoyment of social rights accorded other citizens."
heaval.
Jews. They would fill a volume of a
Czar Abdicates.
thousand pages and have proven a
On March 16 the world was startled stroyed. The insigna of royalty was people and predict that the influence gold mine to the public authorities,
by the report that Czar Nicholas II torn from all public buildings and the upon the career of the latter is bound who have used them systematically
had abdicated on behalf of himself ryd flag of the revolution was flying to be far reaching.
for purposes of exploitation.
Louis .Marshall, president of the
and heir apparent, Grank Duke Alexis, triumphant from every masthead in
Will Help Develop Russia.
American Jewish Committee and one
his 13-year-old son, in favor of his the city.
"Under
the new regime this horri-
of
the
foremost
figures
in
American
younger brother, Grand Duke Michael
ble tradition will be relegated to the
Dismissal
of
Duma
Causes
Revolu-
Jewry,
and
who
was
largely
influen-
Alexandrovitch, who was to act as
tial in ,having the Russian treaty abro- museum of political horrors and Rus-
tion.
provisional regent. On the heels of
sia will have no better citizens than
this announcement came the flash that
The immediate cause •of the up- gated, hails the Russian upheaval as the Jews. They will contribute to
the
greatest
event
since
the
French
the grand duke himself had abdicated heaval grew out of the resolution revolution and asserts that the eman- every phase of her development, just
and that a provisional government had passed by the duma on March 8 de- cipation of the Russian Jews will be as they have in this country, once they
been formed by the duma in-conjunc- manding that the government explain a great boon to their country and to are accorded human rights. It will be •
Gm with the workmen's committee. its failure to relieve the food situation
a blessed day for Russia, just as it
themselves.
The hated Stunner, Golitzine, Proto- among the people and the army. This
"I have always felt," he said, "that will be for the Jews, when equality;
p('poff and other traitorous ministers request was answered by Premier Go-
the
Jewish question was one that under the law is recognized as the
of the despotic government were im- litzine, in the name of the czar, with
have to be settled in Russia right of all who dwell within the
prisoned in the infamous bastile, SS. an order to dissolve the sittings of would
and that, while public opinion of the great domain of that country.
Peter and Paul, while other digni- the duma and the council of the em-
"The- Jew of Russia is precisely the
rest of the world undoubtedly would
taries were killed. A new cabinet was pire on March.l2. Food riots had al-
exert its effect, any real and lasting same kind of man as the Jew of the
formed with Prince Lvoff as premier, ready begun in the streets of Petro-
reform would come from within. And United _States, and those who have
Nfilukoff as minister of foreign af- grad, but there was no reply to the
today it seems that is just what has studied political conditions here unite
fairs and Deputy Karenski minister. of resolution of the duma. On March
in saying that there is more intelli-
happened.
justice 'holding the most important 11 President Rodzianko was in-
"I have heard hundreds of Russian gence and independence in voting
portfolioS. These men arc well known structed by the delegates of the duma Jews in this country say that they among Jews than among any other
as liberals, Karenski being a socialist. to dispatch a peremptory demand to would return to Russia and dwell class of citizens. They are all read-
One of his first acts was to declare the gOvernment that it disband imme-
there if ever liberty were established, ers, not only of newspapers, but also
a general amnesty to all political pris- - diately. Premier Golitzinc, in the and the loyalty of the Jews who have of all kinds of literature, and their
oilers in European Russia and Siberia. name of the czar, replied to this with
remained in Russia has been incon- mental powers never have been ques-
By this decree thousands of Jews an order suspending the sittings of the trovertibly shown during the present tioned even by their worst enemies.
were liberated. A personal invitation duma and the council of the empire.
There have been 40,000 Jews in The Russian Jew stands as high as,
to come to Petrograd was dispatched The duma unanimously refused to the Russian armies. and hundreds of if not higher, intellectually than the
to the aged Madame Katherine Bresh- obey the decree, defied the govern- them have received the St. George's Jew of any other country. He is a
kovskaya, "Baboushka," the grand- ment and demanded the abdication of
Cross for bravery. Jewish profes- thinker from his earliest youth, a stu-
dent and possessed of an ardent love
sional men, particularly physicians
mother of the revolution, who had the czar. The revolution then offi-
have proffered their services to their of learning.
been imprisoned in Siberia for over cially began.
(Continued on page 7)
thirty years and who is the idol of the
country freely, and there can bg no
(Continued on page 4)
liberals of Russia.
-