1846.
REPORT TO COUNT KISSELEFF ON THE STATE OF THE JEWS IN
POLAND--PROTEST AGAINST THE RESTRICTIONS TO WHICH THEY WERE
SUBJECTED.
The last of the three important reports made by Sir Moses Montefiore
to the Ministers of the Emperor of Russia was to Count Kisseleff, and
ran as follows:--
"To his Excellency Le Comte de Kisseleff, Ministre du
domaine de l'Empire de sa Majeste l'Empereur de Russie,
&c., &c., &c.
"May it please your Excellency,--My first and principal
report had reference, as your Excellency will have seen,
to the condition and wants of my brethren in Russia. In
obedience, however, to the permission which His Majesty
the Emperor most graciously gave me, and to your
Excellency's most benevolent desire, it is incumbent on me
to make some remarks (which for the sake of clearness I
prefer submitting in a distinct paper) in regard to those
who are inhabitants of the kingdom of Poland. In so doing,
I would humbly beseech His Majesty the Emperor, your
Excellency, and His Majesty's Government at large, so far
as it may be made acquainted with the subject, to receive
such remarks, and any requests that may stand connected
with them, with great and indulgent consideration.
"Humble as is my position in life, when compared with the
most exalted stations of the high persons to whom I
venture to address myself, I nevertheless have laid upon
me by the high benevolence itself which I have
experienced, a heavy responsibility to Almighty God, to
His Majesty the Emperor and his Government, to my
brethren, and I believe to the whole civilized world.
"I most sincerely believe that the human race at large
would experience solid and lasting benefit, if His Majesty
would deign to carry out fully and completely his gracious
expressions of desire for the welfare of his Hebrew
subjects. With these views I would most humbly and
earnestly supplicate that the great and sublime course of
proceeding already commenced by His Majesty, which I have
ventured to solicit for the Israelites in Russia, should
be extended as fully to those of my brethren who are
resident in Poland. I supplicate the powerful Russian
Government to prove to the whole civilized world that the
amelioration of the condition of the Hebrew race, for
which it is so graciously desirous, can be produced with
completeness and effect, by measures that would appeal to
the gratitude and love of a loyal and warm-hearted people.
"Permit me in the first place to direct your Excellency's
attention to two paragraphs, the fifth and seventh of the
Organization Statute of Poland promulgated in the year
1832, and which are immediately connected with the subject
in question.
"Therein His Majesty the Emperor and King of Poland
declares that 'the difference from the Christian modes of
worship cannot be regarded as a cause of exclusion to any
person whatever from the rights and privileges granted to
all other inhabitants professing the Christian religion.
"'The protection of the law equally extends to all the
inhabitants of the kingdom without any distinction of rank
or social condition.'
"With the profoundest respect I will now proceed to lay
before your Excellency the following brief enumeration of
serious restrictions under which my brethren in Poland are
weighed down.
"_1st._ Concerning their confined habitations.
"(_a_) There are towns in Poland in which Israelites are
never allowed to reside.
"(_b_) In these towns or marts where they have permission
to live it extends only to a few streets.
"(_c_) From every habitation situated near the high roads
they are entirely excluded.
"(_d_) They are prohibited from settling within three
geographical miles of the frontier, which, in a country of
the dimensions of Poland, excludes them from a
considerable tract of territory.
"_2nd._ Regarding mechanics (trade).
"(_a_) An Israelite following any trade or mechanical
operation is not allowed to keep apprentices, neither can
he declare such as journeymen. This naturally involves the
Hebrew mechanic in innumerable difficulties, for he is
entirely dependent upon his own personal exertions, and
can never avail himself of the assistance of his
fellow-mechanics.
"(_b_) He is prohibited from working with a Christian
master, and in consequence of his not being acknowledged
as a master among the corporations, he is always
considered as a person who injures the trade.
"_3rd._ With respect to agriculture, crown lands, or
ecclesiastical property.
"The Israelite is prohibited from taking on lease, nor is
he ever allowed to be the proprietor of any lands, however
small in extent; for even the property of private
individuals he can only rent by paying heavy taxes for the
patent, and then even is not allowed to employ Christian
assistants.
"_4th._ Additional taxes.
"(_a_) An Israelite has to pay a tax of three kopecs,
besides the usual tax, upon each pound of beef or veal
lawfully prepared for his use; fifteen kopecs silver for a
turkey, five kopecs silver for a fowl, eight kopecs silver
for a duck, and nine kopecs silver for a goose.
"(_b_) A Hebrew labourer living in the vicinity of Warsaw
cannot enjoy the advantage of bringing his goods or the
produce of his land into the capital, there being a law
that every Israelite from the provinces who comes to town
should pay, daily, ten silver kopecs for permission to
stay, and seven and a-half silver kopecs for the duty on
the stamp.
"(_c_) An Israelite dealing in spirituous liquors lies
exclusively under taxes for such a privilege. Thus an
individual having a brewhouse and brandy distillery has to
pay 25 dollars to the City Exchequer, 66-2/3 dollars to
the finances of the State, 66-2/3 for the distillery,
66-2/3 for the brewery, amounting to 291-2/3 dollars
annually; and although he pays for such a privilege
dearly, he cannot bequeath it to his child, for only those
are allowed to enjoy it who obtained permission in the
year 1809.
"_5th._ Other restrictions.
"(_a_) An Israelite is not allowed to appear as a witness
in a case of lawsuit against a Christian, for his evidence
is not considered valid. The great injury he must sustain
from such a law or practice is incalculable.
"(_b_) As soldiers, although they may distinguish
themselves in the army or navy, they are not permitted to
rise in rank. The mode of enrolling recruits is also most
painful; for, notwithstanding a distinct decree having
been issued by His Majesty's Government in the year 1843,
that recruits should be given up to the authorities by the
community, without the interference of any officer, still
great wrongs are committed by some of the petty officers,
which cause the ruin of numerous families.
"(_c_) They have not the advantage, like other subjects of
His Majesty, of renting the local revenues derived from
the sale of spirits. Not, however, that I would consider
this restriction a hardship, excepting so far as it is a
distinctive mark upon the Israelites in Poland.
"(_d_) They are excluded from the great advantages
derivable from the acquirement of science and literature,
by being prohibited from following the professions of
chemists, architects, lawyers, and several other similar
avocations.
"Like their brethren in Russia, the Israelites of Poland
are accused of great aversion to every kind of manual
labour, preferring to gain a livelihood by devotion to
petty commerce. It is alleged also, that they are
disinclined to agriculture, avoid every mechanical
pursuit, and defraud the Government of the excise and
customs; that they distinguish themselves from the rest of
the inhabitants by their particular costume; and finally,
that the precepts of their religion, to which they most
scrupulously adhere, are of antisocial tendency.
"I entreat your Excellency's kind consideration of the few
observations which I deem it essential to offer, in
reference to the foregoing imputations. The statistical
accounts of Poland shew that, in proportion to the number
of Hebrew inhabitants, there are more mechanics amongst
them than amongst any other class of His Majesty's Polish
subjects; they devote themselves to the most laborious
occupations, and it may be easily ascertained that there
is not only a great number of Hebrew brickmakers,
blacksmiths, paviors, and carpenters, but there may be
found two thousand Israelites who break stones on the
chaussees. As a most striking instance, I shall name to
your Excellency a small town of the name of Kalnary, where
there exist no less than 486 families following mechanical
pursuits, amongst a Hebrew population of 1500 families, as
I believe may be proved by the official accounts of the
police.
"Your Excellency, I am confident, will be of opinion that
it may be justly inferred, if, under the restrictions
against which the Hebrew mechanic has daily to contend, he
still perseveres in his pursuits with honesty, and remains
spotless in his character, this class of persons would be
greatly augmented if all those obstacles were to be
removed which now press so heavily on industrial exertion.
"With respect to agriculture, permit me to mention that in
the year 1823, when the decree was issued, under his late
Majesty, the Emperor Alexander of blessed memory, that the
Polish Jews should cultivate the land, though they were
denied the privilege of becoming proprietors, and though
they had to contend with various other restrictions
connected with agriculture, under the hand of an
Israelite, to which I have already alluded in the
preceding pages, nevertheless a considerable number of
them offered themselves to cultivate the land, but,
unfortunately, could not succeed in their applications.
The local authorities always replied to the petitioners
that the land in question was not qualified for them as
Israelites, that they should look out for some other piece
of ground which the Government could dispose of to them.
In consequence of these answers, the applicants petitioned
for a list of all the land which might be accessible to
Israelites, yet I regret to say that twenty-three years
have since passed without any reply having been given to
this humble request. Thus circumstanced, they petitioned
to the effect that the wealthier classes amongst them
might be permitted to purchase land from private
individuals, either to cultivate the same in person, or to
let it out in small portions to the poor, yet under the
condition that the space of land should not extend to more
than would be sufficient for five or ten farmers to
cultivate. Moreover, the proposed purchasers declared
their willingness to relinquish any right and privilege
any other (non-Israelite) proprietor of land might be
entitled to. They went still further, for in their anxious
desire to secure the honest object of their petition, they
offered the forfeiture of the land in case any of the
parties connected with its agriculture were to be found
withdrawing from personally cultivating it, or were to be
proved guilty of calling in Christian peasants, however
few, for the assistance of the new agriculturists.
"I have no doubt that, equally with their Russian
brethren, the Israelites of Poland are most desirous to
adopt agricultural pursuits.
"It has been charged against the Israelites of Poland,
that they do not render any personal service to the
country in which they live. This charge might not have
been without foundation eighteen or twenty years ago, when
they paid an annual tribute of many hundred thousand
dollars for the privilege of being exempted from personal
military service, but not so at present, for many thousand
Israelites have evinced their devotion to the cause of
their native land, by sacrificing their lives on numerous
occasions, and their services in the army and in the navy
have already been appreciated by their exalted Monarch
himself.
"With respect to the peculiar costume which most of the
Israelites have been accustomed to wear for many
centuries, from what I had an opportunity of seeing I can
assure your Excellency that most of them have already
adopted the European habit, and I have not the least doubt
that, in the course of time, the ancient dress will have
entirely disappeared. It is erroneous to suppose that the
ancient costume is enjoined by, or has any foundation in
religion. Such is not the fact. It originated from a
decree of the Government in existence three hundred years
ago, when the Israelites were commanded under a most
severe punishment to assume this garb to distinguish them
as members of the Jewish faith. The truth of this
statement may be ascertained by referring to 'Vol. Leg.
Polon. Sub. Anno 1538,' Vol. I., p. 254.
"Having now, as I trust to the satisfaction of your
Excellency, refuted all the arguments which have hitherto
been held of sufficient moment to deprive many hundred
thousands of Israelites of the rights and privileges
which, as faithful subjects, they, in accordance with His
Imperial Majesty's humane intention, ought to enjoy, I
most humbly implore His Majesty's Government in its great
wisdom to remove from His Majesty's Hebrew subjects all
restrictions which may prove obstacles to their honest
pursuits in life, and in particular those restrictions
which I have previously alluded to, and which I have
endeavoured to classify.
"Possibly your Excellency, though animated with the
noblest feelings of humanity, may, in the fulfilment of
the duty your high position imposes, deem it necessary to
call my attention to the existence of certain restrictions
which, on account of the pecuniary advantages the State
derives from them, cannot easily be removed; such, for
instance, as the meat tax, which annually amounts, to
300,000 silver roubles. But in answer to this, permit me
to observe that in conformity to His Majesty's most
gracious decree issued in the year 1817, the Israelites
were, on entering the army or navy, to be free from paying
the exemption money, and in addition to this were to enjoy
the same privileges in every respect as all the other
inhabitants of the country.
"The Israelites are now acting to the very letter of the
Imperial Ukase, for they serve personally in the army and
navy, and are acknowledged to be good, brave, and
faithful. I submit, therefore, that they are now entitled
to the same privileges as are granted to all other
inhabitants, and as a matter of course, to be free from
the payment of exemption money. Considerations of economy
will not, I feel persuaded, be permitted to overrule the
just and humane intentions of His Imperial Majesty.
"I entreat your Excellency distinctly to understand that I
have not written with this comparative brevity on the
subject of the Israelites in Poland, because I think their
position less deserving the attention of the Imperial
Government than that of the Russian brethren. On the
contrary, in Poland affliction and degradation are the
more severe; and what stronger fact can be offered in
support of the urgency of the claim of the Israelites of
the last named country on the justice and humanity of His
Imperial Majesty than this, that these persons constitute
one fourth of the whole population.
"I have written less fully concerning my Polish brethren,
only because I am most unwilling to trespass more than my
absolute duty requires upon the gracious consideration
which I supplicate; and I would further observe, that my
report as to my brethren in Russia has been drawn up with
the intention that those who are resident in Poland should
be included in its general arguments.
"It would be to me a source of the deepest regret, if from
any observations made in this or the preceding letter the
impressions were produced on the mind of His Majesty that
I had responded to his most gracious conduct towards me by
a tone of unsuitable complaint in regard to the state of
my brethren. Such a course, I earnestly assure your
Excellency, I have been most desirous to avoid. I have
given the most anxious care to the investigation of the
facts to which I have adverted, and I have made no
representation of the truth of which I have not received
very strong evidence.
"I have endeavoured to elucidate the causes which tend to
produce the evils to which I have directed the attention
of your Excellency, and if I have commented on them with
frankness, I trust it will be conceded that this was my
duty, and that in so doing I have best fulfilled the
wishes of His Imperial Majesty, who, by experience, I know
to be as condescending as he is powerful.
"I therefore call upon the unbounded justice of His
Majesty's Government; I pray, in the name of suffering
humanity, to that most exalted and mighty Monarch, whose
noble heart is filled with love and deep affection towards
his faithful subjects, to consider the case of my
brethren, and show mercy to the many hundred thousands of
them who daily send up to the Eternal Ruler of myriads of
worlds their most devout and fervent prayers to prolong
the glorious life of His Majesty, their Emperor and King.
I feel myself in sacred duty bound to impress upon your
Excellency's noble mind that the benign words I had the
honour of hearing from your illustrious person, to promote
the welfare of Israel, was one of the principal causes
which emboldened me to lay the case of my brethren so
close at your heart. I therefore entreat your Excellency's
powerful influence with His Majesty's Government on behalf
of those who look up for help with the greatest anxiety to
their benevolent and magnanimous Sovereign.
"Everlasting blessings will be showered down from Him in
whose hand the welfare of every creature lies upon the
exalted throne of His Imperial Majesty. Generation to
generation will proclaim his glory and righteousness;
every mouth will sing praise to the Lord, and every heart
will bear gratitude for being permitted to live under the
benign rays of the merciful sceptre of Russia.--I have the
honour to be, with the highest consideration and the most
profound respect, your Excellency's most faithful servant,
(Signed) "Moses Montefiore."