[Inclosure.—Translation.]
The Jews in Roumania.
The pretended persecution of the Jews in Roumania is a favorite theme
which the enemies of the Roumanian government never grow weary of
taking up. We have already had occasion to give some extracts from
the Moniteur de Bukarest, which establish the truth in regard to
this matter, and place in their true light the exaggerations and the
fables which are too often circulated by the Austrian and French
press. We borrow some facts and figures to-day from certain letters
signed by a gentleman honorably known in Roumania, (Heliade
Radulese,) which seem to us to be the best reply to the extravagant
statements of the Israelitic Alliance, at Paris.
In 1849, the Jews in Roumania were but 60,000 in number, and if it is
considered that they now number more than 400,000, how is it
possible to believe that Roumania is the only country in the world
where the Jewish race is persecuted?
In France, among 38,067,099 inhabitants, there are but 158,994 Jews;
in England only 40,000, in a population of 29,070,932.
In presence of such figures, how is it possible to explain the
constant increase in the Jewish population of our little country,
where they are in the frightful proportion, as shown by statistics,
of 400,000 to 4,600,000 Roumanians. If they have come, if they
remain among us, it is because they are permitted to enjoy all
religious privileges, and are happier in Roumania then elsewhere,
for it is well known that Jews do not settle in a country where they
have not these advantages. It is not against a reaction that they
now protest, since the laws which bear heavily upon them date from
the time when they were least numerous, in the reign of Stirbei and
Sturdza.
When, in 1848, Roumania shook off the oppresive protectorate of
Russia, and adopted
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a
constitution for herself, she granted all political rights to the
Jews in article 21. The occupation by Russia changed our
constitution, and prevented the Jews from enjoying these rights
long. But since instruction became gratuitous, Jews and all
foreigners have been received at the schools, and have enjoyed the
same benefits as Roumanians. When they have been willing to avail
themselves of these advantages, they have been treated with the same
consideration as the Roumanians, and have found devoted friends
among the latter.
The Jews enjoy all liberties, purchase
property in the towns, and hold public offices. Several of them have
been professors; one, Dr. Burache, was a professor at the lyceum of
St. Serven, at the military school, and at the school of agriculture
and medicine. At his death almost all the inhabitants of Bucharest
attended his funeral, and a priest of our religion preached his
funeral sermon. The widow of this excellent man still receives a
pension from the Roumanian government. Is a religion persecuted
whose adherents are treated with such consideration?
The Roumanian government has several times sent young Jews to Paris
to finish their studies at its expeuse.
Article 21 of the new constitution guarantees liberty of conscience
to all.
Finally, 400,000 Jews own 176 synagogues in Roumania; 45, 152
Catholics have 63 churches; 28,903 Protestants have 12 houses of
worship; 8, 178 Armenians, (Gregorian,) 11 churches, &c.
For a religious persecution to exist, it would be necessary that the
Jews should not be permitted to own synagogues or to enjoy religious
freedom; it would be necessary that the rigorous measures adopted
against malefactors should be extended to the honest and fervent
portion of this Jewish population.
