of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, at a time when altars dedicated to Mars and Venus were yet unknown. But what in after years particularly attracted the Jews to the country was the absence there of any great trading class. Agriculturists were many, and landed proprietors were also numerous; but a mercantile and industrial class, capable of turning the resources of the land to commercial account, did not exist. For a long period the Jews were the only mechanics, manufacturers, and merchants in Roumania. When, in course of time, the Roumans themselves engaged in these occupations, the rivalry between them and the Hebrews became intense, and bitter jealousies arose. The Roumans, assuming a history and an ethnography that did not exist, murmured that the "stranger was stealing the national birthright. It was not, however, until 1856 that this rivalry assumed a dangerous form. Then, when the people, under a constitutional government, superseded the powers of the Hospodars and Boyars, who had formerly protected the Jews, they set themselves to oppress their too active competitors. They commenced by ignoring them in their franchise scheme, and afterwards, one by one, closed against them various branches of trade. Constitutional government, in fact, enabled an ignorant and selfish people to give expression to their selfishness and intolerance, where a wise autocracy had formerly kept such passions in check. It is truly a curious page in the history of politics. Popular feeling once unmuzzled, the anti-Jewish CH. XVI.] The "Noyades of Galatz." 241 movement took a wide scope. From legal oppression in the Council Chamber to violent persecution in the streets is but a step; and from 1864 to the end of 1866 not a month passed but some dreadful outrage upon the Jews was chronicled. M. Crémieux paid a visit to Bucharest in 1866, and secured a large number of promises from members of the Chamber of Deputies to support a measure emancipating the Jews; but no sooner had he left, than the people rose, threatened Parliament, maltreated a number of Jews, and destroyed their Synagogue, which was the finest building in the capital. In 1867 the persecutions became more cruel. No sooner had Sir Moses Montefiore returned from Jerusalem, than he found himself compelled to open a correspondence with the British Government on the subject. At his request Lord Stanley telegraphed a vigorous remonstrance to the Roumanian Government, but still the persecutions continued. In June serious anti-Jewish riots took place at Jassy and other places; and about the middle of July public opinion in Europe was shocked by an exceptionally terrible outrage at Galatz, called in the consular despatches the "Noyades of Galatz." Ten Jews, who were alleged by the Roumanian Government to be vagabonds from Turkey, but who were in reality natives of Roumania, were ordered to be expelled the country. A file of soldiers escorted them from Galatz, half-way across the Danube, and landed them, without food or fuel, on a marshy island. During the R night one of them perished in the mud. The survivors were rescued by the Turks, and taken back to Galatz: but on attempting to reland, a scuffle took place, and the Roumanian soldiers drove the poor Hebrews, at the point of the bayonet, into the river, where they were drowned. The incident caused great indignation in Western Europe, and Sir Moses Montefiore, as President of the Board of Deputies, set out immediately for Bucharest, to make personal representations to Prince (now King) Charles on the whole question of the treatment of the Roumanian Jews. At Paris he was received by the Emperor Napoleon III., who assured him of his best wishes and support, and attached a French officer to his suite as a mark of his sympathy. Notwithstanding his great age, Sir Moses travelled very rapidly, engaging special trains when the ordinary service did not ensure sufficient despatch, and at Donauwerth hiring a special steamer to take him down the Danube vid Vienna into Roumania. Immediately on arriving at Bucharest, he was cordially welcomed by the Corps Diplomatique, who assured him that, under the instructions of their respective Governments, he might rely on their best services being placed at his disposal for the accomplishment of the object of his Mission. Sir Moses had several interviews with the Prince, and the members of his Government, and succeeded in obtaining from his Highness the most gratifying assurances. Before his departure he received the following note from the Prince : CH. XVI.] Prince Charles of Roumania. 243 "MONSIEUR LE BARONNET, "J'ai reçu votre lettre du 27 Août dernier, et j'en ai pris connaissance avec un vif intérêt. Comme j'ai eu l'occasion de vous le dire de vive voix, les vœux que vous formez pour vos co-religionnaires sont déjà accomplis. Les Israélites sont l'objet de toute ma sollicitude et de toute celle de mon Gouvernement, et je suis bien aise que vous soyez venu en Roumanie pour vous convaincre que la persécution religieuse, dont la malveillance a fait tant de bruit, n'existe point. S'il est arrivé que des Israélites fussent inquiétés, ce sont là des faits isolés dont mon Gouvernement ne peut pas assumer la responsabilité. Je tiendra toujours à honneur de faire respecter la liberté religieuse, et je veillerai sans cesse à l'exécution des lois qui protégent les Israélites, comme tous les autres Roumains dans leur personne, et dans leurs biens. "Veuillez recevoir, Monsieur le Baronnet, l'as- "COTROCENI, le 18/30 Août, 1867." To what extent Prince Charles was hoodwinked by his own Ministers it is impossible to say; but notwithstanding the professions contained in this letterthe sincerity of which there is no reason to doubthe has been powerless to stop the persecutions. The vicious national sentiment has been too strong for him, and the Jews of Roumania are still unemancipated, and are periodically persecuted by both the Government and the people. The third journey in this decade was to Russia, and took place in 1872. The intervening years were spent in labours in connection with the home community. In 1870 Sir Moses assisted at the consecration of the Central Synagogue in London. In 1871 he opened a subscription for the relief of a famine among the Jews of Persia, in whose political condition he had formerly taken much interest. A considerable fund was raised, and £17,973 was distributed through Mr. Alison, the British Minister at Teheran. In 1872, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Peter the Great, the Board of Deputies adopted an address of congratulation to the CzarAlexander II., and Sir Moses Montefiore was deputed to journey to St. Petersburg to present it. En route every one tried to dissuade him from proceeding to his destination on account of the cholera which raged there with great severity; but impelled by a sense of duty he determined to persevere even if left alone. "The journals," he wrote home, "gave an alarming account of the unsatisfactory state of health in St. Petersburg, and it being the opinion of some of those who accompanied me that it would be imprudent on my part to proceed any further, I considered it my duty to gather around me those who appeared to fear the approach to the Russian frontier, counselling their return to England (it being well established that persons who entertain the fear of infection are more liable to be attacked by the epidemic), but after due consideration all decided to resume the journey with me." |