These very words of the Czar are now used by “the League of Russian Men” as a motto for their official electioneering platform, and there has appeared no repudiation on the part of the imperial patron. This is a most remarkable and quaint document. It consists of four pages set in large type, but, curiously enough, one and a half pages thereof are devoted to the Jewish question.
Although all other nationalities are to enjoy civic rights equally with Russians, Jews are to be deprived of such rights and privileges. They are, moreover, to be excluded from all professions (they can not be doctors, lawyers, chemists, contractors, teachers, librarians, etc.) and public or governmental services.
Under the heading Commerce, Industry, and Finance we find such a curiosity as this:
The Union will strive to increase the amount of currency by abolishing gold, and by the reintroduction of national paper currency.
Under the heading “Justice” stands a clause as follows:
All offenses against state and life; robbery and arson; preparing, keeping, carrying, and being in possession of, explosives by anarchists and reactionaries; participation in these crimes, harboring offenders; also picketing in strikes, damaging roads, bridges, or engines, with a view of arresting work or traffic; also armed resistance to authorities; revolutionary agitation among troops; instigating women and children to the above crimes—all these offenses are to be made punishable by death.
At the time I was in Odessa, acquainting myself with this organization, it enjoyed the distinction of being the only “legal” political party in Russia, even the Constitutional Democrats and the Party of Peaceful Regeneration being under the ban.
So long as such liberal inducements are made to membership—presents of overcoats and firearms, tearooms, free shows—and no dues, the Black Hundred will continue to exist. Under similar inducements a like organization could be got together in London, New York, or Chicago, within twenty-four hours. The organization employed by the Pennsylvania coal operators during the anthracite strike, 1902, known as The Coal and Iron Police, was made up of this class—thugs, exconvicts, the flotsam and jetsam of our big towns, who for daily drink-money were prepared to “preserve order,” defy the government, or commit murder—all of which they did.
The morning of the day I was to set sail from Odessa a strike was declared along the water-front, and stevedores and sailors alike quit their work. Passengers were informed, however, that the boats of the “Volunteer Fleet” would sail. I had taken passage on such a boat.
An hour before the scheduled time of departure I drove down to the wharf. A troop of Cossacks clattered behind my carriage most of the way, and upon arriving at the quay I found another troop of soldiers lined up to preserve order and cover our departure.