We have spoken elsewhere of Baron Hirsch's depressing letter about
the Russian persecution of the Jews, and have only to add here that the astounding report of a proposed law compelling them to work on the Jews' Sabbath, and to abstain from work on our Sabbath, looks to us true. It is precisely one of those measures for " Russifying " all Russians which the present Minister of Worship would suggest, and which the Czar would countersign, because it does not, on the face of it, increase physical suffering. Mr. Gladstone, in reply to Mr. S. Montagu, has written a letter sympa- thising with the fate of the oppressed people, and advising that the opinion of all Europe should be brought to bear on the Government of St. Petersburg. As a basis for that method of action, he would have all persecuting laws and decrees, together with accounts of their action, care- fully collected and made plain to public apprehension. The Times, in a needlessly acrid paper, assails Mr. Gladstone for his letter; but he is surely in the right. European opinion will no more influence Russia than it would influence China; but as we have no other weapon even to try, we must use that; and the way to sharpen it is to collect facts. The whole business shows us how rudimentary civilisation still is, and how little opinion can effect when it is once defied.
