REVIEW OF THE MONTH
Mendel Beiles Declared Innocent
After a trial that lasted over a month, Mendel Beilis was declared innocent on Monday, November 10th, by a Russian jury of the crime of having murdered Andrew Yushinsky. There was no doubt in the mind of any man of sense that the indictment had been framed by official command. Not an iota of direct evidence incriminating Beilis had been produced. Not a particle of evidence substantiating the ludicrous ritual murder charge had been brought forth. A mass of hearsay evidence of no value in a court of justice was heard. In spite of the pressure the government brought to bear upon its subordinates to bring in a verdict of guilty, the peasant jury could not have the conscience to condemn a man against whom not even one bit of reliable evidence had been produced connecting him with the crime. Beilis is free, but, like every act of the Russian government, his acquittal was so twisted, by the questions propounded by the President of the Court, that the enemies of the Jews may now say that the jury declared that while Beilis is innocent, a ritual murder had been committed. What can be done with so perverse and malicious an enemy? Expression must be given to the gratification of every Jew at the splendid rally made by Christians to repudiate the ritual murder libel. Seldom in Jewish history have so many ministers of religion and statesmen high in office, given their opinion so freely and directly in favor of the Jewish people. The Czar sought to close his ears to the protest of Christendom, but if he has pretended not to hear, the whole world has heard, and the Jews have been made to feel
(This department is conducted by Mr. Louis Lipsky)
that when Christendom is liberal and tolerant, a great deal can be accomplished. We would recommend the same prelates not to limit their protest to ritual murder charges, but to extend their liberality to other instances of prejudice against the Jews in which the world abounds. The Beilis case has brought about another temporary movement of solidarity among Jews. It has also opened the way to better treatment of Jews by the world at large.
Ambassador Henry Morgenthau
Mr. Henry Morgenthau left on November 1st for Constantinople to take up the duties of his position as American Ambassador. He carried with him the good wishes of thousands of friends, and we have no doubt that he will represent ably and with dignity the great government that has sent him there. It is of interest to notice the fact that Mr. Morgenthau goes to Constantinople not only as a leading American citizen, enjoying the confidence of the head of our government, but he also goes as a man who has the confidence of the Jewish community. He is to be the American representative to a country which is sovereign over Palestine, in which so many Jews, non-Zionists as well as Zionists, are intensely interested. He goes there as a Jew, and as a Jew we have no doubt he will see to it that the larger interest American Jews are taking in Palestine will receive the sympathy of the American Ambassador. His Jewish sympathies are well-known. It is said he is not a Zionist, but as a Jew, his feelings will no doubt be touched, and he will give his co-operation, so far