[1] In his "Reflections of an Army Officer Concerning the Need of Organizing the Jews," published in 1818, Lukasinski advances the thought that the oppression and disfranchisement of the Jews are alone responsible for their demoralized condition.

They were useful citizens in the golden age of Casimir the Great and Sigismund the Old [2] when they were treated with kindness.

The author lashes the hypocrisy of the Shlakhta who hold the Jews to account for ruining the peasants by selling them alcohol in those very taverns which are leased to them by the noble pans.
Lukasinski contends that the Jews will become good citizens once they will be allowed to participate in the civil life of Poland, when that life will be founded on democratic principles.
[Footnote 1: In the government of St.Petersburg.] [Footnote 2: i.e., Sigismund I.( 1506-1548).

See on his attitude towards the Jews Vol.

I, p.