Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-11-20
From the "Allgcmeine Zeitung dcs Indenthums" I
Jewish, Newspaper published at Leipsic.
STATE OF THE JEWS.

Years, says the Chronicle, are mile stones
on the great path of life-they are not the end
of our journey nor oven resting places for
the weary; we only pass them and notice
their number. As the number increases, we
sometimes feel urged to hasten on our course
as our aim is still remote. Sometimes feel
ing pride will arise within us, when we
consider the number already passed with
undminishcd strength. Yet, in them, we
must seek for the tenor of our whole life. We
see our Joys and our sorrows strung together
along their course as it were on thread our
losses, our earnings are specified by them.
Important events have taken place in the
East, Constantinople and Alexandra con-
tended for the supremacy in the midst of
the contest, the Sultan was called from the
throne to the grave. The contest cannot be
compared with those ancient Asiatic ones,
upon the decision of which depended merely
the continuance or change of certain dy-
nasty, and by which the nations themselves
underwent no total change; buthcrc, events
point towards the utter destruction Of the
true Oriental spirit, which can only be re-
nodded on the foundation Of civilization.
The Turkish, as well as the Egyptian po-
tcntates have conceived that it is only by
adopting the great fundamental maxims Of
European policy, that,he East can be inspir-
cd with new life. Long ago did the Egyp-
tian grasp after the outward forms of Euro
pean government, and relied on the material
powers thereby required.-But the Dvan
then caught the intrinsic vital principles of
Europe, and purposcd, thereby, to rc-ani-
mate the people as whole. Such being the
state Of things in the East, the Divan could
not altogether overlook the great mass of
Turkish Jews, and by Haiti Scherif, in
tended to delineatc the basis of the proposed
transformation andrenovaton of Oriental po-
Icy, and embracing in general terms, all
relations, the heads of jewish congregations
we're not only openly recognized, but the
life, property and honor of Jews were placed
under public jurisdiction-their military SER
vices accepted, and an equal share of taxation
imposed upon Although the compo-
ncnt elements Of the East may he more or
less able to follow out and realize these prn-
cipcs, yet by this general equalization, a
prodigy was accomplished, and path open
cd for true civil existence, without being ac-
companied by those pains and fears which
were caused by hoping for tho same in
Europe.
In two others places, also, did the Israel
ties of Asia and Africa feel the ncarncss OF
an European spirit. In the one, in Alen
| (Arabia) the mere presence of the English
was able to break bonds and letters, so that
they we're no longer confined to mechani-
cal profession. In the other, in 1igiers, il
became evident that the French Government
had an unfavorablc influence with respect to
the usual means of subsistence Of the native
Jcws-tlat the channel Of trade was diver
ted from their hands but that still they
were only natives who, with confidence, APP
proach European civilization, attend their
institutions, and show their attachment to
them. Here, also, civilization approaches
with pains and losses, but the Sew Of every
part of the globe, is, of himself, congcnial to
1t, and its fundamental principle he possesses
already by his religion.
We have seen in Athens, a congregation
quietly formed under the protection Of gov
eminent, and in possession of public regard
We have perceived in Van Dicman's Land
the second Australian congregation steadily
and considerably increasing. Accounts from
the Dutch colonies, Paramaribo, Curacao
&c, state the ioursIling condition of syna-
gogucs and schools; there, as we'll as in
Philadelphia, are the doctrines of that faith
preached in the language of the country
live first turn our eyes to the norl, Of Eu-
rope, VIC hail as an extraordinary phcnomc-
non the proposal made,o the Diet (Storhing,
of Norway, for striking out the clause in the
constitution, which prohibits Jews to enter
the kingdom, and though IN due course, thi,
proposal come under consideration within
three years, yet the President has proyi-
sionalIy sanctioned 1t by declaring it hi,
own.
In Demark, indeed, the petition from the
assembly of,hc States at Roeskide, for the
eligibility of lsraelites to the Assembly, was
for the present. set aside by the Commissioners
of the king, and the negotiations of the Sta
ties Of iols,cn also. whose zeal, on occa-
sions Of the most tritling concessions to tho
Jews, was cxcrted as # the whole State was
in jeopardy, had no result; but his majesty
King Christian WILL, gave, on ascending
the throne, solemn promise to effect essenta
improvements in the state of tho Jews Of
1olstcin and Sleswick, and expressed hi,
satisfaction at the position Of his Mosaic sub.
jects.
Russia has again improved, and more de-
Gnitely determined, by occasional DEGREES
the position of those Jews who rise above
the mass of the multitude Israeitcs ma,
be elected magistrates or judges in towns
medical men may enter the public service in
the south Of Russia, though not in Poland
shoots were encouraged whcrcihelr want be.
came apparent; the formuary of an oath was
determined upon; Jewish peasants were pu
into possession of the rights of other settlers
But to the multitude, for whose reach honor
and rank are still too distant, the elevatine
impulse has not yet arrived.
The Jewish question remains in England
in statu quo, with the exception of few
signs Of life. During this quiet from withou,
there arose troubles from within. In the
congregational London, many insisted upon
improvements in accordance with tho spiri,
/