Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-03-19
PLAQUEMINE PARISH OF IBERVILLE, MARCH 49, IS!
THE JEWISH PEOPLE.

The Jews are no longer nation, but they
have not lost their nationality. They still pre-
serve the distinctive characteristics of their race
and in whatever country, or in whatever sta,
ton, exhibit the same deep, earnest love Of
their old home. While all that remain of other
nations are few lettered pages, or a few
mouldered stones; while their greatness and
their glory have been swallowed up, so that
wolves howl where monarchs feasted, and wild
tlocks pastured where lowered palaces arose.
the Jew preserves his old Identity and lives r
the present as thing of the past. Encounter
one of the Jewish people in one of the crowded
thoroughfares of London, meet him in Pari-
sian square, on the Venetian Rialto, or in one
OF the quarters of the Eternal City; on the sun.
burnt coast of Africa, or amid the toll and traf.
fc of New York; or in the buster scenes OF
Australian gold regions; and his peculiar coun.
tenance, his sharp piercing glance, tell unms.
takaby his origin, and you know him for a Jew
as well as though you saw him mourning over
the relics of his peoples bygone glory, as we'll
as though you saw him weep over the ruins of
Zion
In whatever light we view the Jewish peo>
pie, we cannot fail to be penetrated with feel
lngs of intense interest on their behalf They
have ever stood forth conspicuously in the very
centre OF the world-a pharos, the light of
which was reflected on the gloom of surround
ing polytheism, superstition, and idolatry.--
While the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Per-
SLAMS, the Romans, the Carthaginians, the
Egyptians, the Goths have each in turn played
their part in the worlds drama, and disappear
ed from the theatre of the world, the Jews still
remain people dwelling alone among the na-
| al Al L.,
been in a state of oppression and exile, the
scorn.
wondrous history is that of the Jews
Far away in the past you recognise the father
of the nation in old Abraham. The nomade
condition Of the people at that period is briefly
told. 1t is more the history of family than
the history of nation. Those men who are
busy in rearing huge Egyptian structures, and
are themselves cast down and held in brutal
slavery, are the Jewish people. The wondrous
doings Of that wondrous time, the marching
host that quilted land of bondage to found
nation on another shore, are recorded with an
e!oquence almostas wondrous as the theme,-
wandering after wandering journey after jour
ney, battle after battle, victory after victory,
till the land of Palestine became their hone.--
I'he land was holy land, the government a
theocracy. But they grew weary of this gov
ernment, and sought king like the other ma
tons King means cunning--cunning man.
Theif roll of kings betrays no great sagacity,--
Some good, some bad
Of bad the larger SCROLL"
A story of glory and shame, of joy and sor-
row, of sunshine as well as darkness, is that of
ancient Judaism, but all glory and joy and sum
shine are taken away from their modern histo- |
ry. There is still at Rome triumphal arch,
erected when the captive Jews were brought |
thither by Titus-an arch, on which is sculp- |
tured the Roman soldiers, carrying the golden |
candlesticks, table of shrew-bread, and other |
vessels of the Tabernaclea@The Jews were
the builders of the Colosseum, and the first |
victims slain within its walls. Held in detes- |
tation of all nations prosecuted On groundless |
charges, victims of popular fury, as we'll as of |
legal injustice, hanged, burned, tortured to
death-the history of the Jews is a martyrolo-
gy, and their preservation miracle.
When the flower Of European chivalry left |
their own lands and started forth to do battle
with the Turk, the Crusaders swords grew red
with Jewish blood. The knights commenced |
their labors for the Cross by nlassacreing the
Jews in every city through which they passed.
Conversion or death were the alternatives pro-
posed. Cologne, Worms, Treves, saw the fear
full work begun. A band of Jewish women at
Treves went to the banks of the blue Moselle,
and having loaded their clothes with stones,
threw themselves into the river and perished
While the crusading mania lasted, many SINH
lar scenes occurred.
At the coronation of Richard l., OF England,
orders had been given that none of the Jewish
race should approach his palace. Ignorant of
the order, some of the leading men went to
the spot with presents for the king. A riot en-
sued. A rumor spread that the king had sane
toned massacre Of the Jews Throughout his
dominions. The imaginary order was put into
operation. From city to city the blood-news
went; the most deplorable scene of all took
place at York. There the Jews shut themselves
up in tower, and were beseiged by the popu-
lace. Finding no means of escape, they re-
solved to fall by their own hands. Each head
of a family took razor, with which he slew
first his wife and children, then his domestics,
and finally himself. Either in this fearful man.
ner, or by the hands of the populace, every
Jew in York perished. Still later, seven hum
dred were slain in London because Jew had
demanded exorbitant interest. In 1874, every
Jew who lent money on usury was compelled
to wear plate upon his breast signifying that
he was an usurer, or to quit the realm; in l277
two hundred and sixty.seven Jews were lang
I'd and euartered on a charge Of clipping the
coin; the same year, upon pretence that
Christian child had been crucifed at Norwich,
fifty Jews were hanged, and every synagogue
destroyed; in 1887, all the Jews in England
were apprehended in one day, their goods and
,hattelss confiscated to the king, and they, to
he number of 1860, banished the realm
They remained banished 364 years. England
S in this matter fair sample Of other coun.
ries In 1894 they were driven out of France;
n 1892 were banished from Spain; against them
he Inquisition was first established. Recent
lines have seen the grossest cruelties enacted
against them in the face of all reason and JUS