Washington sentinel., 1854-05-21

THE JEWS, AS CITIZENS.

1Nor SINGLE JEW REQUIRING TEMPORARY
REIJEyu-Such is the report of the missiona-
ries and colporteurs appointed by the New York
Society for the Amelioration of the Condition
Of the Jews in that CITY, Exchange paper.
Such would be the report in almost every city
in the United States-we might say IN the
world. This ancient race can boast that there
are among them fewer paupers and fewer
criminals than any other race can exhibit.
When the history of the Jews is considered (;
when the hardships, trials, and prosecutions 10
which they have been subjected are borne in
mind, it is indeed wonderful that they should
have retained most of those better traits
that dignity and adorn civilized man. op
pressed by rigorous laws in every country, de-
frauded, insulted, beaten, and spit upon by every
people, it is surprising that they have not been
rendered fierce, resentfnl, and malignant. 1t
is surprising, too that they should have retained
their elasticity and their business capacity
Denied citizenship in most Of the countries
Of Christendom, debarred from the pursuits OF
ambition, incapable of holding offices OF honor
and profit, kicked and cuffed by all mankind,
they have bent all their energies to one object,
and that the accumulation of money. But
even money, when obtained, attracted to them
a more rigorous persecution. That perseeu-
ton, which broke their spirit and destroyed
their manlIness, served at the same time TO
quicken their wits, sharpen their sagacity, and
drive them into a closer and firmer brother
4 ~
hood. With no friends in the wide world, they
learned to cling with affectionate tenacity to
one another The wit that under their perse,
cntions enabled them to accumulate money,
also enabled them to conceal their treasures
from the vigilant eyes Of their enemies. Many
Of them, even in the dark ages, were princes in
wealth, but very babies in spirit and in help
lessness.
But, happily for this ancient race-this, the
Oldest and the purest of earths arstocrany, Tor
they are descended from the kings, prophets,
and mobiles Of Israel-happily for them, as the
world became enlightened and christianized,
persecution relaxed its iron hand, and privileges
were accorded to them.
Now, in this golden age they are allowed to
come and 60 as they will. They can choose
their abiding-places as inclination may DC
tate. But the liberal institutions Of this favor
ed land induce many to live amongst US. The
Jew here has the same privileges, social, reli-
gious, and POLITICAL that any other class enjoys.
He exercises the right of suffrage. He is eligi-
BILE to Office. All the professions that ambition
delights in, all the pursuits that the love OF
gain inclines to, are open to the Jew as to any
other man.
The habit Of acquisitiveness which seems to
be natural, but which may be the result OF op-
preston, still clings to them. They seldom en-
ter the professions. They seldom turn their
attention to politics They seldom till the soil.
They seem to prefer trade and commerce.
Yet some ofthe finest lawyers and orators that
this country can boast of belong to the ancient
Jewish race, We did not, however, design
writing an essay on this subject. That would
be better adapted to review, than a journal
like ours. We only intended to call attention
to the fact developed in the statistics OF the
country, that the jews are among our best cltl-
4
zens. IF we enter a penitentiary or prison OF
any description, the marked face of the lsraelite
is rarely to be seen within its walls. Such a
thing as Jew in poor-house was hardly ever
known. Jews seldom commit murder or any
of those crimes and offences that are marked
by violence and passion. The offences COM
mitted by them, and they are ofrare occurrence,
are frauds and small larcenies. A Jewish beg
gar is thing almost unknown
But they are generally regarded as a close
and cold-hearted race. That they are SO to-
wards the outside world, is perhaps true; Tor
their bounties, their charities, and benevolence
are rarely extended beyond their race and
brotherhood But none can deny that they
take care of their poor, comfort their afflicted,
and relieve their distressed. In this they set
an example worthy of all imitation. They are
among the best, most orderly, well-disposed OF
onr citizens