Weekly Trinity journal., 1858-10-16

'SHYLocK' AND THE JEws.-Shakespear wrote
for royalty, nobility and the times. desire to
please the reigning sovereign induced the perver-
sion OF historical characters which, thus, unde-
servedy calumniated by the genius of the poet,
have descended to posterity objects Of oaversion.
Thus have we been taught to hate Macbeth,
Richard III, and 'Shylock,' the Jew, as the
representative of his people, Notwithstanding
other profane and sacred writers teach that
'Sbyloek' is a nonstrosity of implacability, du-
pliety and atrocious revenge, and not fair ex-
ponent of his nationality. True, bis people had
been prosecuted and driven out from among
nations, like Cain, with the curse Of stupendous
murder upon them; but in estimating the Jewish
charac ter we must remember Jonathan and Da-
vd and Isaiah, who, whatever may be doubted OF
the inspiration of the scriptures, are believed to
be historical personages. We must not forget
the more than brothers fidelity of the first, the
forbearance of David when be found his persecu-
tor asleep and spared bis life, nor the God-like
propheses Of the Hebrew poet Isaiah, than whom
no mortal has ever uttered more sublime senten-
ces of poetic inspiration.
The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare
grandest, most perfect creations, but much of its
grandeur consists in the extravagant elaboration
of a mandevil who is made to represent people
then obnoxious to tyrants who controlled even
the pen of the greatest genius Of the age. Every
shoe mark on the Hebrews neck was applauded
by semi-chrstian barbarity; every thrust of Gen
tile foot was regarded us The consecutive ven
geance OF incensed Deity, and the Jew was hun
ted christians learned to pursue each other with
faggot and axe and deyilish inventions of torture,
and this being the popular spirit of the time, the
poets extravagant creation pcrpetuated hatred
of the descendants Of Israel, Of whom Shylock'
was an byperbole of fiendishness.
But expanding enlightenment has outlawed
the poets elaborate type Of Hebrew character;
and the Jews, by the same power which Shylock'
songht to circumvent the christians, have, with a
lever of gold, opened a fssurc through which
they may pass the partition Of intolerance to the
privileges and immunities of citizens The de-
scendants Of naughty monarchs who spat in the
face of the cringing Israeite have become
enmeshed in the golden filagree wrought by the
patient, cunning Jew, until now the once despsed
expatriate holds the treasury of the proudest
kingdom in his grasp, and whcts his remorseless
knife
To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there
Yea more; he applies bis omnipotent key TO
the council chambers Of state, and entering with
the naughty mien of hiso ancient people says,
sarcastically: Hath not Jew hands, organs
senses, dimensions, affection, passions? If we
are like you in the rest we will resemble you in
this
And with this restoration should come Shy
locks removal from the stage. No Hebrew can
witness that humiiating distortion of his nation
alty without remembrance of the wrongs which
his people have suffered; and in a country where
civil liberty is enhanced by religious freedom, no
subdivision of faith should be made painful
spectacle.