Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-12-28

acterlzed TINS people fr0tn their earliest
history, published since the Christian
era, down to the present There have
been individual exceptions to this rule,
but they have been few, and only in
such instances where the Jew has been
the aggrieved party. This has been
partly owing to their domestic education,
wherein they have been taught to OBJ
serve the ten commandments, bequeathed
to them by their law-giver, Moses, IN
their schools and synagogues, wherein
the same precepts and religious instruc-
tions are observed. This may account
for the singular pauciiy of high criminal
offenses reported in our regular crlmina!
calendars.
In their social relations the Israelites
are generally noted as models Of good
domestic government Kindly in their
natures, affectionate in disposition, char
table where the objects Of charity excite
their benevolence, quick and exeitable,
yet easily appeased.
In the exercise of their political fran
chise, as with other nationalities, they
vary in political sentiment, and are gen
orally governed by principle in express
ing their preference at the ballot box.
The greed of lust for gain, so commonly
attributed to the Jewish character, does
not appear to be the actual cause of or
form the reasons for this apparent lack
of ambition. Though usually attentive
to and having sharp eye TO business,
the Israelite is usually genial in his
business relations, spends his money
freely, and never appears to be lacking
10 liberality, either at home or abroad,
to those with whom he may have bust.
ness relations. In their business inter-
course with Southern and Western mer-
chants, of their own or of other denomi-
nations, they are considered very liberal
in their line of credits, affording to men
who command but little capital, facili-
ties to conduct paying business, using
the usual precautions in this regard, yet
seldom employing commercial agencies
in their inquiries of the standing of those
to whom they extend line of credit.
1t has often been the subject of remark
with the best business men of other de-
nominations, that the Jewish merchant
is invariably well posted in the quality
of fabrics and of their value; and this
remarkable advantage in the buying and
vending of merchandise generally is
part of the cause of their almost uni
versal success as dealers in fabrics
And to this popularity may also be at
tributed laxity of disposition on their
part to engage more generally in me-
chanical pursuits.
s.sThere are one hundred and forty
schools, benevolent and charitable instr
tufions, among the Jewish fraternity.
These institutions demand more than a
passing notice, from the fact that they
perform an immense amount of work in
the way of good to the sick and destitute.
Among the many advantages enjoyed
by Israeites in the United States over
aud above those afforded them in other
countries, is that entire freedom from
those disabilities in attaining to political
distinction which they have been de-
barred from reaching in despotisms and
in constitutional monarchies. Although
the Christian religion is supposed to be
the dominant religion of the land, no
hindrance has ever been opposed in any
religious observance from the adoption of
the United States Constitution; and
hence it is the more remarkable that any
of the various religious denominations
should arrogate to themselves the right
or the necessity to press their peculiar
theories upon persons and creeds adverse
to their own. twill be shown wherein
this bigoted intolerance has had the ma
tural effect of drawing the Jewish people,
even under the shadow of our republican
institutions, into system of exclusive
ness in the ordinary interchange of the
amenities of social society The jew
has by degrees become weaned in social
accord from the Episcopal, the Episcopal
from the Catholic, the Catholic from the
Universalist, and the samewith the various
other denominations. When taxed with
this exclusiveness, the Jews reply; 1t
is not of our seeking; we are taxed by
your School Commissioners, your muni-
cipal and State authorities for your par
ticular benefit; give US, then, the prlvi-
lege of paying the tax without forcing
our children to imbibe your religious
dogmas at the public schools" This, in
a nutshell, tells the story and If coming
events are supposed to cast their shadows
before, the Jews VIII be the instruments
of bringing about 10 free America, what
W. H. Seward and co-laborers could not
accomplish thirty years ago-the moral
millennium of social equality and repub-
lican fraternity. Should this bissful
state of social society be consummated
and find birthplace in the United States
of America, new Jerusalem will have
haan disoovarad-fha nOmmOp homa
alike for Jew and Gentle, Then, of all
other religionists, the Jew will have no
occasion TO sigh for the past glories Of
his race, the one happy home of his an-
cestors-a thing now of the past, aud
gone from him forever; for then, in this
land of liberty and equality, will the true
millennium have been reached, when
the lion shall lie down with the lamb,
and the child shall lead them"