The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-10-06

has been q week OF social and religious fes-
tivity. II has been The FIRST week OF his new
year. Ofthe ten penitential days with which the
Jewish year commences, and during which the
faithful are supposed to devote themselves to
fasting, prayer and charity, six have rolled
past; and we do our Jewish fellow citizens no
unkindness when we express the hope that, at
the close OF the penitential season, they may
have the satisfaction Of believing that their
names are inscribed with honor in the Book OF
Life. Devout Jews In the midst Of us there are
doubtless many; and different as our creeds
are, we cannot refuse 10 admit that there are
Jews not few whom some Of us Christians
would do we'll 10 initiate. ~
It Is not, however, our intention to discuss
the Jewish creed, or 10 enlarge on Jewish pecu-
liarities Our object is different, and, as we
think, nobler. These new year solemnities have
to US been deeply suggestive. Irrssistibly they
carry The mind back over long and cheokered
past, and 10 other and far different scenes. Nor
are they less monitory Of the possibilities and
probabilities Of Che coming future.
How strange, how eventfui has been tie his
tory Of The Jewsl Honored as no people have
ever been hOnored, before or SINCE with the
special favor Of Heaven for the space OF two
thousand years, prosecuted as no people have
ever been prosecuted for we'll nigh two thou
sand years more, they have preserved their
individuality ard chung TO their peculiar tenets
10 manner which is without parallel In the
entire hls.ory Of the race In almost oil coun-
tries homeless wanderer, the Jew has yet
preserved his identity and the Jew Of to-day,
whe.her found in Asia, Europe or America, dit
iers in no essential particular from the Jew
who howled around the cross Of Christ, or
from the Jews who went up 10 the annual
feasts in the days Of David and Solomon. So
much inherent vitality. so much tenacity of
purpose has never been evinced by any other
people. They are the only living people whose
individuality remains unchanged. and whose
history carries US back 70 the years OF the
worlds infancy.
Volumes have been written on the persecu-
tons which the Jews have had 10 endure, and
over which they have triumphed. Since Titus
sacked Jerusalem, putting 70 death unspar-
ingly man, woman and child, deluEing Its
streets With blood, and levelling It's famous
temple with the dust realizing to the full tho
terrific predictions Of Scripture. what suffering
have they not enduredi Driven from their
own country, homeless and hated wherever
they have found themselves, subjected some
times to Wholesale butchery, impelled again
and again in different quarters 10 repeat the
Kit
tortured by machinery moro Internal than the
Inqulsition ever invented. the marvel Is that as
people they have survived. Tho greater
marvel is that they not only survive but pros
per-prosper in numbers, in intellect and in
wealth. The treasures OF the world, In fact
the gold, the silver and the precious stones
are in their hands. True to the character
which first revealed itself prominently In
Egypt, they never enter country without
making its gold, its silver, its jewelry their
own nor do they ever leave il without carrying
these with them. II is much to say, but Il u
not more than the truth, that many OF the great
landed estates and not few OF the crowns OF
Europe are virtually the property Of the Jews.
They are the great kings Of gold, the worlds
bankers, the rulers that are 70 be.
Il Is not to be denied. however, that though
the Jew has remained the same down through
all the ages the circumstances surrounding
tie Jew have materially altered. He 10 no
longer the object Of universal hatred and
disgust Shakspeare's Shylock belongs TO
dead and buried past, not because the Shylock
10 not, but because the feelings with which Shy
lock was regarded have ceased TO be. Il Il
these altered circumstances which have given
the Jew his opportunity, and which may posi-.
bly, in the long run even change his character.
Hitherto the Jew has been an alien in almost
all the countries In which he has settled, and
for the obvious reason that as an alien he has
been treated. Denied the rights Of citizenship,
he has never felt citizens obligations. Mat
ters have begun to change In several Of the
European States the Jewish disabilities have
been completely removed. In the lists Of uni
versity professors, Of court physicians, and even
Of cabinet ministers, Jewish names are to be
found and already, even In England. the once
despised people are extensive holders Of real
estate. In England, even in England, Dis
raeli rules the Cabinet, and Rothschild con-
trolls the finances. How great the change since
the days Of the Bristol Jew, whose teeth were
plucked out one by one, TO compel him to re-
veal bis treasure!
Improved. however, as is the Jews position
in almost all countries, nowhere does he find
himself so much at home as In the United
States Of America. Disabilities here be has
none. He takes his place among Us on terms
Of perfect equality. The full privileges Of
citizenship are accorded him. If born within
the limits Of the republic, the highest Offices Of
the State are open 10 bis ambition. Evidence
Is not wanting to show that the Jews appre-
ciate our republican institutions. In increas-
inu numhcrs fhnx annnallu Aock "a ou. nho.os