The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-27

We have already in these pages called at
tention to the fact that our Jewish fellow
citizens have for some days past been engaged
in the religious and social festivities connecteA
with their New Year season. Yesterday, va
believe, was the tenth and last day of the
season properly connected with the New Year.
II was the great day of atonement-the most
sacred day with them, not only of this season,
but Of the entire year.
1t is interesting to notice how completely at
home the Jews seem to feel themselves in this
community. To them this is not the land Of
the stranger but their own land 1t is curl
Gus and noteworthy circumstance that for
some years past, and particularly since Jews
in anything like large numbers began to flock
to this country the desire to return to the land
of their fathers has been considerably lessened:.
So much has this been the case that with q
large section of that people the restoration to
Palestine and the re-establishment of the king
dom OF David have ceased to be objects ol
prayer in their weekly religious assemblies
We do not much wonder at this. In coun-
try like this, or with country like this
making them welcome, why should they desire
better? The Jews are practical
people, and they know that the hill
sides Of Syria and the valley Of the
Jordan present miserable attractions COM
pared to those which are offered by every
State in the Union. This is tho true
Promised Land-the land flowing with milk
and honey. Here plenty reigns; here their
passion for Jewels and gold finds ample en-
enlargement as well rs large field for its ex-
ercise; and here their civil and religious rights
are absolutely secured. In all, or almost all,
the great cities of Europe, OF North Africa and
Asia there are Jewish quarters, and they are
generally in the most crowded and unhealthy
localities If there is any such budding to-
gether of Jewish flesh and blood here it is not
because it is necessity, but because of the
old aud not unnatural law of human nature,
that like draws to like" The mag
nifcent mansions and the templelks
synagogues with which the Jews are
adorning all our great cities must be con-
sidcred as furnishing one Of many proofs
that in the United States the sons and daugh,
tiers of Abraham have found u congenial home.
Our laws. in 40 far as they bear
upon civil and religious liberty, in
so far az they relate to the Acknowledgement
of foreigners, are all that could be wished.
Pity il il that while we are far ahead of the
most advanced nations of the Old World in
! that twofold direction we should lag behind
the most backward nations of the Old World
in all our legislation that relates TO foreign
trade and commerce. Our commercial and
maritime laws. our commercial and maritime
legislation, up to the present moment, are a
standing insult to our intelligence and common
sense We have all cause to deplorc the pres
ent condition Of our mercantile marine Our
legislators cannot or will not see the obstrict-
ing causes With a perversty which is totally
inexplicable they maintain restrictions where
restrictions are known to be curse, and they
offer subsidies where subsidies are wholly un-
necessary What we want Is simply this
the same spirit of freedom pervading all our
commercial laws that is seen and felt in our
civil and religious policy.
The New College Of Music.