The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-03-13
Tho Jews in Rome.

The following is taken from paper called l
the Je,cish Messenger, and of course entitled to
all the crdit due to organ of the ancient
race whom it represents. The humane treat
ment of the present Roman Government is in
marked contrast with that dealt by the Eng
lish Government to its Irish subjects only q few
years ago, particularly as it regards the tenure
byfwhich real estate is held, and the recogni-
ton of the right to compensation for improve
ments and its independent transference We
recommend it to those who wantonly misrepre-
sent what they style "priestly government"
So much falsehood has been written about
the condition of the Jews in Rome, that it may
be permitted to say few words about this,
the Oldest Hebrew colony on the European
continent. Eighteen centuries ago the Roman
Eemperors first Transplant ed from Judea the an.
cestors of those who now lnhnbit the banks OF
the Tiber; and there in the Ghetto, continue
to live ALI the Israelites OF the working classes
who have eitler emigrated here or have been
born within its walls. Doubtless, under the
| Cpsars and under their Popes, their condition
was most unenviable, and>they have been per-
| secuted and oppressed most>shametully; but
this tyranny was not peculiar to Rome, ana
| it is not many years since In England the Gnu
| dren of Israel have been relieved from the dis
abilities which had weighed upon thein>tor
centuries. -
| count of the sufferings Of the denizens OF the
Ghetto, but he has forgotten to state that,
when the edct of Philip II. drove the Jews
| from Spain, thousands of them sought refuge
and protection under the Roman Popes. He
draws attention to the walls which shut OH the
| Israelitcs from the rest of humanity, as though
they were unclean things but he does not say
that these walls-removed by the order OF
Plus IX.-were originally raised as q barrier to
the rapacity of the mobiles and their licentious
retainers in search of Jewish treasure, and as
a protection against the excesses OF the raboie,
who, during the dark ages, connected every
national or popular calamity with sorcery and
witchcraft, and wrcaked its vengeance upon
those who were then looked upon as adopts in
the Black Art.
The present Pope has placed tho Jewish
| colony of the Ghetto under great obligations
to him, and, to do them Justice, they do not
hesitate to express their gratitude: They have
, their synagogue and their university they are
not obliged to attend mass once a year; they
, are taxed precisely as the other citizens; their
forced attendance in q court of justice on their
Sabbath is forbidden they can travel when
> and where they please, with the same papers,
obtained at the same cost, as Christians; they
can open shops in any part of the city, and are
so far protected in their tcnalt-rlShts that
$ those Christians who still hold property within
1 the limits of the Ghetto are obliged by the Jus
GG-.aga-a law made three centuries agO--to
e make perpetual leases of their houses to the
e Jews ut small annual rents which, it is ex
$ pressly stated, calf never be increased li
L short, the title remains with the Christian
unless he chooses to dispose of it to his tenant
C who can make such alterations and repairs il
@ the property may best suit his own con
VenlenCe, ana can even sell OF ucNlSe MS III:
cal terest without in any way consulting his land
e lord.
o So here, in the filthy Ghetto, the spot which
. after Cologne, reeks most with foul odors il
T Christcndon1, do five thousand Hebrews live
! and grow fat and rich, preferring dirt and desc
. lation to comparative cleanliness in other part:
t of the city,, simply because they can better
p practice their religion handed down from
y Moses. The municipal government does no
9 interfere with the internal economy of thu
y quarter, and the occasional foundations of thu
l. Tibcr the only scavengers of this Augeal
g stable Yet arrange to say the mortality dur
Q ing all the great epdemics has always beer
II less in the Ghetto than elsewhere 1t may no
# be irrelevant to state that, when the dstribu
!, -ttieH of gold medals was made to those who
: during the cholera of 1869, most distinguished
ii themselves by attention to the sick, the Jew
" ish medical men and nurses were placed upoI
a the same footing their Christian colleagues
: Under the Caesars it was the law that the Jew
should perform certain sacrifices for each EN-
l. pcror-the first upon his coronation, the Others
o whenever he fell ill or engaged i'll any war
d When Christianity became the religion of thu
II empire, the form of the homage was modified
If A deputation of the principal rabbis used t,
IS present to the newly elected Pope a copy of th
ii Pentateuch written on parchment from which
II he would read II chapter and then add i: :" w,
Il concedc to you the Law, but We condemn you
Interpretation of it; for he of whom you say
n He will Gomez has already come liz the person
Is eyes to the truth" This is entirely. ditferen
c from the version given by an imaginatv,
II writer, who has put into the mouth of tb
lie Popes the words We curse the Hebrew people
il and their exposition of the Law, but we affirm
&c it,"