The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-07-23
The Confidence Game-Use Of tle Term Jew

EDITOR Argus In an article of yesser-
DAYS ARGUS, headed .'Confidenced out q.
SZU0,'' you state that three strangers. pro
Possessing to be descendants of ! orahsm
&C., &c. Now, the fact of the case Is this
as | ain credItabiy Informed, that while the
pretended "Guettel' was ordering SOM
cakes from Mr.. Aster, a second party came
in who pretended TO be sickiy and wanted
to borrow some money from MIR Aster, of
tering TWO watches as collateral security
Mr.. Aster hesitated, had not fully made VI
his mind as to losning the money. when
/ said Guettel, will give you the amour re
qulred tor the watches second party all
swered that he would not have anything t,
/ do with him, that he was jew aud that i
vas his mothers dying request never TO have
anything to do with Jews, that his saiuteC
no her was a Catholic and that he himse
was member of the Catholic faith, &
Now. from the fact that they were pedlar,
and foreigners, you come to the CONCLUSION
that they must be descendants of A bra
ham Supposing they are Jews, where i.
the prOprlety in mentioning it in connection
with piece of rascalitv and swindling
Why did you not mention in the same paper
that a certain +. r. contractor who has alb
seconded with $4,000 in his pocket is E
mem Der OF the Baptist church, or that GER
tain Mr.. Wright, who was up for bigamv,
was q follower of the cross, 1t would have
oeen equally as interesting TO your readers.
as thai certain parties, who are sharpers
rascals and thieves, but, happening not to
be Yankees, are descendants of a braham
FAIR PLAY.
Hr,u hnl
above seems to be 6 mistaken idea that ref
erence was had to the Jewish faith in call
ing the three strangers descendants of Abrs
nam, whereas the reference was only one o.
nationality. The decendents of Abraham
settled IN Judea, and the primary signifcs
lion Of the word Jew is the people OF Judea
me word is used that some reference is had
to the Jewish faith, but they should remem
Der that its primary Specification is also useG
lutte extensively in this country, aud Is go
understood and accepted in common and
good uasge. The question lie asked why We
used the expression and we answered simply
10 designate nationality. Just as we would
nave used the expression "natives of the
Emerald Isle" had they been Irishmen or
perhaps might have used the word kauncks
1ad they been Frenchmen. Why we did not
call Major HAYES a Baptist, was first, for
he reason that We did not know it, and next
because it was none of our business The
baptist faith had nothing to do with TIE
'winding. The only reflection that could
De made, would be upon the church organic.
alton for not finding out what manner OF
men and what sins are committed under its
mantle.
l. is our policy to slur no religion Or
no creed tor the personal acts OF
individuals, although we NAV mention
the guise under which such disreputable act,
are committed. We ask no man his faith
or his church, but grant to ali what we
claim for ourselves, the largest freedom in
religious belief and personal ideas, with the
privilege to follow them so long as we do
not interfere with the rights Of others, and a
reasonable immunity from abuse or ostrs-
eisu for such belief and ideas. We can
nave no controversy with our friend, on the
above subject, as he must admit that the
word Is used in this dual sense, both OF
"nieh are correct. Our use in this instance
no reference to any religious faith.
Whatever, as he will see by the article itself.