The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-12-05
The Jew in Modern society

The old Jewish fancy of coming time,
in which their own nation should be in the
ascendant, and subjugate all other nations
to its sway, has long ago passed into the
region of chimera. In fact, most of us
would be rather surprised by the sugges-
ton that the Jew had any part to play
in the development of modern society.
Somewhere about eighteen hundred years
ago we suppose that his Importance to the
world eliminated, and that, having then
communicated the most decisive and far
reaching stroke in the religious develop.
ment Of mankind, stroke which has
determined the current of religious thought
q and life for the most advanced nations of
the world up to this very hour,
he then subsidized into insignifcance.
Nothing, however, is farther from
the truth than this impression.
4 1t is the Jew, in the person Of 'Spinoza,
who Is exerting the profoundest influence
on the development of modern thought of
any single writer Of the last two centuries,
an influence as penetrating and Irresistible
in the region of the intellect as that of
Jesus in the region of the conscience and
the heart. Not certainly that we suppose
that many persons read Spinoza--pr
the great thinker has no more students at
first hand than the great Teacher has of
thorough and uncompromisng disciples;
but for all that his mode of conceiving of
the universe is one that is infiltrating
through layer after layer of thoughtful
minds, till it is penetrating where he HIM
self is perhaps unheard of.
Intellectual leadership, however, is moth.
ing very apprehensible by the majority of
I men. 1t Is altogether too remote and
thin to interest them greatly, especially
when, as in the case Of Spinoza. it is joined
with poverty, persecution and obscurity.
They will be more impressed by remem-
boring that the financial leadership of the
modern world is also in Jewish hands.
The Jew has held, for a century at least,
the worlds purse, and kings and states
are obliged to take him into confidence be-
fore carrying out their projects. Peace or
war has turned, in our time, again and
again, on the question, "Will Rothschild
lend or refuse to lend?' 4
Bur, as if the religious lead, the INTEL
lectual lead, and the financial lead were
not enough, the Jew seems to have laid his
hand on the political lead as well. 1t is
quite remarkable how large proportion of
the leading actors in European politics OF
to-day are ofthis ancient stock. The lead |
ing figure in Spain just now-the man
who is trying to beat down the double |
enemy-Carism in the north and anarchy
in the south, and reorganize that distracted
country-is CASTELAR,. Well CASTELAR, is a
jew. The second, if not the first man in
France, is Gambetta, and Gambetta is
jew. The only possible successor in Eng
land to MI. Gladstone as prime minister
and a successor seems likely to be |
called for in the next six months |
lis Disraeli, and Disraeli, every one
knows, is Jew. So far from being ex- |
hausted, the old stock seems as vigorous |
as eyer, and as likely to realize the ancient |
dream, that "out of Jacob should 20 forth |
the law.o But at least it is curious sight |
to see these scions of remote tribe of |
wandering Arabs thus coming to the front
Of our modern life, and taking the lead in
alien lands and among an alien race /; to
see them survive through every possible
disadvantage, heaped on them through so
many centuries, aud then come out to lead |
their enemies themselves to the battle
against despotic forms of government,
clerical intrigue and intolerance. The |
whirligig of time has indeed for them |
brought about its revenges. -M,lUaukee
DAILY Sentinel.