The New York herald., 1876-02-26
Rubenstein7s Appeal.

Israel Rubenstein, the father of the man
convicted of the murder Of Sara Alexander,
has made an earnest, simple and touching
appeal to the people of his race for pecun-
iary assistance in his resort to further legal
remedies. AS this deeply afflicted father
has faith that another trial may demonstrate
the innocence of his son, and has apparently
no money with which to secure legal advice
likely to obtain another trial, this appeal is
Legitimate, and we hope he may, as we
believe he will, obtain all the money he
needs. They to whom he makes his appeal
are competent to aid him in this respect
certainly; and it is evidently not the least
of their virtues that they stand by one
another in the hour of distress.
But aside from its more obvious and seri-
Gus aspect this simple, fervent ''cry to
Judah" is an appeal worthy some attention.
Here is the way in which Israel deals with
the main facts :-''My unfortunate and
wretched son is stamped as a murderer and
condemned to death by the rope. But you,
friends and brothers, know him, and know
right we'll that he is God-fearing man and
honorable In all his dealings. Yes, my son
is in truth God-fearing and pious man,
and it is, therefore, incredible that he did the
murder which is laid to his charge His
hands did not shed this blood nor commit
this murder. But the Court condemned
him, nevertheless, being guided by false
testimony and subjected to the influence of
wicked and goddess men, who, by false state
ments, laid the blame on him, while the
testimony of honorable people who testified
to the innocence of the poor fellow was dis
regarded"
No fault can be found with the father for
this statement. He firmly believes, no
doubt in the innocence of his son, and from
his point of view, therefore, the conviction
of the son is the essence of all injustice But
his view of the case will hardly pass muster
with the public, and from their point of
view, therefore, his statement is grossly par
tial Now, if we imagine this appeal to be
read far in the future-as far from our time
as we are from the time of some events re-
wonder if it should be accepted against us as
those histories have been accepted against
others. In that case we should appear as a
heather people, barbarous and infexible,
animated, for no good reason, against q
gentle, just, upright, God-fearing race OF men,
who could get no justice in our courts, who
were condemned on the testimony of villains
while innocent credence and even hearing
being refused to their own witnesses. Such
may be the aspect, when reported from one
side, of the fair trial given to Rubenstein,
charged with the murder of his cousin.
This consideration ought to excite in us
lively apprehension, q deep anxiety, as to
whether we have not done great injustice to
others on statements which, like old Ruben
STEMS, attended too exclusively to one side
of the case. There is poor old Pharaoh, for
instance, and even poor old Nebuchadnezzar,
oil the way from Babylon. No one would
care to do either of those distinguished per-
sons any injustice; and if Mr.. George Smith,
of Assyria, or any gentleman in Egypt shall
ever give us Pharaoh's or Nebuchadnezzar's s
statements, it may turn out that those we
have hitherto depended upon were not
strictly impartial.