The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-20
Have lsraelites Any Rights Which
Hotel Keepers Are Bound 20 Re-

Have lsraslites Any Rights Which
Hotel Keepers Are Boumd 20 Re-
spscts
| Had Judge Hilton been aware what
lively sensation he was preparing when he
gave his order to his managers at Saratoga
to exclude all Jews from the Grand Union
Hotel we doubt whether he would have
ventured on such IN experiment. de
evinced singular lack Of foresight and
circumspection if he thought such an order
could be given and executed without raising
great social breeze. Such step might
have been tolerated in the dark apd bigoted
ages when Jews were prescribed class
but it does not answer quite so we'll in this
liberal and enlightened period, when society
has outgrown that prejudice, and persons OF
Hebrew birth and faith hold the highest rank
in the financial and are not without influence
in the political world. The progress of lib
eral sentiment is strongly marked in litera-
ture, and the contrast between the age OF
Shakespeare and the age of Scott betokens
surprising revolution. In the two centuries
which interviewed between the "Merchant OF
Venice and .Ivanhoe" society emerged
from dark pool of odious intolerance.
The progress from such conception
of the Hebrew character rs is embodied
in Shylock to that which is depicted in the
noble and beautiful virtues of Rebecca the
Jewess attests the recognition which this
ancient race had won in the intermediate
period. In the age preceding that OF Scott
a great German author Leasing, in his adj
mirable drama, Nathan the Wise," had
poured scorn ON the decaying bigotry Of
preceding ages and painted Jew as model
of all that is most attractive and elevated in
human character. Since the publication of
those generous productions of Leasing
and Scott modern sentiment has been
still further liberalized by the credit
able figure which men of the He
brew faith have made in every walk
and department of life-iu finance espe-
ciaAy, in literature, in art, in politics and,
though last not least, in the munifcent
foundation Of great public charities. An at
tempt to revive the old prejudices against
them would be o revolving anachronism
even in any country in Europe, but in
America, where we ignore distinctions of
race and religion, it seems an affront to our
free and tolerant institutions as we'll as to
the spirit of the age. Judge Hilton could
have had no conception Of the potent moral
and social forces which he was unwarily
defying when he gave that order to the
managers of his Saratoga hotel.
Al. ~ -. sc To-.
rights as we'll us an affront to the sensible
ties of large, influential and respectable
portion Of the community. The proprietor
of hotel has not the same absolute con-
troll of his property that belongs to the
owner of private residence. Hotel keep
ers are placed by law in the same category
as common carriers. They are not at lib
erty to refuse accommodation to any per-
son who applies SO long as they have ac-
commodations at their disposal. This law
is equally obligatory on common carriers
and on innkeepers. If Mr.. Vanderbilt had
directed his agents to sell no tickets
to Jews it is easy to imagine what
ferment and commotion would have been
raised. But it would have been an act of
precisely the same nature Squeamish and
over-fastidlous people might rs we'll object
to riding in the same palace car with jew
ish family as to board with Jewish family
in the same hotel. A hotel is quasi public
institution. The law gives its proprietor
exceptional privileges in collecting his bills
as an offset to the duty it imposes on him to
entertain all who come so long as his house
is not full This being common right of
oil citizens the Civil Rights law enforces it
under severe penalties even in behalf of the
negroes. Can Jews be denied rights which
the law guarantees to Africans?
1t is to be presumed that Judge hilton
intended no insult, but he was strangely
thoughtless and inconsiderate. If the head
of the great house Of Rothschild should
happen to visit this country during the
present season he would be excluded from
the principal hotel of one of our most i'm
portant watering places because the pro-
prietor does not approve of his religion.
Even the Prime Minister of England might
be looked upon with suspicion by the hotel
clerks, for he was born and bred Jew, and
might not happen to have in his pocket
certificate Of Christian baptism docu-
ment US important in that evangelical in
stitution, the Grand Union Hotel, us Bank
of England notes to pay his BILL We have
no doubt Judge Hilton will regret his mis-
take when he secs in what light it is viewed
by the public.
Pot md Kettle.
A Virginia paper takes Ohio to task for