Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-06-21
Religions Proscripti

The telegraph report We published on
Tuesday and the subsequent explanations
made by the interested parties relative to
the refusal OF the proprietor of the Grand
Union Hotel, In Saratoga, to admit as
boarders Mr.. Joseph Seligman, the we'll
known Jewish banker, and his family,
makes us rub our eyes In bewilderment and
TO wonder where, and In what age, we live?
AS Judge Hilton, the proprietor of the hotel,
takes particular pains to disclaiIn all per-
sonality in the matter, the case resolves
itself into one of prescription for religious
opinion, and discriminateS against the He
brews for their belief in their ancient faith,
which until now we had q vague idea had
been definitely settled by the Consultation of
the United States. AS we understand the
words, we call a man Jew because that de.
fines his religious belief the same as whea
we speak of a Christian 1t denotes his sup
posed fealty To Christianity, without refer
ence 70 his place OF birth, be he American or
foreigner. The new dispensatIon of Boni-
fee Hilton assumes the right to catechise
the Conscience OF every traveller, and
If IL does not square with his pet belief
the decree goes forth ''tbou shalt not
enter" Public sentiment Is unanimous
in declaring this 10 be an outage
upon the rights of the most humbIe citizen,
but when applied to a class or people iutelli-
Jews, the offence receives, as it deserves, the
OutSpoken condemnation Of every LIBERAL
minded person. There are laws, however
relating to such attempts, which should not
be ignored, and we hope that Mr.. Seligman
viii make his a test case for general enlight-
eminent. We cite the following a. common
law: IAN innkeeper must receive q traveller
or the traveller may sue him, Sheppard's
Epitome, page 1861 Again: "The duty of
innkeepers extends chiefly TO the entertain
ing and harbOring of travellers; finding them
yictuals and lodgings, and securing the
goods and effects of their guests; and there
fore, # one who keeps a common inn refuse
either To receive a traveller as a guest into
his house, or TO find him with vfctuaIs or
lodgings upon his rendering him a reason
able price for the same, he is not only liable
10 render damages for the injury in an action
on the case, as the suit of the party grieyed
but who may be indicted and fined at the
suit OF Ike king.r-tBacon's abridg ed "Inns
and laEkeepers," c. L. And further Inn
Keepers are restrained from selling at exor-
bitant prices, and may be indicted If they
eXtort any greater or larger sum than those
rates and prices that are imposed on their
commodities" Ibid, c. p And our own
statutory law, commonly known as the Civil
Rights bill, which is found in chapter ia of
Inc laws of 1875, provides under heavy
penalties THAT all persons within the juris-
diction OF the United States shall oe entitled
TO the full and equal enjoyment OF the accom-
mediation, advantages, facilities and priyi-
leges Of inns" &C. This law was passed to
protect the manumitted slave and we trust
The charge will never be applied 10 the dis
comfiture of the great American nation that
fhey have denied to the Jews, to whom they
are indebted for the foundation of all laws.
what the whole civilized world now conce1e
to them as an unquestioned right