The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-09-30
Race Prejudice.

In the time OF lYannOe, as we youiS ioiio"o
remember, Jews were tortured to force them
to tell where their money-bags were hidden;
but now neither they nor their money-bags are
wanted at fashionable hotels. Christian money
is as abundant and much preferable. CHRIS
tian money, indeed; but how about Christian
principles? 1t is laboriously announced that
Jews are not expelled by the hotels because OF
their religious principles. This will be believed
without difficulty. Hotels are not famous for
sensitiveness to the religious principles OF their
guests The objection is not in the conscience,
but in the Golfers of the hotel. Indeed, the
philosophy of the whole matter is stated frank
ly by the hosts and by newspaper correspon-
dents. 1t is not denied that there are many
refined estimable and accomplished Jews. NO,
indeed: but there are so many who are other
wise, and there is so much prejudice against
them, that hotel which is known to be ire
quented by them is avoided by every body
else. 1t loses its prestige. 1t is practically
ruined sit is, OF course says the deprecat-
ing host rubbing his hands, very unfortunate.
regret it as much as anybody can. AS land
lord have no religion; know neither Trojan
nor Tyrian, neither Jew nor Gentle; but as a
merchant, must be allowed to know my own
business, and to decline trade which l think
disadvantageous. You see?'
One of the newspaper letters says that the
"vulgarity" of Jews is undeniable. 1t admits
the good character and refined manners OF
many ladies and gentlemen OF the Hebrew
race but it says that the number OF the vulgar
of that race who go to summer hotels is dispro-
portionate. This is the point upon which the
emphasis is laid. They are welcome to their
religion, but as class they are vulgar; there
fore they are avoided, and therefore the hotels
are compelled to exclude them, This is itera-
ted and reiterated as the reason of the eXclu-
son but it is not the true reason. The fact is
plain. There may be great many vulgar
Jews But Jews are ostracised from hotels
not because they are vulgar, but because they
are Jews. They are ostraclsed at hotels for
the same reason that they are ostracised at
clubs-an instance of which we; mentioned
year or two since. There was no pretense that
the gentleman proposed for the club was any
more vulgar than great many of the members
nor that he was not both refined and accom-
plished, and perfectly clubbable man. except
in the one fatal point; he was q Jew. Inc eX-
cluson at Saratoga and at Manhattan Beach
pleaded vulgarity because it did not dare to
make the real plea. If vulgarity is to exclude
alas! Is vulgarity excluded because Jews
are not admitted? "Sir,'' said q landlord to
gentleman seeking rooms this summer, II am
sorry to say cannot receive you, as we do not
entertain guests of your race"
''My race, Sir? What do you mean? Do
you take me for Jew? am no more Jew
than you"
There was no question of vulgarity. Jews as
a class may or may not be especially vulgar,
but they are no more refused for that reason
than colored applicants would be. Some years
since an accomplished Haytian, the minister OF
his government to the United States, went to
Newport in the Summer. He was altogether
gentleman, of singular grace and charm OF
manner, and remarkably intelligent. Indeed,
in social graces and wide knowledge OF the
f1arn fav fran NawnOrt
who were comparable to him; but he was po-
litely requested to eat at a second table be-
cause he was not perfectly white. He was, IN
fact of mixed negro blood. Another gentle
man, more than twenty years, ago, crossed the
gentlemen. They had the pleasantest inter
course during the voyage, for the gentleman in
question was unusually well educated and re-
fined. He was not especially dark in complex
ion; but, as the voyage was ending, he request
ed the captain to mention to the Southerners
| that he was the grandson of a slave. Upon
| hearing the astounding truth his late pleasant
| companions were ready to cast him into the
sea.
This sense of caste is due to the prejudice OF
race. 1t is wrong which the law no longer
sanctions, but it survives socially. 1t is relic
| of barbarism, and how sacredly it is cherished
the attitude of the hotels, largely sustained by
| private feeling, however loudly it may be pub
ficly condemned, plainly shows. Yet it is a
mere prejudice unworthy a generous nature
aud civilized people. The debt of Christen-
dom and of civilization to the Hebrew race is
incaIculable, and the root of prejudice is but
the tradition of Christianity that Jews cruci-
| fed Christ 1t is terrible retribution. A
whole race is held responsible for the crime OF
| q Syrian mob two thousand years ago Men OF
| no Christian principle whatever tlout better
| men to-day because other men murdered the
| founder of Christianity The mischief of this
| hotel exclusion, which the law, indeed, pro
hibits, is that it fosters this revolving prejudice
| "a prejudice which is barely urged as its own
| justification, and which both by our religious
| and political principles is especially unworthy
| of Americans Editors Easy Chair, in Har
/ per's Magazine for October.