The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-07-26
Jews as Farmers.

Agriculture il a new topic for Jews 70 talk
about To he surc, Moses had his flocks and
his herds, and Abraham Isaac ana jacob were
farmers but the common bond Of persecution
has 50 isolated their descendants and sharpen
Ell their wits IN devlsng means ni sci! defence,
! that they have wholly iu,t their mold upon the
soil, preierring to i've in cities, to keep their
riches in hand that it may be removed at a
moments warning and to train themselves To
bc mddlc.men in business transactions In
/ France today" said Rev. Dr. Moses last week
before the Hebrew Council in this city there
are only 10000 lsraclites and IN England only
10000. Scatter these throughout agricultural
regions, and the wOrlu will be deprived OF the
GambetIas, the Beaconsticlds and the other
statesmen, orators and scientists that do honor
To the race" This exactly expresses the belief
of the average Jew, us is proved by the kind
of pursuits he selects; ana in view Of this fact
the great prominence gwen TO ,he subject OF
farming AT a church convention Is somewhat
surprising. The decision reached will, we
think, be generally commended.
1t was tOunu that an overwhelming ma jority
of these Hebrew delegates were in favor Of or
ganizing system of emigration 10 portions of
the country where !and is cheap, and where
Jews can be instructed how to till the soil.
From remarks made by different persons, il
was very evident that while the scheme would
be thoroughly jewish there would be induce.
ments offered t. other sects to join the enter.
prise when it takes form A committee was
appointed by the council to buy a tract Of land
sufficient to accommodate fifty families, and
for the establishment of model farming
school. Charitable Hebrew institutions were
urged to introduce elementary instruction in
farming, and several rich Jews have come for
ward with offers to give large tracts OF land in
Western and Southern States, II the usual
business energy OF the race Is applied to this
farming enterprise, another satcty.valve will
have been added for the relief OF our crowded
cities,
These colonization movements, the fruit OF
hard times, have Of late been quite extensively
taken in hand by religious Sects, and il is the
history of successful emigration that detinlte
religious faith is the best Kind Of cement
among people in the dscouragemens and trials
of pioneer life OF course, the purest rel glon
brings the best results, but even delusion,
like Mormonlsm, has led to the prosperous
building up of a commonwealth III wilder.
ness and ii is according 10 the eternal fitness
of things that this commonwealth, now ,ecure.
" rooted, should have reflex influence in the
work OF dispelling the religious deusion We
may expect therefore, a certain amount OF
missionary work to DC accomplished among
jewish colonies in the natural course of events,
the liberality which they show in now asking
Gentiles to join them being the door, perhaps,
OF great opportunity However that may be,
this movement among the Jews and the Cath
olics and other religions sects, to return to the
soil, cannot but add wealth 10 the country and
be great relief to our cities -Nem York Err
M m