, 1880-12-12
TIE GERMAN PERSECUTION OF TIE
JEW8

/ of a religious character. originating among
| the German masses, it has been winked
at by the Government, though the latter
| has declared that 1t has 10 intention OF
| altering the existing laws that are favorable
| to the Jews. While it has not openly en-
couraged the popular enemity, 1t has done
nothing to stop it; and although the Jews
had tho better Of the debate in the Prussian
Chamber Of Deputies there Is every indica-
ton that it does not end the social or political
persecution that threatens to break out, es-
pecially in Prussia, where the Jews are very
numerous, at the hands Of what Is known as
tho Antl-Semltio League. The London
Times In an article printed in our last issue
very clearly points out the causes OF this
enmity when 1t says:
When the members OF this suspected raco
come everywhere to tho frnnt, when they are
found 1nonoPoliztng an excessive. share ln the
material good things in life, and obtaining IN
consequence standlngin society WHICH until
late!E. bus been deniod to them. thon 1t Is that
The poor Germun nobEe is Jenlous ut beng OUT
Ehuna by the new !utrudefs. The poor German
peasant believes that the Jews have got all the
not enough left to satisfy his own moderate
wants The jews, meanwhile, have by the cony
feasinn OF 'tbaIr own advocates not few Of the
provorhial faults Of the pnryenu who has risen
to excessive wealth. German pride Of race ia
met By at least an equal Hebrew pride Of race,
jews have the best houses 81. the 81 ,nsat DIAMONDS.
the most splendid equipaEes. They DO not bear
thei< new fortunes mcekl5. Not satisfied with
distancing the Germans i'll the race for wealth,
be observed aud felt. Tho Germans are offond-
cd at = display which they cannot equal. ind
which lutrudcs itself upon them in too great
variety OF forms to suffer them to forget It,
This strikes at the very root of the trouble,
but 1t is not any mora creditable to the Ger
man people on that account, especially when
out of the 4, ,000, 900 inhabitants in Germany
1t is taken into account thai the Jews NUM-
ber but 55Q,000, or little more than half
million, OF l per cent. It asserts what is
very likely the fact, that the shrewd, active,
cunning. and enterDrising Jew gets ahead of
the slower and phiegmatic German In the
race OF moneymaking, and it explains why,
but 1t does not justify the persecution, which
is as unjust as the prejudice that has always
obtained against him. Whatever results
they achieve are achieved legitimately, and
whatever money they possess they earn, aud
the prejudice against them on the part Of the
people is simply based Upon the fact that they
are prosperous,-a prejudice very much akin
talist
How bitter this prejudice is is shown in the
petition which tile ''Anti-Semitic League"
presented to the Government It asked
Prince Bismarck to hinticr altogether the
immigration offoreign Jews; to exclude them
from Offices, and especially to limit their
judicial and legal career; to shut them ont
entirely from the field of education; and to
cause statistics to be gathered as to their
population and calling5. One would think
FROM the bitterness with which tho anti
Jewish crusade has been waged that they
had done nothing in Germany but anass
money and get control Of the money mar
kets. No account is made OF their attitude
as citizens, their obedience to the Jaws, and
their services In the army, and no part ot the
German army during the war with France
was moro courageous or patriotic than the
Jewish soldiers No account Is made of the |
eminent position they have taken in the law,
in public education, or In science. No account I
is made of the great work they have done In |
the cause of humanity and civilization. No |
account is made Of the manner in which they |
have helped the development OF Germany |
ITSELF No account is1nade Of such brilliant |
representatives OF literature, Music. and the
drama as ueine, Roerne, Ense, Auerbach,
Henrik, Hertz, Jules JaIlin, Mendelssohn
ualevy. Meyerbeer. Moscheies, Joachim,
Ernst, Rabinstein. Grisi. Guigllnl, Czlllag, |
Rachel, and scores OF Others almost equally
celebrated who might be named, and many
of whom have conferred distinction upon
German letters and imposed debt to the Jew
sh race which Germany can never satisfy In
full. Their persecution Of the Jews is an open
that they have been beaten
IN the intellectual and commercial race, for
il they we're not beaten We should not hear
10 much Of Jewish supremacy. And if they
Ire beaten. SO much the worse for the Ger
man. its legitimate effect should be to hurry
aim up. So long as the Jew Is q good citi-
ten and faithfully performs his duties it does
lot offer any excuse for his persecution or
'or the enactment Of inyidious legislation
against him, but simply is tantamount to an
>pen confession that the Teutonic people,
numbering nearly hundred times as many
Is the Jews, are inferior to them. The perse- !
;utl9n Is satire upon the boasted culture