The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1880-11-20

But the passionate and creative genius,
that is the nearest link to Divinity, and
which no human tyranny can destroy,
though it can divert it, has found me-
dium for its expression, to which you
have been obliged to bow. Music; that
science of harmonious sound which the
recognized as most divine, and
deihed in the person of their most beau
tiful creation. Almost every great COM
poser and skilled musician, almost every
voice that rayishes you with its trans
porting strains, springs from our tribes.
The catalogue is too vast to enumerate; !;
too illustrious to dwell for moment on
secondary names, however eminent.
Enough for us that the three great
creative minds, to whose exquisite
compositions all nations at this mo-
ment yield-Rossini, Meyerbeer and
Mendelssohn-are of Hebrew race;
and little do your men of fashion,
your muscadins of Paris, and your dan
dies of London, as they thrill into rap
lures at the notes of q Pasta or Crisis;
little do they suspect that they are offer
ing their homage to the "sweet singers
of Israel r From the earliest times of
which American history takes cogniz-
ance, the free exercise and enjoyment
of religious profession and worship have
been considered the absolute rights of
individuals, recognized by our constitu-
tions and secured to them by law. 1t is
ordained by the constitution of the
United States that Congress shall make
no law respecting an establishment OF
religion or prohibiting the FREQ exercise
thereof, and the same principle appears
in all of our State constitutions. But al
though the United States required no
RELIGIOUS TEST,
Eligibility to place and power in the vari-
ous State governments was confined to
Trinitarian Christians. In the State of
Maryland the struggle to remove the po-
1itical disabilities of the Jews waxed
warm in 1924. In January, 1924, Col.
Worthington delivered his famous speech
in the Maryland Legislature, in the
course of which he stated that he had
propounded certain inquiries to Solomon
Etting, Esq, leading Israelite of Balti-
more, as follows: What offices have been
or are now held by Hebrews? Solomon
Buth, Colonel in the American revolu-
ton, distinguished officer who died
after the revolution of the wounds re
ceived or their effects. Reuben Etting,
Marshal of Maryland, appointed by
President Jefferson. He was also Cap
tain of volunteer corps, raised very
early in Baltimore, long under his COM
mand, which became SO numerous as to
require being divided into companies
and thrown into Fifth regiment Mary
land militia. Solomon Etting, Captain
Fifth regiment Maryland militia, ap-
pointed by Governor Paca. Benz. L.
Cohen, Lieutenant in Columbian Volun-
teers, attached to the Fifth regiment
Maryland militia. The strongest case
applicable to the subject is one at pres
ent existing and may be thus related:
Early in the spring of 1923 number of
spirited young men formed u
VOLUNTEER RIFLE COMPANY
Known as the Marion Corps" With
out any previous knowledge on his part
of even the existence of this company
they unanimously elected BENZ. 1. Cohen,
ESQ, their Captain. A commission was
received from Governor Stevens, but not
qualified to, of course, in consequence oi
the existence of the test law; the corp:
were made acquainted with this fact, and
a resignation of the command on the part
of Capt. Cohen followed. At meeting
of the corps, called for that purpose, il
was unanimously determined that nc
Captain should be elected until the fate
of this bill to repeal the test law should
be decided, and the corps is at presen
commanded by the First Lieutenant
Another eminent Hebrew is Major Nor
decai NJ. Noah, Major in Pennsylvania
Consul to Tunis for the American Coy
ernment, and on his return to this coun
try, appointed by the Legislature of New
York to the important station of Sheriff
of their metropolis. A. A. Massais
Major in the U. S. Army during the late
war, and retained in the service OF the re-
duction of the army,
HE 10 NOW PAYMAsTER
For the Southern department: W. P
Levy, Lieutenant in U. S. Navy, las
Commander of schooner Revenge, and
afterwards Commodore. The Consti.
tuition of Maryland of 1851 provides
"that no other test or qualification ought
to be required on admission to any office
than such as may
be prescribed by this Constitution.
y If the party shall
profess to be Jew, the declaration shall
be of his belief in future state of re.
wards and punishments. The Maryland
Constitution of 1867 provides "that NJ
religious test ought ever to be required
as a qualification for any office in this
State other
than declaration of belief in the ex-
istence of God" The Constitution OF
Oregon declares that ''No religious test
shall be required as a qualification for
any Office of trust or profit" To-day we
find the chosen people occupying high
positions throughout the length of the
land and the breadth thereof. Josephs
of Louisiana is in the United States SEN
ate, while Einstein of New York is in the
House of Representatives. Some of the
brightest lights of the Bench and Bar of
the country are Hebrews. The army
and navy contain q fair proportion Of
them, who, in times of trial, have proved
not unworthy of their positions. In
Europe their standing is, if possible,
even higher. In Germany Edward Tas-
ker is the
LEADER OF THE LIBERALS
In the Prussian Landtag and Solicitor
for the ''Dsutsche Baden Credit Bank, !"
or Credit Eoncier." He has been a
member of the various parliamentary
bodies since 1865, and is far honester
than Disrseli, in that he has clung to his
original Hebrew faith in spite of all the
advantages that apostacy offered to an
ambitious man; and his political integrity
is beyond the reach OF slander.
In 1868 an actiTe and enterprising
young lawyer made his debut at the Pal
ace of Justice in Paris, first attracting
public attention by remarkable defense
OF several persons prosecuted for con-
spiracy. In the following year he was
sent to the Corps Legisiatif from Bell
vile and Marseilles, and on September
4th, 1870, when the furious populace
invaded the Legislative chamber, Leon
GGm6ett0 was proclaimed q prominent
member of the Government of National
Defense. OF his eloquence it has been
said There is wild passion in the
man which is
ABsoLUT ELY INDESCRIBABLR,
His character is like the ocean, gentle
and quiet in calm; but imposing and
awful in storm. The orator is never
cold and stately, his hollow and resound-
ing voice is like that of some furious
warning prophet Of doom, and his fiery
sentances follow ono anatber with suo6