The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1882-08-07
The Jews in the United States.

Hebrew Leader
good many people will be surprised to
learn that there are not more than 25O,O00
Jews in tho United States. According 10 the
census Of 1880, the total number In the States
and Territories was 230,0S4, and II is possible
that tho Russian emigration may have added
10000 TO this number. Ono reason for the
prevalent Idea that the number OF Jews is
co.reiigionists are actively ongagod in business,
in merchandising or banking, or professional
life, and are established In the principal
streets OF the great cities. Tho recent exodus
from Russia has also given exaggerated notions
OF their multitude.
According to the census OF the total number
sO,56S; Pennsylvania, 10000; Illinois, 12,.
625; California, 1850, and Ohio, ID, 4,581-
these fve States containing more than half
337 Jews In Maryland, s, 500 in Massachusetts,
1888 in Louisiana, 1880 In Missouri, 5,503
In New Jersey, and the rest are scattered over
the country, busily plying trade, from Maine
to oregon. More than two.thirds of oil tho
Jews of the country arc congregated In tho
principal cities. New York contains 10000;
Philadelphia, 1900; Chicago, 1900; Balu
more, 10000; Cincinnati, 5000; Boston, u
OOO St. Louis, 6,50O; New Orleans, 5000;
Cleveland, $500; Newark, $500, and 80 on
down tho list
The attachment OF tho modern Jews to trade
and banking, which necessarily attracts them
to the large cities, Is q remarkable instance OF
The perpetuation Of traits when forced in a
certain direction. Tho ancient dwellers In
Palestine were 6nepneruS anu IarmerS, una
this attachment to pastoral and agricultural
life is abundantly attested in Hebrew poetry.
But Christian persecution left them IN Europe
no pursuits but merchandising and banking.
Until comparatively modern times Jews were
not permitted to own real estate in Christian
countries. They could enter neither OF the
learned professions nor be apprenticed to any
OF the guilds OF mechanics because OF preju-
dice against their race. or necessity, there-
fore, their pursuits were narrowed down to
mercantile and financial methods until they
have become by the law OF evolution the lead
Ing bankers Of the world.
Tho hostility Of the Jews which has
manifested itself recently In Germany, to say
nothing OF the prosecutions to which they
have been subjected by the somi.barbarous
Russians, is due in about equal degrees to
their superior skill in business and their lib
erality In politics. In former times monarchs
applied the thumb-screw and the rack to OK
tort from the jew banker the revelation OF tho
hidlng.place Of his supposed treasures ando
thus obtain a forced loan. But we have
the nations have to go TO the Hebrew capital
lists of London and Paris and ask
them TO put loan upon tho market,
and wars are made and cities are bombarded
to enforce payment 1t was not surprising
when 1t was announced some time ago from
London; "Little doing on Change to-day as 1t
is a jewish holiday" Persecution has made,
in q long process OF time, the descendants OF
the shepherds and farmers OF Judoa the
was left for them. After while, under the
operation OF the perfect social and political
freedom which exists In tho United States, and
the constant process OF assimilation, the pur-
suits OF the Jews will take as wide range as
those OF the rest Of their fellow.countrymen.