Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-24

SaVannahians Assembled 10 De-
nounce the OutFages Speeches
and Resolutions Expressing SYM
pathy-COumtttee TO Solicit sub
scrfptIons Appointed.


pathy-COrmtttee TO Solicit sub
scrIptIons Appointed.
a meeting Of the citizens Of Savannah
was held st The Theatre last evening to give
expression Of their condemnation OF the
outrAges perpetrated by the Russian Gov
eminent Upon the Jews and to take action
in regard thereto.
In consequence Of the brief notice, the
attendance was not as large as It otherwise
would have been, though there were two or
three hundred present. On the stage were
about twenty-five well-known citizens,
representing MERCANTILE and professional
interests Of the city.
Shortly after o'clock the meeting was
called to order by Mr.. NJ. J. solomons, who
nominated as Chairman Captain J. F..
Wheaton, and the nomination was unani-
mously carried.
Captain Wheaton, on taking the chair,
returned his Acknowledgements for the
honor conferred.
On motion Of Colonel J. L. Warren, Nj
Emile Newman was elected Secretary.
The Chair then announced the meeting
ready for business.
Mr.. P. W. Meldrim arose and said: In
furtherance Of the object for which this
meeting was called, I would move that 8
committee Of five be appointed by the
chair, which committee is expected
20 retire and prepare resolutions expressive
Of the feelings, We, SIS American citizens,
have in our hearts towards not only the
Govern N
peasantry, for the outrages committed
upon aa inoffensive class of our
people, say our people, because,
II you pause, Mr.. Chairman, and reflect how
much Of the enterprise and the energy Of
Savannah, ave, aud the glory too, is due to
that class, we may well say Of our people
and be proud to do so. 1t ought to be, and
no doubt 1t is, source Of profound con-
graduation to Us all that here in this land 8
man may travel, II he see fit to do so, with
q pack upon his back and feel no blush Of
shame tinge his cheek; here he may drive
the pillow, shove the plane. forge the iron,
worshiping his God according to the die
tates Of his own conscience, and be pro
tected in his liberty, life and occupation.
Greater than any appeal to sympathy that l
could make is the simple thought that this
very night there are 1000 Jewish families
homeless and impoverished. The world
has seldom seen such q spectacle.
Whether the world is poWerless to prevent
it, or, closing its eyes, has failed to see
homes in flames, and innocent men ruth
lesslY murdered, It has permitted these peo-
pie to be driven by fire and sword from the
land wherein they lived. Where shall they
gos To the crowded Old World No
Their eyes and hearts are wistfully turned
across the blue waters TO this grand land,
where from the coast Of Maine to the lsgoous
OF Florida is sent forth the encouraging
sympathy OF people brave enough to ex-
tend the right hand Of fellowship to any man
no matter what his faith and creed. They
are coming to this great land as many of
Us, or our fathers and moehers have come,
sturdy men and refined women. They
ask help only until they can reach
here and get to work. No appeal
can stir the heart more fully than
the recital Of the wrongs Of a people
bereft OF home and hope except that which
America offers. With these remarks l
would renew my motion that a committee
be appointed to give expression to feelings
we all have IN this matter, and to devise
means for extending aid to these unfortu-
nate people.
The motion was seconded, and, being put
to the meeting, was unanimously carried.
The chair appointed as the committee P
W. Meldrim, ESQ, Capt. John Flsnnery.
Col. ]. Fl. Estill, Messrs. r. B. Reppard and
A. Vetsburg.
The committee retired, and Msjor John
SchWarZ moved that during the leisure
Capt. Robert Falligant be called upon to
address the meeting.
In response TO enthusiastic applause,
Captain Falligant came forward and made
an earnest and eloquent speech. He stated
that he had been requested to come to this
meeting by bis friend, Mr.. solomons, and
say 8 few words on the subject of our pres
ence here to .night. He could not refuse
such request, as, from what he had seen
in the papers of the outrages committed by
the Russian people, there VS. certainly
occasion for the expression OF ne senti-
ments Of our community. l. roing to his
home tonight he had been rev wing In his
mind thoughts in connection with this
oppressed people. As he passed by houses
on his way, he heard in some the glad
strains Of music, in others the merry peals
OF laughter, and, on reaching his own home
and entering, and his children came bound
ing to meet him, he could not help thinking
what 2 happy thing It is to have home,
where, surrounded by wife and children, one
could erjoy that peace and cOntentment,
sanctifed BY love. These homes have great
Influence; they make US better men. It is
in our homes that we learn to feel that touch
of nature which makes the world akin. AS
he stood in his own home to night, he felt
greater sympathy than he could express for
the mtsfortunes Of those people who, to him,
we're Of the most interesting Of all the peo-
pies of the world.
The speaker continued at some length in
this strain, referring most eloquentlv to the
early history Of the Jews, and contrasting
the happiness Of peaceful homes with the
present deplorable condition Of the oppress-
ed Jews in Russia in language that touched
the heart OF every one present.
These people. he said, have been ruth
lesslY driven from their homes, despoiled
Of their all, and brutality treated. With sOr-
row in their hearts they turn toward US,
and their condition almost recalls the sad
strain Of the psslmist: 'By the rivers 81
Babylon there we sat down; yea. we wept
when we remembered Zion. We hanged
our hsrps upon the willows in the midst
thereof. For there they that carried ue
away captive required OF US a song; and
they that wasted US required of US mirth,
saving sing US one Of the songs Of Zion. How
shall we sing the Lords song in a strange
land If | forget thee, o Jerusalem, let
my right hand forget her cunning. If do
not remember thee, let my tongue cleave
to the roof OF my mouth; If | prefer
not Jerusalem above my chief Joy"
He alluded to the natural emotions of our
hearts which are stirred by the stories Of
the sufferings and wrongs OF any people,
and which warm our feelings towards these
homeless, impoverished people, who are
coming to our shores asking for aid. They
come not as beggars. In all his experience
he had never seen a Jew begging, but he
had seen them giving freely, and in this con-
nection mentioned sn incident related to
him by 8 minister, who, hearing some one
refer to "s'ingy jew" said: "Do not say
that again. l once did, but shall never
do so again." and told Of an uuos-
tentatious, liberal act of charity
on the part of Jew which had greatly i'm
pressed him. In closing bis remarks, Capt.
Falligsnt said: Remember the story we
learned in our youth-emulate the good
Samaritan. Pass not by on the other side,
but give substance and help to him even as
God has given to thee" Applause
Capt. George A. Mercer, being enthusi-
astically called for, responded by saying
that he would have to begin his remarks
with prologue similar to that of Captain
Falligsnt. He had come here tonight
by request of his friend Mr.. Solomons,
but had been told that he would not have to
make 8 speech. He was suffering from a
severe sore throat which rendered speaking
painful. He had come here to attest by his
presence his sympathy with the cause this
meeting represents, and, notwithstanding
his condition, felt that he could not rightly
refuse to make q few remarks after this
cordial call. Captain Fslligant had beauti-
fully spoken Of the influences Of home life
and its enjoyments, and the outpourings
Of sympathy for the distressed, and these
are experiences which, as Bacon says,
horaa 70 a boeoun and bue .