The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-01-24
ERNEST REMAINS CHRISTMAS LITTER.
He Addresses the Hungarian Rabbis on the
Calumnies Against the jews.

He Addresses the Hungarian Rabbits on the
Calumnies Against the jews.
London Teleersph.l
NJ. Ernest Kenan, the French savant, and
author of "Ls Vie de Jesu,' has just ad-
dressed most appropriate Christmas letter
to the rsbbis Of Szanto, In Hungary. 1t
will be remembered that some time ago
young girl disappeared mysteriously from q
small locality called Tisss Ezlar. The
Jewish community were charged with hav-
ing enticed the girl to their place of
worship, and of having sacrificed her in
religious ceremony.
The deed was said to have taken place at
midnight, and several Christian inhabitants
of the village were reported TO have wit
messed it. A lengthy judicial investigation
led to the discharge of those who had been
arrested on suspicion. One of the chief
witnesses was lad, who. as was afterwsrd
proved, periured himself at the investigs-
tion of designing persons q dozen times
during the inquiry. But the whole matter
created a violent anti-Semitic agitation
among the less enlightened classes of Hun
gary. and was the origin of the subsequent
anti Jewish manifestations in that part OF
the empire.
The Tisss Ezlar affair was turned to &C.
count by the Hungarian fanatics who at
tended the recent anti-Semitic Congress
and it required the direct interference Of
the Minister President TO quell the danger
Gus and discreditsble movement thus set on
foot. NJ. Tiszs's intervention came rather
late, and was, perhaps, not as spontaneous
as it might have been, but it has, for the
present at all events, put an end to the
scandal Of an open snti-Jewish crusade.
NJ. Remains remarkable letter runs thus
"Of all the cslumnies prompted by hatred
and fsnsticism the most absurd is certainly
that accusing the Jews of murder in orde
to obtain msterisl for ssnguinsry religion
ceremonies. One of the chief characters
tics of the Jewish religion lie the prohibi
ton Of blood for human food. This meas
ure of precaution, which in former time
was calculated to inspire respect for life
| has been conscientiously observed by tn
Jews even at periods and under circum
stances of civilization that rendered
. painful. And yet it is now maintsine
that the plous Jew who would rather die {
hunger tlsn eat 8 piece of meat not thol
q oughly clesnsed from blood, has tsste
blood at religious ceremony. That is
monstrously stupid assertion.
II am fully convinced that none of th
stories connected with that ssnguinsr
Easter meal have the remotest foundation
If such deed had really been perpetrate
Is not only would it be necessary to adm
that the wre:ches guilty of it had violate
= all jewish prescriptions. but / go furthe
, and do not believe that such crime cou
d be committed. Human imsginst alton is n
very fruitful in the sphere of calumn
The fable of mysterious meals, whe
human blood has been tasted, has alws
been q favorite accusation against tho
whom blind prejudice has thought to rui
This same calumny was uttered again
the Christisns. And yet the sacrament
Christians had never teen polluted tnrou.
= such a wicked proceeding. The East
~ festivities of the Jews are equslly innocer
1t would be worthy of Christendom to pl
3. vent this disgraceful fsl'ehood, which beg
} by INJECTING so much suffering on Chri
he ians, from being now turned to accou
le against ether bodies"