Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1884-05-29
THE HEBREWS IN POLITICS.
sTIRRING ARGUMENT IN zFAVO Oh
OF THE NOMINATION
of nv, Samuel wittkowsky, of Charlotte
on the Democratic TekeE 1or
state Treasurer.
ssse,sl corre,Dondsncs .f the Sentinel.

y L
Special Correspondence Of the Sentinel.
BALTIMORE, Md, May 23.-The
presidential question is now absorbing
the attention of the nation that might
be employed to far better. advantage
in other directions, since the people
will, without naurmur accept the
candidate put up BY the few political
bosses, and the anxious suspense OF the
country will be relieved by the con-
ventions at Chicago in June and July.
IF the people allow handful OF
tricksters and wire-pulling politicians
to govern year after year the affairs
of Che nation, wherein consists the
bcasted liberty in the choice OF our
ruler, which we take pride in Haunting
in the faces of our English brethren,
who groan (?) under the burden of
hereditary monarchy? 1t were better
to have pure constitutional monarchy,
with no political friends to provide for,
with no corrupt and venial apPurte-
nances, than q Republic under the
control of some few rascally political
bosses.
The Republican Convention of Ma
ryland has already met, with its usual
display. of private feuds and petty, dis
graceful dissentions, and declared for
Blaine. The Democrats have not held
their primaries yet, nor can any one
foretell on whom their. choice will fall,
but there is a strong sentiment for
Bayard, who may be nominated,
though it is very doubtful. There is
no question but that he would prove
an strong an opponent to the figure
head the Republicans will set up as
one could wish. He deserves well of
his party, but whether they will do
the square thing by him remains to be
seen. He is statesman, not a soldier,
and stands upon his own merits among
the foremost men in the country.
There is no hereditary succession de-
sired here, nor should man be given
the second Office at the nations be-
etowal, on the mere absurd qualifca-
ton of being a great mans son.
There is field for the display of
1iberality of thought in politics as we'll
as in other pursuits. As resident of
Baltimore, politics of States, other.
than my own, have but passing in
terest for me, but / can not refrain
from applauding and aiding, if possi-
BILE, the good work of a new move in
North Carolina politics, refer, of
course, to the advocacy, by the Lin
colnton, N. c., Press, of Mr.. Samuel
Wittkowsky for State Treasurer. In
an article, in the issue of April 4th,
entitled "a Hebrew in Office" the
Press says that notwithstanding the
fact that there are three thousand He
brews living in North Carolina, who
own about five million dollars worth
of property, and pay about one-ffth
of the total taxes Of the State, they
have laid no claim to share in the
Offices of their State, but have ever
worked in the van of the Democratic
party in the interest of good govern
ment, using their time, money, and in
Huence for other candidates of their
party. A communication in the Char
lotte me-Democrat of May I'd, bears
also upon the same topic. 1t seems
that Mr.. Wittkowsky is well known
in Western North Carolina, and his
adherents and friends because, as yet,
there has been no Hebrew in Office in
the Tarheel State.
The Jews are an old race of people,
and have occupied important posts in
all countries, and at all times. From
their ranks have come great men in
every department of art, science, and
letters. During the prosecutions,
which they suffered in the middle
ages, they turned themselves to money
changing and money lending, because
IL ell
were closed to them. They converted
all their possessions into gold and sill
yer, because their property was plum
dered and destroyed by the inhumar
tormentors who. were liable to pounc'
down on them at any moment, and II
this form, they could easily gather
and carry off with them their wealth
when their lives were endangered ane
flight became necessary. The skill
they naturally acquired in matters Of
finance they have transmitted to thei
Offspring by heredity, and it is univer
sally admitted that no better fnancier
= exist to-day than the descendants 0
these much-abused money-lenders o
the dark ages.
In the offices that they have occu
pied In this country, the Hebrew
have all shown themselves worthy Q
the confidence placed in them. With
out going very far for an example, "
may take Mr.. Judah P. Benjami
= who died very recently in Paris. Ell
was United States Senator fror
Louisiana, afterwards Attorney Ger
eral, then Secretary of War, and fnal
ss>sly Secretary of State of the Confedel
- ate States. After the downfall of th
Confederacy, he moved to Londor
became one of the leading members {
the bar, and filed the honorable pos
tion Of Queens Counsel until compel
ed to retire because of his health. Thi
man was Hebrew, and died consciou
of having served the cause, that he bs
K lieved in to the very end, to his bei
ability, and to the interest Of all cor
2 cerned. =
Since North Carolina has had, .
yet. no representative of this race
Office, it would, to my mind at leas
only be showing the respect and, COZ
sideration due, il not to indiyidua
deserving well Of their fellows, i
= least to. D goodly portion Of its taxpa..
= -