Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-16
THE PATRIOTISM OF THE JEW
An Eloquent Lecture by the Rabbi
krauskOff.

brilliant and distinguished audience
greeted Rabbi Joseph Krauskoff at the Wash
ington temple on 9Th street last night. Rabbi
Krauskoff's reputation as an eloquent orator
and finished scholar had preceded him from
Philadelphia, and much was expected in his
lecture last night. The LOB.B. society were
the hosts for the occasion Hon. Simon Wolf
introduced the lecturer, who, choosing for his
subject Jewish patriotism" held his audience
fully in his grasp from start to finish. The
lecturer held up both general and special ex-
amples OF the highest patriotism among Jewish
men and women.
In his opening remarks the speaker referred
most aptly TO an article in the Revue des Deu
Mondes describing convocstion Of nations, in
which the representatives from each laid claim
to being the instigator Of the French revolu-
ton of 1889. The American, from the example
set in l776; the Englishman, from the deed
performed by the English people in 1858; the
German, from the Lutheran reformation; the
Italian, to the influence of Dante and Petrarch
the Greek to the example sent down to future
ages by the ancient Greeks, and lastly the Jew,
who says that for the example the student must
go back of the reformation, back of the renais-
sance, back of Greek antiquity, back of the
evangelists, back to the Bible of the Jew
Patriots like Moses, Jeremiah and Isaiah were
| the first revolutionists. Every revolution since
has been but an echo of q sound first heard in
Judea.
Referring to the Jew as patriot Mr.. Kraus-
koff said: Give your imagination wing, let it
roam from continent to continent, from pole to
pole and from sea to sea, let it be an eye wit
ness OF the greatest battles ever fought, let it
reanimate the nations that are dead and ques-
ton the people that are alive, and then let it
name to rs the people, dead or living, whose
patriotism has equaled that Of the jew"
THE OPPRESSION OF THE JEW.
The general meaning Of patriotism was next
discussed by the orator, and he proceeded to
show that the wrongs suffered by England
France, America, the Russian nihilists and the
Irish Fenians we're but infnitessimal compared
with the grievances visited upon the Jews for
1,SO0 years; but, while others inaugurated
bloody reigns Of terror, slaughter and riot
the Jew patiently suffered, heroically endured;
| in short, remained the patriot.
Continuing" said Mr.. Krauskoff, ''this pa.
| triotism of the Jew is to me his highest virtue
In this he stands peerless in the mighty tones
of history. To be patriot in return for a
country's kindness, to love people who love u.s.
| Is noble. To be patriot to a country that
deSrades, to love people that despises, is
divine"
The orator referred in most eloquent man.
ner to the examples Of patriotism shown by the
Jews in England, Germany, France and the
other European nations. He referred to the
marks the nation had left on the annals of med
icine, philosophy, science and literature. The
great musicians were also held up as examples.
THE JEW IN AMERICA.
In closing Mr.. Krauskof paid an eloquent
tribute to the United States. He said: Our
government extends equal rights to all her law
| abiding people, loves all alike. affords equal
| opportunities to all, and the Jew, who knows
| how to return good for evil. how to offer his
| patriotism to a country in return for her cruel
treatment, will surely be all the more eager to
return good for good and to passioaately love
the country and the people that love him. He
has written the story Of his patriotism with his
hearts blood in the late civil war. He has
proven his patriotism in his unimpeachabie
official integrity whenever his country or the
people entrusted an Office to his charge. He
has proven his patriotism by the active
interest he has taken Ill the upbuildipg
OF the nations prosperity. He has
proven his patriotism by ranking to-
day, despite the influx Of perhaps 200, 900 un-
| fortunate jews from tyrannous Russia, as the
most law abiding, as the least troublesome, as
| the least addicted to vice and riot and crime of
| all American citizens.
And We have only but begun Scarcely half
| a century has passed since the great bulk Of
! our Jews immigrated to this country, limited
as a rule, in means and often. also, in culture
With the first generation it hard struggle
for existence. The second generation, finding
means more abundant, found also more culture
Future generations, finding still greater means
and still better example, viii take their rank
among the greatest statesmen and patriots Of
our land. The whole American people will be
his people. Only in his synagogue will he DE
| Jew with Jew-in the world he will be man
with man, American with American, patriot
with nt