The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1889-03-08
"ONLTA JEW"

denly the cry was raised, "man over
board" ssLet him sink; he's only a
Iew," was the echo from the crowd.
But brave young man burst through
the Gordon of inhuman wretches who
sought to impede his progress, turned
upon them a defiant look, and hiss
ing back the words, "Cowards! Knaves!
Fools! Beasts!" he plunged into the
water, and after a desperate struggle
brought the drowning man ashore.
The latter recovered, but the rescuer
died. It was then ascertained that
the rescuer was Jew and the other a
Gentle.
This incident of itself simply serves
to illustrate the inhumanity Of human
beings when swayed by religious, de-
nominational, sectional or race preju-
dice. The Jews have suffered more.
perhaps, in modern times, on account
of such prejudice, than any other race
or class of people. Leaving their re-
ligion entirely out OF the question, and
dealing solely with the subject of ex-
isting prejudice against them as race,
any one capable of entertaining an un-
biased view must be convinced that
in this age there is no occasion fo'
such prejudice, any mole than there
is for prejudice against any other dis
tinctive race or class, or sect, or de-
nomination of people. In arriving at
this conclusion it does not necessarily
follow that one must approve OF all the
customs of the Jewish people, either Of
the past or modern times. Neither is
it necessary, on the other hand, to
point out the good that has been ac-
complished by Jews, within the recol-
lection of people now living. 1t may
not be amiss, however, to recall the
noble deeds of Sir Moses Monte6ero,
the great craftsmanship of Benjamin
Disraeli Lord Beacons6eld), the un-
paralleled fnanciering Of the Roths-
childs, the cratorical ability, liberality
Of views and sound moral teachings Of
DIR. Sonnenschein. These are only a
few Of the Jews of this age who have
made their powers and influence felt
throughout the world. It does not
harm the memory of a Mete6ero, a
Disraeli, Rothschild or a Sonnen-
schien to be opprobriously referred to
as Jew. They carved their own way
to fame, not by combating the preju
dice against their race, but by ignoring
it and striving for their own advance
ment and the Advancement of hu-
manity.. regardless of religious tradi-
tions or beliefs.
1t is in commerce, however, that
the achievements of the Jews have
been most prominent. The town or
city that does not contain one or more
'Jew stores" and where Jews are not
prominently identified with public
affairs, may be set down as very dull
place, indeed; for, wherever there is
business to be done, there are always
some Jews among the most foremost
in the field. 1t would be difficult,
therefore, to write the history Of any
prosperous town or city or list of the
most enterprising, the moss successful.
and the most public spirited business
men and citizens of any town, city or
community of importance without in
cluding large proportion OF such
names as Benjamin, Isaac, Max,
Joseph, Moses, Levi and Leopold.
The Jews make very little outward
display of charity, but it is noticeable
that appeals for worthy objects in
that direction are seldom denied It
is probable that majority of the Iew-
ish people. like majority of those en-
tertaining any other religious belief,
are more or less irreligious, hence
their deeds of benevolence are usually
prompted by a spirit of humanity,
rather than by the hope of reward
hereafter.
In view of all these incontrovertible
facts, s,=there is no good reason why the
prejudices against this enlightened
race Of people, growing out OF events
which occurred centuries ago, should
not be wholly obliterated. The Jews
themselves are making no appeal in
that direction-they are too independ-
ent and self-reliant for that-but it
would be very becoming act on the.
part OF all the people Of America who
are not Jews to set an example to the
world by discountenancing eyery at
tempt to cast odium upon them. indi-
ivldually or collectively, on account of
aprejudice a having its origin partly in
a knowledge of ancient history, partly
in tradition and partly in modern 10.
norance.