Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-03-16
JEWS IN THE MOVEMENT.

The position which the Jews now oc-
cupy in the work of economical emanci-
patton is generally either overlooked or
lightly considered This race is to-day
one of the strongest factors i'll human
progress and development, and in the
future will, think, come to the front
in no mean position. In most countries
they are despised people, ostracized,
summed, their habits and modes of life
being taken as means of hurting at
them every bitter invective possible.
Germany in the past has ruthlessly out
ragged them; Russia has and is now per.
scouting them in the bitterest and most
inhuman fashion; still the indomitable
spirit of liberty possessed by their fore
fathers, their keen perception of the
just, the true, the right, the mental
strength and indomitable perseverance,
bring them always on the side of prog
ress. While the Goths overran Europe,
devastating the country destroying vii
lagos, burning crops, in the East com.
merce was tlourishing. Tudela tells us
how the Commander of the Faithful in
Bagdad maintained himself by his own
handiwork. The chivalry of the period
disdained labor as being the part of life
allotted to the common herd, those who
did not happen by birth to possess an
inheritance in the land.
Civilization, as the term is now under
stood, was largely confined to those
parts of the globe now awaiting nine.
teenth century civilization, the same
idea pervading the minds of the govern
ing classes, that people must be sub
| lected to a condition of profit tbearing
| before they are entitled to that high
! honor. Arabia grew rich and powerful,
| sending her silks even as far as China;
! the Euxine was studded with shipping,
while England under the ban of feudal-
ism, and Germany, under the regime of
savage princes, Italy, under the gloved
hand of the Pope, grew poorer.
J Bagdad and Cordova were renowned
| for their seats of learning, to which stu
dents Hooked from all parts of the
world. And in this period of Western
barbarism and Eastern advancement,
the Jews held peculiar and prominent
| position. Their religion naturally re-
stricted intercommunication with those
of another creed in those days of relgi-
GUS animosity, SO they clustered to.
| gether, settling in communities. Syria
found them in her gardens in large mum.
bers; in Spain they were rich and con
! trolled, i'll a great measure, the business
of the nation, and even in Germany and
| in Russia they, by their industry, gave
benefits to mankind. And in modern
times this same spirit reigns; in business
they are at the front, and in reform in
the cause of the people the Jewish race
has given of her noblest and best. Marx
/ Lassalle, were Of Jewish extraction; the
most prominent amongst the present
leaders of thought in the Old World are
of the same race. France turns out
yearly numbers of educated Jews as
graduates of her universities. Their
natural ambition, their strong mental
ity, brings them out prominently. lr
this country, amongst the labOring
classes, those of Hebrew descent are
strongly and rapidly organizing; they
are educating; their own tongue sup
plies them plentifully with literature,
and one has only to go amongst them tt
find the warmth Of feeling, the deep,
strong fxity of purpose pervading theil
every movement, to find strong assur
ances that in the near future they vii
be strong battalion in the ranks of so
calism. They are coming that way
We say, Welcome! r. II. GARSIDE.