The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-26
A Hebrew Answers Mr.. Goodwin Smith.

- AAOOAC 1haS"Sko NAis
A Hebrew contributor to the September
number OF the North American Rerie,p re-
plies to Mr.. GOODWIN SMITHS comments on
tho anti-Semitic movement. We do not
know the writer's name-1sAAC BESHT
BENDAv1D is apparently pseudonyme-but
he is master OF terse and vigorous English,
and thorough knowledge OF history rem
ders him particularly qualified to discuss
the subject. Considering the small space at
his command. we must pronounce his arti-
Gle the most effective defence OF his people
that has recently been published.
Mr.. GOODWIN SMITH asserted, It will be
recalled. that the persecution OF the Jews
not only In Russia, but in Austria, Ger
many, and the Balkan States, was due not
to religious. but to economical and social
causes. The Israelites are de:ested. he
averred, not because they cling to the faith
OF their forefathers. but because they refuse
everywhere to live the life o, the country in
which they dwell. or to support them
selves and their families by productive
Industries. ISAAC BEsHr BENDAv1D sub
mits that this is very grave In
dictment to frame against whole race,
for, unless it can be quashed, it would COM
pei us to belnve that all other Governments
ought to initiate the Government OF Russia.
Docs history. as Il matter OF fact. furnish
grounds for such an accusation? Is it
proved that the Jews are parasitic race
which. when present in numbers, eats out
the core OF nationality? 1t is in the answers
to this question that the historical equip
ment Of their new defender is strikingly
demonstrated
WhNyu tn Mr N Gu 10
that FREDERICK the Great pro2ounded the
axiom that tn Cypress the Jews las never
brought prosperity to any Government
1t certainly WAS not because the royal skep-
tic believed that persecution OF the Jews
would be avenged by the COP OF ISRAEL.
1t was because the shrewdcst OF royal OBJ
servers had learned that in every State in
which the children OF ISRAEL have seen
themselves compelled to establish their
homes. they have always been found to be
. source Of strength and not OF weak
ness. Did the Jews, for instances, cat out
the core OF the nationality Of Spain when,
twenty years after the Norman conquest OF
England, they drove the Moors out of the
Jerusalem Of the West and established at
Toledo the throne OF ALoNZo OF CASTLE Is
1t not fact. too. that even after their OK.
pulsion from Spain, the Jewish exiles who
took refuge in eastern Europe continued to
call themselves Spaniards; that their de.
scendants still preserve the speech of Spain;
and that at this day the Hebrew newspaper,
published at Salonica, bears the Spanish
name OF the EpOca
Mr.. SMITH Ia also reminded that when
Germany rose against NAPOLEON the Jews
of Germany forgot the social and political
restrictions which had been imposed on
them for ages. and. remembering only that
they were Germans. gave their blood freely
for tho fatherland. Their reward was
scarcely calculated to promote the assimi-
lative process OF which Mr.. SMITH Is an
advocate. After the browning victory OF the
allies In 1915, every German Jew who had
won commission In tho armies was sud-
denly deprived OF 1t, and had to face the
alternative OF serving in the ranks or leav-
ing the army altogether. The eagerness OF
the Jew to further the interests OF the
country In which he dwelt was not exhibited
In Germany alone. At period somewhat
earlier than that just referred to, the French
Jews assembled In the great Sanhedrim OF
etrasburG, had commanded their co-rellGion-
!sts In France to acquire landed property as
Q means OF training them "to be better
Frenchmen," and had ordained that the Jews
serving In the national armies should be alb
solved during their term OF service from the
ceremonial duties OF their religion. Finally
the writer In the North American points
out that during the war OF tho rebel
lion few soldiers on the Union side
svinced more loyalty and valor than did
the Jews who attained to conspicuous rank,
and that no Northern financiers were more
energetic In the support OF the national
credit than those among tho Hebrews in
New yogk. Moreover although at the