The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-19
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE JEWS.
What This Country Offers to a Hota-
Bile Race of People.

What This Country Offers to Hota-
BILE Race of People.
At the B'Nai Birth convention at Macon
last Tuesday Judge Emory Speer responded
TO the toast "Our oountryu as follows:
Incvism has been an offensive accusation
against the Jewish race. 1t is defined TO be "a
want of patriotism, or love to ones country;
or even unfriendliness to the state or govern
ment of which one IL a citizen" IL would per
haps excite the incredulity and perhaps the
scorn of the RntiSemitic detTactor should he
be informed that this notable gathering Of a
great society, exclusively Jewish, representing
the seat or American government ana four
states in the American union, has remained
until o'clock in the morning to give patriotic
and thunderous acclamation to the ennobling
sentiment, "Our Country"
The American union in the philosophy of its
laws, III the absolute justice with which they
are administered, in the hospitable nclnations
of It's people, in the helpful hand they have ever
extended TO the Jewish peoples In their magni-
ffcent achievements toward the betterment of
their own fortunes and the country's prosperity,
merits all the patriotic devotion they may accord
TO II. IL matters not whence the Jewish emf
grant has come, how bitter his past or how
gloomy his seeming future. he las been vel
coined to our shores.
Sir, may not paraphrase the inspired utter
ance Of Currans 81 speak in the spirit OF the
law OF the union, which proclaims, even 20 the
stranger and the sojourneT, the moment he sets
his foot upon American soil that the ground
by the genius OF universal freedom. No matter
in what language his doom may have been pro
nouncsd; no mattsr what complexion, incom-
patible with freedom, q Indian or an African
sun may have burned upon him; no matter in
wat disastrous battle his liberty may have
been cfoYen down; no matter with what
solemuities he may have been devoted upon the
altar OF slavery, the first moment he touches
the sacred soil Of America the altar and the god
sink together in the dust, his soul walks abroad
in her own majesty; his body swells beyond the
measure Of his chains that burst from around
him. and he stands rec eemed, regenerated and
dtenthraled by the irresistib genius OF uni
versal freedom.
Mr. President, am I not right when declare
that our country merits the love aud devotion
OF the Jewish people. va devotion. If neei be.
Ike that which precpitated the band of Gideon
from the hills above EndOr upon the hosts of
indian and which hurled the DICTIONARIES OF
Titus from the walls about JerusalemY And,
sir, the title whlci, the great American republic
has TO your gratitude ia 10 nowise SO wildly
portrayed as by contrasting your own fort
unes with the present condition OF the Jewish
peoples In countries which do not pos
sess the blessings Of constitutional
government The nation, which, OF all others,
Is least like our country IN its government, and
yet which resembles IL, If 1t does not Burpass IL,
in variety and value OF its natural resources
and it's material wealth, is that vast territory,
one seventh Of the earth, Whichs is under the
dominion OF the Gar OF all the Russias. We
have heard much OF the atrocities perpe-
trated by order or permission Of the Russian
government upon its subjects OF the Jewish
race. IL s'difficult for men accustomed to the
enjoyment OF liberty under the law, to ade-
quately conceive the suffeTings which our fellow
men are made to endure. We're It not true that
in this age Of religion and law no great humani-
tartan purpose has failed, the condition of your
brethren 10 blood and our brethren Ia human
ity. who are the objects Of the cruel and insane
intolerance and pFejudice Of the Russian gov
eminent would seem absolutely without hope.
No words can express their conditions To use
the metaphor OF Carlyle, II rs soak OF hor-
rors sunk like sleeping fax under the wide
spread fetid hell waters" and their persecu-
tors are addicted to crimes unknown to heathsn
nations and unheard Of among people ignorant
OF God. l am aware there are enemies OF
the Jews who deny these outrages, for the Jews
have their enemies and the fact is not TO their
disparaRement. IL IS with race 80 with man,
large results cannot be accomplished without
arousing strong oppositions, and the opposition
OF evil may not be vauquished and leave the
evil man IN happy and forgiyinR state OF
mind. When a man ceases TO possess enemies.
and often mouthy enemies, pertinacious enc
mics, violent enemies, given 10 "damna BILE
iteration, as Shakespeare puts t. you may be
quite sure that bis usefulness has ended. He
has ceased TO do anything for bis own Advance
mont. and for the betterment OF mankind. SO
1t is With people, With them as with an indi-
vldual. Back wounding calumny the widest
virtue strikes"
Now in spite OF all their enemies and of
twenty centuries OF oppression OF the Jews.
this ancient people are to-day infinitely more
powerful than they ever were. IL is true that
Jerusalem is desecrated by the unbeliever the
temple has crumbled 70 dust, the strains Of
triumphal alteration which rang in heavenly
symphonies through is halls are hushed
"On Jordan's bank the Arabs camels stray
On Sion's hill, the false ones votaries pray"