The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-06
THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS.

The Jewish Publication Society of Phil
adelphia has just brought out the third
volume of Graetz's History of the Jews
Like the previous volumes it is a work OF
vast erudition and general fairness, but as
contribution to history il lacks the charm
of Ernest Remains work on the same SUBJ
jsct. In Professor Graetz's hands the
thrilling dramas of Jewish history seem
commonplace. Renan, on the contrary.
was gifted with true dramatic genius. and
his story CLOVIS with paIptating life. As
TO historic credibility the reader will choose
between the two writer's much according
to his hereditary aud acquired ways OF
thinking.
No history, ancient or modern, can CON-
pare in dramatic interest with that OF the
Jews. That portion which ends with the
captivity of Babylon, and with which
readers are familiar from the narrative in
the OLD Testament. is moro replete with
romance and poetry than the early history
of Egypt, Greece. Rome or any OF the
modern nations. The chronicle which be-
gins with the siege and capture of Jeru-
salem and extends to the present century
is almost equally full of stirring events
and thrilling vicissitudes. 1t is only now
that it is being written. and from peculiar
causes it is even now a closed book to the
mass of mankind, including the Jews
themselves.
When Titus expelled the Jews from
Jerusalem and forbade their descendants
to return it seemed that the race was
doomed to the extinction which befell the
AssyriaDs and so many other ancient races.
For the Jews. on the contrary, 1t meant an
expansion in the affairs Of mankind when
otherwise they would hardly have re-
ceiVed. The Jewish law, as laid down In
Deuteronomy, declared. Unto stranger
thou mayest lend upon usury." the word
'usury" being equivalent to our word IN
terest" On the other hand, interest for
the use of money was at that time so holly
condemned al Rome that Cato placed the
lender Oh the footing OF murderer.
Aristotle had previously declared that
money was barren and could have no in
crease. These views were embraced by
the fathers of the early church, and the
councils one after another denied the
sscrameBts to him who lent money on in-
tsrest. The consequences was that the
business of money lending. or, as we
should call it, banking. became monopoly
in the hands of the Jews. For more than
a thousand years an impecunions king
who wanted to go to war or penniess
general who wanted 10 pay off his army
had to 60 to the Jews TO borrow. and they
grew rich through money lending. With
wealth came power.
Thus the anomaly arose of wealth and
influence being concentrated in the hands
of a race which was small minority in
each country. The anomaly provoked the
majority into prosecuting this minority.
Jew-baiting became a popular sport all
over Europe; and, this falling to accom-
plish the desired end, the Jews were ex-
PEELED successfully from Spain, Portugal.
France and England. Sermons were
preached on the text 1.-THE Jews must
90" They went, but they took with them
their means, their smartness, their indus
try. In the spots which they left poverty,
stagnation and decay took their place.
Reaction set In. Some countries, like
England, suffered the Jews to return. In
other countries they reappeared in the
disguise of Christians. George Burrow
was told that leading dignitaries of the
church in Spain were Jews. They went
to church, but In their hearts they were
faithful to Jehovah. Did Disraeli main
tain a private synagogue In his home (?
Who knows?
This long struggle of the Jews for racial
life covers a period of over thousand
years; its story is full Of the most exciting
episodes, and constitutes an instructive
chapter of political economy. 1t starts out
when the Hebrew race WAS a band of
pauper refugees. hunted from pillar to post !;
it lands them at last at the head Of finance
and power in London. Paris. Berlin ana
Madrid. Not the least interesting chap
ter in the story is the one which relates
to the experience OF the Jews at Rome.
When all Europe was hunting down the
children of Israel, they found safe re-
fuge under the shadow Of the Vatican !;
ether potentates connived at persecution
or instigsted it; but the Popes, without
exception, spread their shield over the
prescribed race. and stood it's friends when
il had no othar friends anywhere