The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-05-02

. country whose laws cheat him out q
his bread"
4 1BUB AMERlCAN.
yssss esligmsn, hsad Of the great New
York banking house OF esiismaa =
Co, who died ct Corouado Beach,
Cal. on the 23d nit was true American
In every ssnss Of the word, although he
was Of Hebrew blood and faith. and came
70 this soantry . poor Immigrant from
Bavaria il lsll. When this poor Jewish
boy landed In New York city s. years ago
hs vs. ignorant Of our Language aud he
had shs stupid rass prsjudios 70 contend
with. far more bitter then than now. for
The Jews vsre weak in numbers and
wealth q that day In this country. He
carried psddisr's pack on his back and
tssmpsd Tor living Tor several ysarA He
savsd bic nonsy and with his brothsss ~
up In the stationery business. In 1850 he
vent TO California and n . Ssw pears
mad . comfortable fortune In tradA From
the frst he vas good eitissn.
In CaliSornis ~ ~ member ~ . flre
COMPANY and vas . member u the vigt
lance commistss Of 1853 and Of the Com
mittss OF Forty. He returned to New York
In iss7 and went into the Wholesale cloth
tng huslnsss With his brother. In 1861 the
Eeligman brothers founded their banking
house and placed our government bonds
abroad. and rose 20 b one of the great
k~~kso~ knxsa~~ - ~
Jssss 6sligman was always . Repub-
lican; he had bssn member Of the Union
League Tor twenty pears; had bssn iss vice
prssidsnt fourteen pears. but resigned last
year When hie son vs. blaekballsd solely
because he was Hebrss, but his rssigna-
tioa vas refused and never acted upon.
Mr.. 6sligman vas renowned for his benev-
olsncs aud his patriotism. He had been
presidsnt for twenty ysars Of the Hebrew
orphan ssyium. which opened with four
Teen inmates and now contains 600. and he
contributed largely TO its support. He Was
. member Of the Nev York Association
for Improving the Condition Of the Poor.
Of the Metropolitan Museum Of Art, and
Of the Museum Of Natural History. His
personal wealth 10 estimated ct 80. 600 600.
That Of the combined banking houses 10
probably half dozen times - large.
We have recitsd these facts in the career
Of Jesse 6eligman, Who came 70 this coun-
Try poor Bavarixn Jew boy, II years old,
In lsAi. and In 1855, before he vas IS years
old, was one Of the frst bankers in New
York city. and before has death Was one Of
the frat bankers OF the world. in order to
point out that true American 10 the man
who imbtbes the spirit Of American insti-
tutions and avails himself Of the industrial
opportunities they afford, no matter
whether he u . Jew or Gentle; no mat
Ter whether he 10 born In Bavaria or born
In Massachusetts,. Jesse 6sligman made
his money. starting from the ground with
out dollar. just - nearly al the success
full men In this country have done; he be-
gan ., the bottom like Stephen Girard,
John Jacob Assor and Cornelius Wander
biit. and he Won By practioing the same
virtues ofindustry. economy and psrssver-
ancs. Joined to exceptional business So
escity which sees the opportunity and in.
stantly ssiaes IL
Nearly oil the prosperous men In busi-
ness and the professions began a. poor
boys. Jesse Ssligman. like 6irard. Van.
derhilt and Aston. cav his chance In
America and went rssolutely and honestly
and periodically 60 make the most of his
opportunities in America. His fervid
patriotism: bis lifelong henevo.snes give
the lie to the base abuse Of the Jew thu
obtains Ia Europe and in some spots In
America, ascribing to him lack Of patriot.
lem, race clannishness and indifference to
the claims Of good citizenship
Whether In Kngland. France. Germany
or ths United States there 10 no founa.-
ton for this stupid prsiudics against the
Jswa which really springs Gus Of envy for
their superior commercial scutsnsss and
succssa They are - rule good citissns.
iaw-ahidins snd patriotic. and Of the career
Of Jesse Seiigman AID men Of his caI,bsr
the New York Sss says:
@rhs fortunes in this country are new.
They are possessed almost wholly BY those
Who accumulated them themselves from
small beginniaeA 10 conference.-the envy
81 their success shall induce legislation 10
punssh their thrstt by the penalty of spe-
csai tAxation directed axains, quality 30
essential 10 the preservation and the
highest development Of society. the hlow
vii b. struck against everybody Who 10
striving 10 rcs ahead IN the world. such
legislative discrimination would De q nss
obstacle to progress ft woaid tend Co
discourage such virtue aud enterprise.
Tie logical Consequence OF the primer ge
woala Re further and heavier inapossssons
fatal 10 their cultivation. Really i, %
against the poor man - mueh ~ the rich
man. tor tie great mass os the rich mea 81
D Arc nos poor rnen ssya9xssn. 10 win the
independents of wealth.
Al ihis tame vicious and vile doe
tFins - preached ey demASogues and
sestas distasesrs IN shis couasry. 80 far
- u % followed, IL will b hursful 10 the
poor ias more shan 60 the rich. Ii 10 ua-
American aad sn.Demoerasic in both
general and specific partisan ssnsA Ii
IL the tsseAin1 ct gagxards And ccxards
uss oesk - he'd back tAe mayuA &c