The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-08

slavery. but even they we're compelled 10
change their religion.
HuI.
The Spanish Jews continued IN this state OF
| deeradation and despair until the day OF
vengeance came. In I'll. At that time both the
Jews Of northwest Africa. who at various dates
had emigrated thither from Spain. and their
luckless co-relfgionists OF the Peninsula made
common cause with the Mohammed invsde err
Tsrik the one-eyed who brought over small
but highly disciplined force from Africa into
Andalusia. After the battle Of Xeres and the
death Of Roderick. the last Of the Visieothio
Kings. The victorious Arabs pushed onward
and were everywhere supported By the
Jews. II came to pass that in every city
which thsy captured the Moslsm General.
who had need Of every ian he had for the sub
lection OF the country. was able TO leave only
an insignificant garrison Of his own soldiers.
conhdinR the strong places taken to the safe
keeping OF the Jews. In this manner the Jews.
who but lately had been reduced to serfs. be-
came the masters OF the towns OF Cordova
Granada, Malaga. and many others. When
Tarik appeared before the capital. Toledo. he
found II occupied BY only q few troops. the
mobiles and the clergy having sought safety
In flight II was the Jews who. while
the Christians were In church. PRAYING
for the salvation OF their country and
their faith flung open the gates to the Arabs,
receiving them with Acclamations. and thus
avenRlng them selves for the miseries which
they had suffered for upward OF q century.
Toledo. like other cities. was left by Tarik in
the custody OF the jews. while he pushed
northwnrd in pursuit OF the Visigothlc fuRi-
tives. Finally. when Muza Ibn-Nosair. the
Governor OF Africa. brought y second and
larger army into Spain and conquered
other great cities. he. too placed them
In the keeping OF the Jews. IL
was under these propitlous circumstances
that the Spanish Israelites came under the
rule OF the NOLAN m edans. and. like their CO.
reliGionists In Babylonis and Persia, they were
esteemed the allies OF thu Invaders They were
kindly treated obtained religious liberty. OF
which they had long been deprived. were per-
mitted to exercise Jurisdiction over their own
communities, and were merely Obliged. like
the conquered Christians. to pay toll tax.
SO long as Arabs remained masters OF the
Moslem power In the peninsula that is to say
until the downfall OF the enlightened caliphate
OF Cordova In the nrst half OF the eleventh
century. the Jews were probably happier In
Spain than they have ever been elsewhere.
since the loss Of their national independence.
For 800 years they were the leaders and sx-
emplars OF their race But their lot was
changed when the refined and cultivated
Arabs were superseded By the bigoted and half
civilized Berbers. who acquired possession OF
Granada and some other cities soon after the
collapse OF the caliphate. and who crossed the
Strait OF Gibraltar In swarms at the time OF
the subsequent invasions by Aluorsvides and
hmohAdes. Especially were the members OF
the sect named Aim onsdes. or Unitarians. de-
termined to extirpate Judaism, and it was
their relentless persecution which drove the
Jews to seek shelter under the com parative
tolerance OF tho Christian Kingdoms. and
especially OF CASTLE. which was much less In
fected than Aragon with French fanaticism.
1t was after Toledo had been made the cap
ital OF CASTLE that It became the centre
OF Jewish science and learning; and. after the
seat OF Castilian power was placed at Sevills.
Jews filed throughout many reigns the offico
OF Chancellor OF the Excheauer. In spite OF
the protests OF the Catholic Church. OF tho
truculent attitude OF the semi ecclesiastical
military ORDERS and OF the ostensibly harsh
tenor OF some OF their legislation. the Castilian
as a rule, showed themselves in
practic a ppreeiatiye and kindly to their Jew
ish su biects. To the responsive good will and
OF the Jews may doubtless DO
attributed In great measure the fact that not
Aragon. but CASTLE. became the leading power
In the peninsula and finally. by the acqui-
sltlOn OIL hufcihs DAfFod inc sOutnNdIu
progress OF the rival kingdom. 1t was natural
considering what their experience had been at
the hands Of tho Borders on the one hand.
and OF the Castilians on the other. that tho
mass OF intelligent Jews should deem It for
the r interest to promote tho extension Of
at the cost OF Islam. They could not
foresse the union OF the crowns OF CASTLE and
Aragon. the resultant ascendaAcy OF AraRonese
and the Introduction OF tho inqui-
stion into the Castilian realm. They knew
not that they were digging q pit Into which
they were doomed soon to fall. and that after
the conquest OF Granada. the rulers OF CASTLE
would see no reason to protect conciliate. and
the Jews. N. W. II.