The Irish standard., 1895-06-08


pliers. Painting and. scul lpture his re-
.iigion forbade him to enter-in every
thing else he is sdistinguihed, Moses
Mendelssohn, fnrernnnner Of the age of
Goethe and Schiller, friend OF Lessing,
who drew his portrait in the immortal
character of Nathan the Wise, Ben
fey, first among philologists; Bern avs &
master OF Greek; Neander, the theolo-
gian; Marx and LaSaile, the founders Of
Socialism; Ricardo. the political econo-
mist Borne, German patriot and exileG
champion Of his race: Auerbach, fore
most of German noyelists: Heine, the
greatest poet since the. time OF Goethe:
Joachim, Ha]ery, Mayerbeer, Mendel-
shon, Reubenstein, whence came their
inspirations? Whence but from the
creative genius of their race? Al
though the jew has shown himself pre-
eminent in many ways, yet from the ear
liest times he has displayed in asuperlor
degreee his power of organization, OF
government. What O. spectacle we. be-
held a quarter Of a century ago. The
three greatest nations OF Europe goYss
erned by the descendants of the Jews:
In the front rank of European statesmen
were Laslzer, steadfast Tor German unity
and religious liberation; codifer OF the
laws Of Germany and the free trade rival
OF Bismarck; Acilille Fould, finance min
lister of Napoleon Ill; Crelnieux, repub-
lican minister Of justice; Gambetta, child
of sunny France, unconqnerabse spirit OF
1870; Benjamin Disraeli, premier Of Eng
land, whose unparalleled career in it's won-
derful triumph over all obstacles, in it's
indomitable resolution, in its ultimate
success, is a striking counterpart OF the
struggle of his race, and whose whole
life was living vindication Of the ma
ligned character.of the Jew.
Let us pause for moment to contem-
plate this, man whose statue England
has deemed worthy to place in her par
lament square as a model for her rising
sons. Born a Jew, he was early baptized
into the Anglican church. This step,
though it removed his political disabili-
ties, could change neither his nature nor
his face. After gaining a reputation as
novelist he essayed to enter parlia-
rnent, Although thrice defeated he
finally in 1887, took his seat in the house
of commons. His maiden speech is IA
niliar to all Of us; how, when he rose to
reply5to Daniel O'Connell, acknowledged
leader of the Irish party, the friends Of
O'Gonnell, devoid Of consideration for
the untI,ied speaker, and determined that
he should not be heard, stood at the bar
OF the house and hooted and jeered and
laughed and mocked; how, undaunted,
at every pause in their uproar, he be-
gan anew, but finally seeing that to con-
tinue was useless he shouted forth With
prophetic vision, his voice terrible in
its uncomfortable Indignation rising
above the din about him: Il have be-
gun several things many times, and I
have often succeeded at last Aye, sirs,
and though sit down now the time will
come when you shall hear me" It came
and when he died the prcudest aristoc-
sracy of Europe set aside day on which
it might do homage to the Jew. And
Jew Disraeli was. Once, and once only,
a nobleman dared to reproach him with
his descent. Springing to. his feet he
cried with ringing eloquence, Yes, y gs,S i
am a Jew. When the ancestors .of the
honorable gentleman who@has thrown
that fact in my face as astaunt and an
impntation-when the ancestors Of the
honorable gentleman. l repeat, were
brutal savages in an unknown. land, mine
were priests in temple. l feel every
fibre Of my being thrill with the trad1-
tions of my people.
75 And all England, so they say,
Yearly blooms on primrose day.
PREJUDICE DISAPPEARING.
Time heals all wounds and the preju-
dice against which thaAJews Of Disraeli's
time laborsd is rapidly disappearing.
The clannishness Of which the Jew has
been justly accused, the result Of the
laws compelling him to live apart, is
fast passing away. Whatever Jaw and
order prevail, wherever justice is known
the Jew is recognized as a conservative,
progressive force i'll the community. The
mission of Israel as a nation perished
when Jerusalem fell. The mission OF
the Jew as a race has just begun. He
stands today in England as an English
man; in France as a Trenchman; in Ger
many as a German: in America as an
American, to perpetuate the institutions
which he enjoys The world has seen
his power and a, glorious future is open
ing before him. Home, education, hon
or, participation in public affairs, free
dom to enjoy in security what he has
earned, and above all the fellowship OF
his fellow meI1--all those are now his.
Great have been his deeds in the hour
of darkness and oppression--what shall
he not do in the day of freedom? 5.