The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-02-24
JEWISH INFLUENCE.
An Eloquent Tribute 10 the Israeiites
From the Erskinian.

From the Erskinian.
One might think that this subject could be
best treated (oecause OF religious opposition)
by telling OF lis iuhnence on the masses, out
why should We read history with our pre)u-
dice aud not with eyes: AS We read OF The
many deeds OF kindness received from the
Jew AZ Pa riot Soldier aud CitiZen," ana
other good works, we feel that We might point
TO the Jew as the one " no has been tne cause
Of the present state OF prosperity and happt-
ness. ,
From the begun ming OF races Goods chosen
people" have been the source OF wisdom, pull
iosophy, social and moral influence. Our
present code of laws date their origin back 70
the great iaw-givers 30 prominent 10 the OLD
Testament. We call them social because they
attempt to "loye their nelshoor rs them.
selves" Never does an object OF charity pass
the door OF Jew without something OF vaiue
being dropped into his hand. The deed Is not
as coinmenuabie as the manner III "hlch u
was given. The Jew does not SOUND trum-
pet when he gives aims, neither does he
let his right hand Know wnat his left hand
doeth. iou,cannot be made 70 feel al home
ways contribute 10 the social happiness OF
Others. While 1t is the custom for the Jew TO
place upon hts table various kinds OF drinks,
yet, when youth Is invited todlne Wild hiin,
all such allurementS are removed from his
sight The Jew ts always submissive 10 nigh
er authority. He performs his duties With
due respect TO those about nun: lie goes nc.
cordiug TO law. Whatever Tue Jew has to do
As near as the twelfth and thirteenth CEN
turtles 10 our lime, q mythical doctrine Was
praeticed Ia Europe aud the British a. Isles,
power OF changing his into tue lorm VI
some inferior animal. When differ ent
families became heirs 10 certain estate
and became dissatisfied aoout the division,
they resorted to war and await supernatural
power 10 favor one or the other. They seemed
10 live lives of mythical imagination. They
thought that some were raised rom tne deau
while others were panished. 1t is Eom all
these things that the Jew has been instru.
mental in freeing us.
II was through two professions that the
successful attempt was made-the lawyer and
the doctor. Men OF these two professions
struck y death-blow al such mythical doc
trlne. The lawyer felt IL bis duty 10 intro
duce proper modes OF evidence; thus doing,
the political leader. Then it Was that all
wilchcra1t began 10 decline and hlgher lntei-
ligence 70 be supreme. The lawyer and the
doctor seemed to work for common cause.
At last their inr1ueuce was leading on 70
higher intelligence and better conception OF
the workin Of the all-wise one. the Maker
and preserver Of the Universe. The physi.
clan. because OF his position III lie, seemed
TO have the greater influence over the people.
rhey did not only drive out that idea OF su-
pernaturaI cure, but Lney got deeper insight
into human nature and became the learned
men OF the dag. They erected colleges and
more and more Intelligent, then catne time
when most other physicians except that Of
the Jew were allowed TO practlce. Inc Jew
as has always been the case, has quick,
perceptive memory, aE energy Whlcn IN
always active and dAuntless courage. seeing
the responsibility which was resting upon
them, they storned the pervad1ng Ignorance
and raised high the banner oi lntel!igence.
AS we consider what u mighty influences the
Jew has had In lifting humanity " higher
plane Of intelligence are we not ready 10 ask
The question, how much DO we owe 70 the
Jew? Let US consider, furtner, tnelr lnnuence
In an age better known 10 w.
suppose IL Is our prejuuice that We have
so few books written IN memory VI Jews.
Nevertheless we have The American Jew as
Patriot, Soldier anu Citizen" AT the close OF
the Revolution, when the Inhabitants OF
the United States numbered about 4O00UU.
the Jews Of America numbered o,OVO. YET 10
the signature OF the all.important resolutions
we find the natnes Of nine Jews We cannot
mention any class OF people more DEVOTED 70
the cause OF Independence than the Aplert-
can Jew. They not only fought and dled ior
that cause. but they gave lioeraliy OF tneir
means. They were also very active In the
war OF lSl2. We tind many prominent lead
ers among the Jews In this cause. While
peace and good will towards all men" is the
sentiment 9f the Jew, yet ne iseis ~ an equal,
be believes 10 be just.
In the record OF the late war there are
many names that stand out very prominent
".
many might be mentioned the Solomons, the
Morrisses, the Noahs, The jacobs, the Cohens,
the Mordecais. Among THESE are found
Generals. Captains, and almost all the differ
ent positions Of honor. There were once
1000 medals offered 10 those who would DIS
tinguish themselves as gallant soldiers. II Is
interesting 10 read how many hebrew sol
diers receI we'd Medals Of honor" especially
SO hecause of coplness anu bravery In the
hottest OF the conflict.
To show something OF the feeling between
Hebrew soldiers and our brave leader al the
lime OF his first Presidency, II might be well
u mention just here, communications which
took place between: After long and inter.
listing letter from the Hebrew congregation OF
the city of Savannah. Ca, this Is the closing
n1S ap a
series Of health--addition OF years 10 Inc
number OF your days and continuance OF
guard ianship 10 that freedom which, under
auspices OF heaven, your magnanimliy and
wisdom have given these states. To this
President Washington replied In q good
uatured style with this as The closing para
graph: MAY The same wonder, working
Deity, who long since delivered the Hebrews
from their Egyptian oppressors, plant them
In Il promised land, whose providential
agency has lately been conspctons in esta-
bishing these United 81 ates as an inoePend-
ent nation, still continue TO water these with
the dews OF heaven, aud make the lhhabl.
tants Of every denomination Ear .icipate IN
the temporal and spiritual blessings OF the
many other letters written by the different
societies of the Jews. which shows patrto-
tic spirit and devotion to the cause OF In
dependence.
It will be agreed at once that there are no
better citizens than the Jew. Always ready
and willing 10 do his duty, obedient unto the
law. They make the best officers we can get,
because they Will not show partiality. they
en- orce the law to the letter. There are two
states In which the Jew boasts OF never being
found. That Is In the poor. house, nor never
dying druukard. Is not that something to
be proud OF? Might we not boast TOO. II we
could, that orr citizens were free from such
places: Would II not be we'll for US not only
10 th ow open our doors for them but practices
after them as citizens. They are our best
business men, never tiring, but always dill
gent In business.
Now ran we sum up and say what is owing
to the Jewish Influence? We must ack
enge that our prosperous condition, that our
Intellectual ability, that our untiring zeal has
been generated by the electric spark OIL energy
which found It's soursce among the Jews.
Then We must owe Them our friendship and
welcome them rs citizens into our country.
Howard Caldwell.