The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-02-23
4 CARD.
Roanoke, Feb. 2G.

Editor OF The Times:
Asa Syrian who can speak for his
countrymen now located in Roanoke |
desire to say that the idea seems to oh.
tain with many we'll meaning bur unin-
formed people that Syrians as a class are
Il lot of-paupers who have come to this
country TO engage in the destruction of
meicantile business, by eating and wear.
ing nothing, living like Chinese fol i, few
years and then departing for their native
country, carrying with them Il hoard of
gold; that they do nothing to benefit a
community, but rather take from it,
Now, Mr.. Editor, there never was Il
more mistaken notion. Asa rule every
Syrian who has landed in the country has
brought ample money with him and has
invested it in legitimate business some to
large extent, some 70 IL smaller, and
while as II whole they are economical they
are not misery: they labor early and late
which should not be held To their disal.
vantage The records show that many of
them have become naturalzed or have
declared their intention Of becoming cit.
liens. They have invested in real estate
in this city,as the records will also show
Most of those now living in Roanoke
came from Beyrout, Syria. Il city of 100
600 souls, where every householder owns
his own homestead.
The Wholesale dealers of Roanoke, if
candid will tell you that we are an hon.
est people and pay for what we buy and
pay promptly.
1t Is true that for a time many of us
ere at disadvantage, being unable at
first to speak the English language, and
are made the butt for ridcule at the hands
of the thoughtless and those viciously
inclined, and ii is IL notorious fact that we
suffer more small prosecutions than any
other class of people here. and have been
made the subject of attack in the public
prints, and I'LL this in "the Land of the
Free and Home of the Brave, where it is
said the stranger is welcome and will
have protection.
1t is almost of daily occurrence that we
are attacked in different ways; only last
saturday night for no cause whatever Il
crowd of tOughs entered AMI took posses =
SION OF the store of Il prominent Syrian
merchant on Park street breaking out
his windows, throwing rocks ut the in
mates and''strikin1 one, insulting n vouny
lady in the store, etc, and this kind OF
conduct has occurred Il number of times
in this city.
Now as to the parsimony OF Syrians, I
say without hesitation that we are rs
charitably inclined as those OF any nation
~ Vhrcl"i ihNcSUlSaulon shows that there
are debts due by people Standing on the
books OF the Syrians of this city approxi-
mating $50, 900: ali this merchandise has
been supplied without pay. 1t will he
seen FROM this alone that Svrians suffer
in this respect TO IL large extent rs their
American fellow citizens. All the Svr
ians OF the city ask is that As long as they
are good, law abiding citizens, dealing
honestly with their neighhor, they be al
lowed TO pursue their way in peace, and
he accorded the same rights AZ any other
resident or citizen.
We feel sure that many who thought
lcSsly object TO us, would, upon examinn-
ton ana consideration, come to the con
clusion thai wc try To he honest, are in
dustrioas and try to obey the laws
FRANK y. JABBOUR,
OF Antoine * Co