The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-11
Ill.

1t IA well known that the old Hall Of Repre-
sentatives at Washington Is fast becoming an
American memorial chamber. Several statues
purchased by tho United States have been
deposited there, and many Of the States have
sent thither effgies in bronze or marble of their
chosen sons. There is. however, ono work of art
in the corridor that was not paid for by Con-
gress or by any State Legislature. The bronco
statue of Thomas Jefferson by David dangers,
the well-known French sculptor, was pre-
sented to Congress by an Israelite, Lieut..
tafterward Commodore) Uriah Phillip Levy
OF the United States Navy, in 1888. al
though 1t was not accepted until forty years
thereafter. A fact less known Is that the COM
memoration of the battle of Bunker Hill by
q monument was rendered possible through
a liberal contribution by q Jew. We read
in the history OF tho monument published
by George Washington Warren that at was
confdentially comm unicated to the directors by
Mr.. William Appleton that, whenever the asso-
citation should have money enough within
$4,000 to finish their work. Juda Touro would
give that sum-" We add that, when the ccnte-
nary of the Declaration Of Independence was
celebrated in Philadelphia, the Israelitos Of the
United States, through one of their organiza-
lions, placed on the Centennial grounds in Fair
mount Park q group Of ~statuary in Carrara
marble. styled Religious Liberty The group
was executed in Romo by a jewish sculptor,
Moses Ezekiel. a native of Richmond. Va Tho
inscription on the pedestal simply transcribes
the clause Of the Constitution which reads
Congress shall make no law respecting an es-
tablishment OF religion or prohibiting tho free
exercise thereof"
Let us now glance at the record Of Israelites in
tho war OF 1872 and in the war with Mexico.
Whether tho Jewish population OF the Union
had kept pace with the general increase during
the time from the close of the Revolutionary
struggle to the middle of tho present century is
questionable. Up to the close of the eighteenth
century the jewish emigrants on thiss side Of tho
Atlantic were derived almost entirely from the
Sephardic stock. The emigration of Jews from
Germany was sporadic up to the revolution of
lS4S. The increase OF the Jewish population in
this country was determined mainly BY the sur
plus OF births over deaths until some time after
the close OF the war Of 1912. Whom the Mexican
war began in 1s46. the jewish population of the
United States was probably not greater in pro-
portion than that estimated for tho period OF
tho Revolutionary war. In point Of fact,
at tho date of tho second war with
Great Britain, and likewise at that of tho MoI-
lean war, the Jewish element constituted. as yet,
only q minute fraction Of the general popula-
IiOu, anu ho NCiy ~ VI
names are to be looked for In tho army list Of
those two wars. Nevertheless, Mr.. Wolf has
compiled the names Of some ninety individuals
who left notable evidence of their presence in
the ranks during the two wars mentioned. In the
former contest, we remark especially tho names
Of Col. Nathan Meyers. commanding a brigade
near tho city of New York; of Capt. Mordecai
Meyers OF the Thirteenth Pennsylvania Infantry.
of Capt. Myer Moses, commissioned from South
Carolina; of Lieut.. Isaac Mertz. in tho Pennsyl-
vania Battalion of Riiemen, and of Lieut.. Ben
jamin Gratz. in a company of Pennsylvania vol
unteers. In the Mexican war. David Do Loon.
who was born in South Carolina In 1892. twice
took tho places of commanding officers who had
been killed or disabled by wounds. For his
g~allantry and ability he twice received the
thanks Of the United States Congress. In Feb.
ruary, 1861. he resigned his rank as surgeon
and Major in the United States army. and was
appointed first Surgeon-Gencral in the service
of the COnfederacy. In the same war Col. Leon
Dyer was Quartermastcr-General for the State
of Louisiana, and subsequently held the same
rank under Gen. Winfield Scott. David S.
Kaufman was an aide to Gen. Douglas and was
wounded at tho battle OF Nechcs: subsequently,
no was Speaker of tho Texas Assembly, and ad-
vocated annexation to tho United States. He
was u member of Congress from Texas from
the date of tho annexation to his death in
1851. Moses Albert Levy, who was a Sur
geon.Gcneral in Sam Houston's army, remained
in service throughout tho Texas-Mexican war.
Another I~sraelite, Capt Michael Sztyfft served
on the staff OF Gen. Zachary Taylor.
We come TO tho part played by Jews in our
civil war. Mr.. Wolf has compiled a list OF
the Jews who served in the Union and