The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-26
WHAT WE OWE TO ISRAEL.
4 Progressive Christian Minister'S
Unbiased Opinion of Hebrew Ex-

Unbiased Opinion of Hebrew Ex-
ceIIence.
Rev. Dr. Madison c. Peters in the New
York Journal.
love the Hebrews-their incompatible
poetry, their peerless prophets and their
matchless history. Christ. the ideal of the
race. was a Jew. All the Apostles were
Jews.
The unhappy actors in the crucifxion
were Jews and Genties together. Accord
ing to orthodoxy they had no option In
the matter.
1t may be true that the Jews would not
have done otherwise II they could, but
they certainly could not have done other
wise If they would.
Therefore, among fair-minded men, Jew
ish blame for the crucihxion has become a
dead issue. 1t does not seem fair to lay
the deed of his ancestors against the Jew
and his descendants down 10 the sixtieth
generation. Christ came to His own. and
His own received Him not" but with His
expiring breath He pleaded, Father, for
give them, for they know not what they
do" Is IL not time to forgive and forget
what Christ forgave 1900 years ago2 The
cruelty which the jew has not suffered
and the injustice which has not been
heaped upon him cannot be named. Ard
what is the Jews crime? What has ia
done to merit the worlds ignominy? He
has given to the world the knowledge of
God lie has given Moses, who, In the
twelve United States of Israel, gave 10 the
world the first republic.
Christianity has its roots In the Ola
Testament Christians are Jews gone TO
fruit The Jew has not only been she fac
tor that for four hundred years supplied
the nations Of the earth with money, but
In every department OF human activity
the Hebrew race has furnished propor-
tionately a greater number of great men
among the greatest of the earth of any
other race.
II ever a people demonstrated the pow
err of education it Is the Jewish race. 1T
has furnished Kimchi in phlology,
Spinoza In philosophy a Halvey In poetry,
an Ezra In astronomy, Traube in medi-
cine, a Disraell in literature.
The most jealous advocate of the higher
education of women in this country, and
the moving spirit in the establishment of
Barnard College, was Mrs. Anna Nathan
Myers. The treasurer, Mr.. Schiff, is also
a Jew Columbia College has three jew
ish professors. The University of New
York the College of the City OF New York,
Harvard, Johns Hopkins and the Uni
versity of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania
are among the other well known colleges
who have Jewish professors.
The most enthusiastic supporters OF our
public schools are the Jews and all
must admit that the Jewish children are
among the brightest and best behaved.
las rich as jew" is changing to LAS
wise as a Jew"
In music the Jews can lay claim to such
names as Mendelssohn, Offeubach, Joach-
i'm. Meyerbesr. Rossni. Rubinstein and
Goldmark. In craftsmanship, Benjamin
Disrael, Jules Simon Foud, Chemieax
Gambetta and Lasker..
The pRofessorships filled by Jews In our
leading colleges show that they have
peculiar aptitude for the highest political
science. We had, few years ago, six
Jewish judges in our city courts, and
the attorney general of the state Isidor
Straus, declined cabinet position, and
his brother oscar made a most accepta-
BILE minister TO Turkey.
In charity not only do Montefore and
Baron de Hirsch shine conspicuously, but
our Jewish fellow-citizens successfully
conduct charities covering every conceiv-
able case of need and suffering In New
York city alone, for the twelve leading
institutions the Jews contribute upward
OF 100000 a year. There is not a more
charitable woman In New York than
Mrs. Esther Herman. The almshouse
has no need 10 provide for Jew.
There are 100000 Jews In this city, and
about 100000 In the United States. and
yet the prison scarcely knows a Jew. He
is domestic above all men. The divorce
court seldom hears of him. The insane
asylum hardly knows of his existence. To
the Potter's Field he is absolutely I'M
known.
In their dealings Jews are as honorable
as other men are. Their social standards
are just as high as just as fine as other
peoples In corresponding positions. Money
oIten gets ahead of the manners Of Jews
and Gentiles alike. The noble ana igno-
Die exist everywhere In all races and an
religions.
Is It fair to let prejudice against indi-
Nlduals develop into prejudice against
racer When Charles Lamb was saying all
sorts OF hard things about another man
friend said to him: Mr.. Lamb, YOU
don't know him. you never met him"
NO was the answer IF / had met
him l fear l should like him.
Let us get better acquainted with each
other, mingle more freely, and I am sure
we shall like each other.
Hatred of the Jews must disappear r.
fore the enlightened, liberatIng and Iiber-
alizing influence of modern life. Racial
and religious prejudice belongs 10 the ig-
norance and superstitions of mediaeval
Europe.
For Christian in our day to turn from
Jew simply because he Is a Jew etamns
MIN rs un-American, humanity and nm
Christian. But have yet to know a man
who merits the name Of Christian who
has acted discourteously to his Hebrew
brethren.