The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-06
Prof. Cohn and the Jews.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: In his
epistolary explanation sent to THE Sun yester-
day Prof. Cohn begins in a most u~nassuming
manner to proclaim that his person "is of very
little Importance" yet within q dozen lines he
boldly mounts the pedestal on which stand
Benedict Spinoza and Heinrich Heine.
1t seems to me that when o man is ashamed Of
his religion. and begins to apologize for having
had the misfortune to be born in 1t. tho idiocy
of Mr.. Balaam's beast is for once mastered. All
men will forgive the professor his source of
birth, but who will admit him into their relig-
ious lines after ho describes 30 graphically how
detestable and abhorrent his race isl
How disingenuous of Prof. Cohn to say that
his views severely received the condemnation
Of his father. and that the generation he had
for his fathers memory led him to put on tho
altar a great sacrifice Of predestiued talent,
when in this very letter he contradicts both the
generation for the father and the fathers
memory, and rushes into print with the precepts
that received his venerable parents severe con-
domination.
These precepts are, briefly stated. that tho
on earth. and that the time has come when Il
mass Of iiboraiiSed humanity; in short. that the
Jews had better in the great mass Of
thisi last point he seems to Be as Il toiera 55iIfe Certain
mission on earth" OF his own mission he ia
R sSss peih s.IsHf IL ,o Is tns S os Y SSlSSGl d sfnfs %ish ons,
and his mission to say, unto the Jews that they
have no mission; that therefore they should as a
race be. absorbed. But. professor, how shall we
best subserve your missionary work. Shall we
become Baptists or Episcopalians, Protestants
formed Presbyterians or United Preshyterians,
Protestant Episcopslians or Reformed Episco-
OF course. 1.-The peculiarities which arc Wis
ible in a great many of the individuals that be-.
long to 1t" 1.-THE jewish racc) the professor man.
mass Of iiberalized' mankind. He again leaves
us to infer that when these peculiarities were
n'st ao1St. he ' was sf SoPn IN cS amen IN 1 for al Of ai' ,h wi11.
Sas G91 r. e. such ~ a slight pscniiarityy ss having
turtles the professor 10 at once ready to forgive
and pardon in this great mass of liberalized
But bis piece de resistance the professor re-
serves Tor his close:
And may add that I have often said to my
brethren. for my brethren they are. In spite OF ali.
:esa.ioas :, long a. ,theyy hssys not snti,siy il'ied
t Tsss( ha sss too . often t msp psr stsS' asa ' %SisS S, mitch y
to hts d ,sth \, a, greatest Of all Jews. this noble ex:
Naiareth. ''~o
Thus, by accusing his brethren of the crime,
- ISr ms brethren they are IN spite Of Al, /" The
may rest on his shoulders as an acccompiicass alter
the fact; Like the slave. who went to hear
Whiteneld, and rolled in the dust In his enthu.
siastic religious excitement, until he was told 1t
was not Whitsfeld, when he picked himself up,
so does Prof. Cohn, in his ludlcrous attempt to
fasten the crime Of the crucinxion on his breth.
rem, endeayoring himself TO escape by his gran.
ing. Not the most religious fanatic OF this age
would think Of accusing tho Jews 1.-THE profess
ALI for the deed imputed, to tho professors an.
%cestors. But where. l ask, has this prosecuting
tendency OF the Jews exhibited itselff Surely
not at the Inquisition OF Spain; hardly at the
eviction Of the jews from Russia; certainly not
In tho anti-Semite movement in Germany, and
positively not in tho late riots In France, with
their cries OF " Death TO the Jews!" Perhaps
Prof. Cohn will enlighten us.
Prof. Cohn stands for q mighty poor apology
as a Jew. but II our religious neighbors would
admit him into their ranks, what a Christian no
would make! II. ~COPPERFIELD KRAKAuR.
NEW YORK, March 4.