The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-27
THE JEWS POSITION HERE
n DISCUSsION OF LNTI-sEMITIs1r IN
THE UNITED STATES.

Opintons Frsu, Hebrews ~ ReHard ts a
Rztent OF the Prejudice AEainst The
Isace In This Couatry. Etc Causes ana Oh
Means by which It Can ne OVercsrn'
DR.. Emil G. Hlrsoh Of Chicago has Eathcre
the opinions of various prominent jews o
the subject of ant. semitism in the Unite
States for the latest issue of his journal. tn
gls6orm Advocate. The writers were asked I
express their opinions as TO it's existence. cnus
and nature, and the proper attitude Of th
american Jew toward 81.
Simon Wolf Of Washington wrote: AMT
Semitism began at Golgotha, and has beoI
foatsred and strengthened by the Christian
Church ever-since. As long as a single Jev
lives who Is pronounced IN his physlognomy
mode of life, and mental activity, there will b.
anti.Semitism. Mort of 1t in this country Is o
foreign origin, porpetuated by tho same low
envioua spirit that charactorizes II in othel
parts OF tho world. There is but one course o.
ection-to do our duty as citizens, TO vindicat,
by our conduct that We are not aliens, but citi
cans imbued with the Hottest spirit of patriotism
and Of tho civic virtues that adorn and grace
mankind"
Morris w. Cohn of Little Rock. Ark. said
i-Semitism is the result Of envy. dema.
gogy, or fanaticism. These are gradually be'
ing corrected. as 10 evidenced by the general dis.
approval OF thu intelligent ana fair-minded.
A complete stoppage is possible only under
such conditions as those: Either the entire
abandonment Of the word Jew. or constant
and extended intermarriages, or an ultimate
reconciliation between Judaism and Chri, ;.
tianity, 30 that no creedal differences shall DO
longer valued from q social point of viow."
Prof. g. Doutsch Of the Hebrew Union lRab-
binicaD College. Cincinnati, wrote: Anti.
Semitism is rooted in the psychological fact
that q man feels happier when he knows or b.
ievcs ho knows that others are inferior to him.
Its cause is historical. The inferiority Of the
Jews was q recognized principle on the statute
books of all civilized countries for the last six,
teen centuries. The democratic principles Of
our Constitution could just as little succeed in
removing 1t as they succeed In killing that
spirit of Bnobbery which makes titled paupers
DO highly valued an article in the American
matrimonial market"
The Rev. DR.. G. Gottheil. rabbi of Temple
Emanuel. Now York, wrote: Il do not think
Me have o right to speak OF the existence Of
a~nti.Semitism in America when we remember
what that word means in Europe. Certainly
we are not spared humiliations hero and there
on account OF our race and religion. but the an.
tipathy has never yet. AZ far as l know, as
sumed the form of a determined and outspoken
opposition. Regarding its cure-zionism- is
DR.. A. b. Arnold. a retired physician of Balti.
more, wrote: 1t is highly improbable that anti
appearance in tho United states and England.
j do not believe that commercial jealousy has
as much to do with anti.Ssmitism as is gener.
ally supposed. To obviate the friction result
ing in social organizations from differences OF
race and creed. the Jew. must cease to live a &c.
questered life, 30 that "a Jewish family shall be
an American family in all but the retention OF
it, religion and manner OF worship"
The ltev. DIR. b. Felsenthal, a retired rabbi of
Chicago. said: "A~nti.Semitism certainly exists
within the United States. Its causes are:
Jewish clannishness. the fact that in some Chris
schools the horrible dUctrine is taught that the
Jews are decides and by such teachings the
minds OF young children. Another cause Is
jewish chauvilism. and still another, loud.
racial antipathy. This is as real a fact and its
root is in the nature of man. just as racial afin.
lily is. The cure Is only partial. We must
eliminate our faults and cultivate all possible
virtpes-we must not be exclusive. but inclu.
siye."
".A~nti-semitism in the United Statos is born OF
the imperfect conception Of the Christian re-
boring ill-will toward their fellow men, violate
the basic philosophy of tho Christian religion,
The cure is. Educate the youth and
teach every Jew SO to model his conduct that
a living rcfutation Of every insincere and un
aspersion.'
Leo N. Levi OF Galveston said: "Anti-semt.
tism, as the term is understood In Europe, has
no existence in the United States. The genius
of our Federal and State Governments is hostile
the Jews encounter is in social lie and
this Is by no means general In the great cities.
sorts SO so@ and e in a few w e sH%e a has term summer noeF, Re:
tabooed in order to avoid association with OBJ.
5ectionable Jews. The process of thought lead
and inexorable. l doubt il 1t has
been analyzed before; Lei us try here to reduce
ignorant and unrefned in his effort to achieve
comfort, education and gcntility. He has
proven his capacity to succeed in his three great
aspirations, but, and here is tho rub. he grows |
rich faster than he becomes educated, and he
obtains education before he acquires the |
and degraded people. Under ordinary
it is said to take three generations |
sometimes one or two will suffice, sometimes
that one generation has frequently been su1fi.
among the American Jews. Education has
come more slowly and refinement is The lnRgard |
flock together, as indeed they should
and to the outsider the shortcomings Of the in.
arc imputed to the class. Just as a
apples in which, half the fruit is defective or
damaged, so society condemns a class in which
attitude should american Jews assume. you
rs sski TO this ! reply; RoI't obtrude yourself;
qualities thnt do not comport with g%entilitr
Merit will find its levol like water, and the
WIS., gChticuuHH VIII III Vue time be recOg-
nized and sought after. The trouble, 1 think.
in tho rich but vulgar Jew to whom applies |
tho saying. Every ass thinks himself worthy to
with tho Kings horses
Prof. Cyrus Adler OF the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition. Washington. wrote: II do not believe
1t exists; have entire confidence In the impos, |,
sibiity or us ever existing on the soil of the
United States, and | drnrecate any agitation Of
The Rev. DR.. X. Kohler. rabbi of Temple
Beth vi. New York. wrote: 81 claim that there !
IS no anti-Scmltism in this free land of ours.
l. IL antagonistic to the spirit OF both the
people and American institutions.
What we notice of antipathy shown to the Jew
In social life. the ostracism of tho Jew in sum.
mer hotels or In fashionable clubs, and in the
fraternities Mt the various colleges is, | think.
chiefly due to the fact that the Jew still .inpresses
the, Christian world around both by his name
and BY his forms OF life and speech as a foreign.
er. lie has not yet grown up In the same atmos- |
phere with his Christian fellow citizen so as to
elicit that free exchange Of thought and win
that perfect confidence and esteem which are
necessary, for true unity and harmony OF soul
and mind amid the diversity OF creed and
blood. Our faults and foibles are observed:
our virtues and noble traits akjch do NOT lie on
the SUFFICE, as do the for9A.r IRE little known
because wo seldom mceL&.r Christian friends
on terms OF social equality. The German
Christian probably suffers under the same dis.