Washington sentinel., 1899-01-28
ANTIS
OtH0H GHeYEac, iH the "NszV York
Nation"

ANTI. SEMIT TIsM.
OtH0H GHeyIac, in the "NszV York
Nation"
Anti.Semitism has unquestlonabY
in the past few years made formidable
progress in France, and at the present
moment PLAYS a considerable role in
that country. It's more recent manites'
tations are too significant and diverse
to permit us to shut our eyes on this
astounding fact, which humlliates every
liberal Frenchman. Anti 'Semitism has
become a power and has transformed
itself into political party in the very
country which gave to the world the
Declaration OF the Rights of Man, IN
which it is said that "all men are born
tree and equal;' the country which,
century ago, accorded citizenship to
Jews, and since 1891 has treated their
religion as a form Of worship recognized
by the State, and saiaried it's ministers
equally with those Of the Protestant and
Catholic faith.
Numerous facts, taken at random,
show the position suddenly acquired in
France by this movement, which, fifteen
years ago, was unknown there, and
which was then talked about only as a
far of epidemic raging in backward
countries like Russia, Roumania, Austria
and Germany. 1t will be enough to
recall the part played, consciously or
unconsciously, by anti Semitic prejudice
at the very beginning OF the Dreyfus
affair, when officers notoriously anti
Semitic we're the first to suspect the
lew Dreyius of having written that
60r4eysaR which everybody knows today
was written by the good Christian
Esterhazy, former Papal Zouave.
A month or more ago the CITY OF
AIgiers. the capital of our great African
colony, not satisfied with having chosen
as Deputy the celebrated Drumont, who
had failed Of an election in France, and
with having been tor twelvemonth :he
scene OF veritable Jew baitings, boycott
ting oil Jewish traders, street rows and
| encounters, elected as Mavor a Young
agitator OF Italian origin, Max Regis
scarcely IS years old, and whose sole
claim to the place was his having been
one OF the leaders OF the gang who shout
Death to the IewsW This singular
Mayor was no sooner elected than he
declared he would make AlgieTs "unin-
habitabIe BY Jews." decided that the cry
death to Jews" was not sedItious, and
in his newspaper, the riHh /Hif organ
g-a~i.H eartyfra rntrnnuyra n fha
press Of the entire world. 1t consisted
IN the creation OF a Photographic outfit
directed against the Christian women
who 1atronized Jewish dealers, in order
to publish their portraits and hold them
up to the public. Itmust be added that
the Government Immediately suspended
this bold and original magistrate tor
| three months. Finally, as the latest
| feature betTaying the violence Of anti
Semitic passion in Algeria, a large
/ French liquor house having a Jewish
representative in that coudtry had to
discharge him because its customers
refus d 70 give orders to a Jew, and a
court denied the damages which the
latter sought TO claim.
When once the Dreyfus affair is over.
and the dementia calmed down, nothing
will remain of all this, because anti
Semiusm in France has no excuse tor
being. The Jews there are but little in
excess Of SO, 600 to Ioo, 600, of whom the
great majority are thoroughly assimi
lated. II among them are many
| fnauciers who have come from Germany
and have made rapid fortunes, a greater
number were born in France or were
brought there at an early age, and have
| made an honorable or illustrious name
| in the sciences, in literature, in the
magistracy and the army. The Univer.
sity reckous among its best masters
| eminent Iews Everywhere that COM
| petition exists, the Jews distinguish
themselves by their brilliant success.
| The Renach family comprises threS
| brothers, OF whom two are SavaHkS and
one a politician, who sre remarkable
samples OF .he working powers and
intellectual suppleness Of the Jews.
Furthermore, the fact Of being a lew
has not been an obstacle m the view
either of popular suffrage or ot the
Government. In Parliament, since 1880
and 1913, there have always been
representatives Of Israel. At this very
moment the Senate includes four or five,
and the Chamber as many. In the last
elections, for the first time, the fact OF
being a lew proved injurious. It there
have never been, as an English review
recently maintained, ~ Jewish projects
out Of 20, the proportion Of Jews IN the
! administration IS very weighty: there
are high magistrates and even generals
| holding 20 the faith OF Israel. And, then
| the French are too indifferent IN matters
of religion. and too deeply imbued witt
| the principles Of the Revolution, tc
make race distinctions.