The gold leaf., 1899-09-14
In DEFENSE OF JEWS
DREYFUS A FRENCHIAN AND
PATRIOT.
'''"' James Is. E't rites About
the Attitude of France Toward the
Jews-Cause of the Deep seated
and Dangerous Prejudice Against
the People of this Race-Not Com
mercial Supremacy They Fear.
(Norfolk Firginian aud Pilot ,

the People of this Race-Not COM
merciaI Supremacy They Fear.
tNorfolk tlrginian and Pilot
1t Is as astonishing as it is deplor-
able that at the close Of the XIX
century so enlightened, chivalrous.
manly and free a people as the French
should be so filled with prejudice and
hate as they are represented to be.
when 1t is said that the extraordina-
ry infamous, brutal and treacherous
persecution of Dreyfus is mainly
inspired against him as a ...Jew,7'
representing a race held to be 1.-The
enemies Of the country and ready.
as he Is accused Of having done
to bctray France and disgrace her
army. Our late ambassador to
France, Hon. j. b. EustiS, of Louis
lana, an able gentleman and well
fuallfled to speak on this matter,
has recently said in an American
magazine, in an article entitled
'Drcyfus and the Jewish Question
III France, as follows:
lin France the jew is considered
as an enemy Of la patrie: the pred iu-
dice against him does not arise from
causes which are alleged ,o-cxist in
other countries, such as the success
ful competition OF that remarkable
race III the struggle for individual
success ami supremacy in the various
departments Of trade and industry.
This decp-,catcd and dangerous
ii 8
springs from an apprehension that he
IS attempting by the secret use Of the
power OF his wealth to dominate the
control Of the government Of France
to detriment OF the State. In this
country we regard the State as a
mere political agency; in France the
State is regarded as a paternal inst
tuition. and it is a common accusation
against the jew in France that he is
plotting to overthrow her institutions
and to bring about her ruin. In
studying this interesting question
the writer was startled by a state
ment made to him by prominent
retired army officer, with whom he
had been calmly discussing this
question, when he exclaimed: The
next time we have revolution,
we will erect Il guillotine on the
| Place de la COncorde and we will be-
head every Jew in France 1t must
not be understood that this is an in
| dividual opinion, but quite the con-
| trary.n
This is mOnstrous from any quarter
but when it comes from a representa-
| tive Frenchman of the times on the
authority of Mr.. Eustis, we cannot
| discredit it, no matter how revolt
ing it is to every enlightened sem
| timent amonga free and generous
| people. And remember that France
| began the emancipation of man in
| Europe from the opinions and slavery
| of the dark ages: in France occurred
| the great revolution which announced
..liberty, equality, fraternity;'' and
during it, on their own petition. the
| Israeltes of France, advocated by
| Mrabeau, were admitted to an equal
French citizenship, afterwards fully
recognized and ratified by the great
Emperor. Since then, as French
men, they have shared all the vicissi-
tudes of France and none of her sons
| have been abler-CremieuN, Goud-
chaux. Fould and Gambetta having
been distinguished premiers of the
Statewide they even filled high
places in the army and navy, where
their bravery and devotion were con-
| spicuous.
1t was the French, too, who in re-
| TO hn IL II
| other designations regarded as
opprobious and have ever since
| known them as '.IsraeliteS,n rs well
as Frenchmen.
| Surely no country has better cit
izens than its Hebrew people. lr all
fthe qualities that go to make useful
member of society, the Hebrew is
eminent being sober. industrious, law
abiding and orderly rarely needing
his country's charity, as he equally
avoids all causes for her criminal
attentions. Why Dreyfus should
have been chosen as the victim
of the damnable plot, we do not
know; but if selected because of his
race and religion, his heroic and
lofty character shows that the Israel
ite is no degraded parsonage in
France, and his triumphant acquitta
gratifying to an anxious world, vii
vindicate his co-religionists in France
from all suspicion of their attached
loyalty and patriotism.
1t is under persecution, however
that the Hebrew is at his best; ant
surely no other people have under
gone so much so nobly. May Goo
grant Dreyfus safe dellverance, an'
may all men cease to hate each othe
on account of difference in religion
or blood. Amen.
He is a wise man that can aVolt
evil; he is a patient man that cal
endure it: but he is valiant maj
that can conquer it.
Next to the association with
great and good man is the association
l t>1-