El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-17

Jewish influence in Mexico's business
| and finance is notable. Two hundred
and fifty years ago Jews were publicly
| burded in this city as q special
| ly bad sort of heretic. But, although
after this unpleasant practice was dis
continued, Jews were regarded with
adherence, traces of which still sur
vive in popular speech, men of this
race continued to come here and some
times to acquire property and infience.
However, not until the last dozen years
have the Jews in this country been at
ell numerous.
Not that the Spanish portion of the
population, that is, the Mexican peo-
pie of Spanish origin, do not frequent
ly show unmistakable Indications OF q
strain of Hebrew blood, for, as this
country was largely settled by i'm
migrants from Andalusia, it was only
natural tn at ewish race characteristics
should be evident here as we'll as Moor
ish. During the days of the Moorish
domin alton in Spain, Jews we're pro-
tected and often intermarried with the
native populat And when the majo-
rity of the Jews were driven from
Spain many remained and became, at
least nominally Christians, practising,
it is said on excellent authority. the
rites of their ancient religion in secrecy.
Walking the streets of Mexican
cities, one sees among people who deem
themselves of old Spanish stock all the
racial characteristics of the uuchapge-
able Hebrew, the aquiline nose, the
curly hair. etc. And some of the
most distinguished men here, eminent
in the law and in medicine and COM
MERGE bear names that one often finds
among the lists of ''reconciled' Jews
during the pslmy days of the inquisi-
ton in Mexico. These men have the
strong intellectual bent of the Jews,
they are usually good business men
and they are distinguished by pierre
ing eye and distinguished bearing,
perhaps secretly cherishing the pride
of their imperishable race. One
could make a long list of prominent
men here clearly of Jewish ancestry,
whom any ethnoloeist would at once
set down as Hebrews. l number some
OF them among my friends, and their
keen mentalities mark them for Jews,
at least in part.
In many families who are devoted |
Catholics, the impartial and instructed
observer notes the strong Jewish traits, |
the women having the classic Hebrew
lace. the deep and soulful eyes; and a |
certain "tristezs, (which one has come, |
perhaps influenced by tradition, to as
sociate with the daughters of Psles-
tine. A famous antiquarian here says |
that the amount of unexpected Hebrew
blood in Mexico is great. know ladies
Of unimpeachable Catholicism who bear
strong infusion of Jewish blood. The
7oung girls are perfect Jewesses in ap-
,earance and have little of the pure
spanish type.
The chronicles of the ancient City of
dexico show that, over 300 years ago,
here were Jews here who artfully, and (
With infinite precautions, practiced !
many of the rules of their Mosaic reIi- I
ion. Two Jews are especially men
toned in the annals of the Holy Inoui-
ition, who, for the space of SO years, |
ived in the heart of this city, faithful {
o the law of Moses. Secretly did they ,
make sacrifice to the God of Jacob, Sc
reilly did they observe their pres cribed
asts, alleging sometimes that they ate I
OF because of headache or weak stom- '
Ii, ETC., and they anointed their doors t
t certain times with lambs blood.
Iothing was known of this concealed s
Judaism until they were denounced to q
ne inquisition by an old servant. J
lany Jews who had been converted C
nd afterward relapsed, were taken in e
and by the vigilant inquisitors, and a o
Iirly full record of their cases is still 8
v
There were Jewish people discover
practicing their religion here half a
,ntury only after the conquest, men Il
no had fed from Spain, intoleranG fl
ewing that here they would be free Ct
ON molestation. But they found RI
at in Mexico they had to observe S
e precepts of their faith in secret, b.
I'd they had ever it mind the dun b.
IONS of the inquisition and the burn q,
g place for heretics. Even in the al
idle years of the 18th century it was d.
ost dangerous to be suspected of Ju- d.
ism; it meant the confiscation of M
e's properly and imprisonment. pc
ssibly sentence TO forced labor, or tn
en- to the stake and faggots. There &c
mains to be noted the interesting q
Sc of Tomas Trevino. the son of Jews ed
10 had been dealt with by the da
anish inquisitiop. He cane over be
re somewhat after the year 1000. He
tered into business and prospered, an
t was suspected of Judaism, was ar sp
ted, and protesting repentance, was he
free, but watch was kept on him lea
thOut his knowledge. of
He then married a woman of Span we
race, and by her had two children. me
r time he WAS established as q or,
,pkeeper in Quad alsja where, col
story runs, he had a shop with two hill
frances. Under one door he had Sc fee
tly buried an image of Christ, and bit
the customers who came in by the ed
'r, 1g norant of Jreading upon their me
I'd, he sold more chesply than to
TONERS entering by the other door. lar
2 of the offences alleged against Je,
,v1no was that he had in his posses spl
"Holy Child of wood, hand the
lely carved, to which nightly he al ate
listered sound castigation with a is {