The record-union., 1899-04-15
THE JEWS IN AUSTRALIA.
Have Played Prominent Part in
Development of the Colony.

The appointment of Sir Julian Salo-
mons as Agent General of New South
Wales would be pleasing announce
ment to the English Jews if it stood
alone as a disconnected fact of con-
temporary politics. But coming after
the resignation of Sir Saul Samuel, and
marking for the first time in history the
holding by two Jews in practically i'm
mediate succession of an important
semi diplomatic post, it is doubly well
come to u.s.. 1t shows the completeness
with which racial and religious divid-
ing marks have been obliterated in the
infant nationalities over the sea, and
the thoroughness with which they have
adopted the lessons of equality that
older nations only preached. 1t shows
that the Jews are becoming daily more
identified with the national life, and be-
coming indssolubly incorporated in the
great fabric of the British Empire.
Above all, it demonstrates that in the
great pioneer work of empire-building
they are not behind other Englishmen,
that they are helping to carry the Brit
ish power onward, coming as messen-
gers from colonies to mother country
and forming in their own persons the
human bond between Englishmen and
their kith and kin beyond the ocean.
That Jews have done much pioneer
service in South Africa the annals Of
the last generation amply demonstrate.
That they have borne an honorable part
in the life of Australasia the success
sive appointment of two Jews to the
highest post in the gift of the New
South Wales Government, though the
entire Jewish population of the colony
numbers barely 5000, might be suffi-
cient proof. The story, however, of the
Australian colonies bears further evil
dence, if any were needed, of the hon.
orable part borne by Jews in the COM
mercial development of the colony. The
names of men like Lewis Phillips and
P. j. Cohen, early settlers in the col
ony; the Hon. S. A. Joseph, who died
few months ago; the Hon. Lewis Wolfe
Levy, father of Benin Levy, who has
just received the honorary freedom oe
Stafford; George Cohen, Chairman of the
most prominent commercial institutions
of Sydney; his father, Samuel Cohen
the first Jew elected member of the
Parliament of New South Wales: the
Hon. H. E. Cohen, who, after follow
ing commercial career, is now Judge
Of the Supreme Court CT New South
Wales and men now living in London,
like David Cohen and Sigismund Fluff
nung, are in themselves abundant tes-
timcny to the distinction which Jew
ish colonists have won for themselves
! i'll Australia.
But the name which leaps most
prominently to ones mind in this con-
nection is the ever-honored one of
Montefiore. Fifty years ago, when the
colony of New South Wales barely felt
its feet-an infant indeed among tine
family of nations-Jaceb and Joseph
Montef1ore had founded a firm there
which stood in the front rank of bLsi-
| ness establishments. Jacob Monte
| fore, indeed, boosted one of the largest
sheepruns in New South Wales, ana his
name is writ large in the colony's his
tory. At the junction of the Bell and
Macquarie Rivers, in Wellington Val
ley, stands the township of Montefors
In Adelaide, too, the two brothers gave
their name to a well-known hill; while
| the Bank of Australia survives to this
day as living monument Of their ac-
tivity and success, for they took a lead
ing part in it's establishment Jacob
Montefiore himself being for a consid-
cradle time one of the most energetic
directors.
The successive appointments of Sir
Saul Samuel and Sir Julian Salomons
is, therefore, in one sense but recog-
milton of the work which Jews have &C.
complished in the interests of the Aus
| tralian colonies. AS a quasi-diplomatic
post, toe, it serves to remind us of the
strangely Insignificant share which
Jews play in the diplomatic profession
as whole. Oscar Straus, the present
United States Minister to Turkey, is, of
course, a striking exception to the rule.
| The probable cause is, no. doubt, the
fact that it is only recently that Jews
have been admitted to political rights
or the service of the State at ALL But it
Is more than likely that, with the pro-
Sress of time, their natural cosmopoii-
tanisnl, linguistic talent and faculty Of
adaptation will more than redress the
unfay BILE balance in this respect
Jewish Chronicle