New-York tribune., 1901-01-06
JEWS AND MAHOMETANS.
THE CURIOUS TOLERATION EXTENDED
TO THE FORMER IN MOST
MOSLEM COUNTRIES.
From The Spectator.


precise relation between Jews and MahOmetans.
Though the latter in some places persecute them
horribly, as, for instance in Morocco, where the
life of Jew, unless he is protected by Euro
pean consul, is hardly of more value than that
OF an animal. they are, we imagine, held to be
nearer to the ruling caste in Mussulman cOun-
tries, more like kinsfolk. than they are held in
any Christian country, except perhaps England,
where the distinction of creed and race is very
often forgotten. This is due imagine, first of
all. to the fact that the Mussulman races which
have borne rule have always been Asiatics. and
have recognized in Jews that comfy of Asia
which is at least strong as the bond which.
when men Of other colors assail them, binds the
white peoples together for defence. a Jew and
an Armenian safe in many Asiatic baZaars
where European. IL recognized such. would
owe his life to some personal or political protec-
tiOn. 1t was this comfy perhaps, rather than
traditional history, which induced the Persian
monarchs through so many ages TO recognize the
descendants OF David as Princes of the Captlv-
ty, and leave to them delegated authority as
Of princes ever their own people.
\ RELIGIOUS KINsHIP.
There is something more however. in the
lation of Jews to Mahometans. who. though re-
garding them intdels. and sometimes as
specially offensive infides, still find 1t easier to
form relations with them than with Europeans.
Mahomet himself. we fancy. never quite knew
whether he thought Of them as a sacred people
or a people specially inmicai tor himself and
therefore to God. He certainly hoped at one
time for their support and inclined 10
make OF Jerusalem the keblah. or sacred point.
TO which his followers should turn in prayer.
He mixed Jewish legends with his own 'revel-
world in which Mahomctans place any faith Is
a variant upon the history in the old Testament
The khalifs occasionally raised Jews to posts of
great confidence. and In Spain under the Arab or
Moorish dynasties they were allowed 10 claim
position almost OF equality. They were some
times mobiles. so far as there can be mobiles under
a Mussulman dynasty. they filled the profess
sions, and il is still doubtful whether most of
the high civilization of Granada and Seville
might not be fairly ascribed to Jewish intelli-
gence and freedom from scruple in investigation
Even now though the Turk will tolerate no
IN Ie iS
essentially Arab. is far divided in blood from
the Turk, who is essentially "A Mongol, as the
European is. the Jew sometimes obtains in
Turkey very remarkable position. He is said
to rule in Salonica for instance In n way which
would not be tolerated in the case of any Chris
tian sect. and to use MS curious underlined IN
fiuence with the ofiicals-which does not wholly
depend on bribery-greatly to his own com
The Mussuman feeling. in fact, toward the
Jew appears to resemble closely that of Euro
pean man toward "A kinsman who is regarded as
"A mauvais sujet TO be avoided and kept down,
or if necessary. to be given up To the authOri-
ties. hut. nevertheless, TO be reluctantly ac-
xnOWledged 10 be kinSman. The feeling tow
ard him may be as bitter as in any Continental
country, but it is differentiated by the fact that
the contempt is not complete. A curious in
stance Of this has just come To our knowledge
The present WPiter ought to have heard of il
long ago. but there are strange lacune in the
knowledge ri all men, even upon subjects which
intensely interest them. 1t Is "A proclamation
issued by AbdurTahman Khan, the present
Ameer Of AfghanlStan, in lSSS, addressed to his
entire people, and, we believe. posted up in
Herat. In this singular paper the Ameer treats
the identity Of the Afghan tribes and the chill
dren of Israel a fact known. and admitted
narrates the history of the latter up to the Cap
tiVity- with fair accuracy. and then with
superb jump accounts for their presence in
Afghanistan by emigration from Arabia 20
"CihOur." where, by the mercy of Allah. they
We're converted. to the true faith. In it the
Ameer speaks of the Covenant of God made
with your ancestors" and holds his people be-
cause IF that Covenant and their common ances-
try bound 10 abstain from their incessant, and
him most annoying, internal quarrelS. ii is
simply impossible. that such proclamation could
have been issued to any people who despised the
lineage attributed to them, and we may, we
think, assume it to ne a fact that Afghans,
whether they fully believe in their legen-
Diary descent from the children of Israel are
proud rather than otherwise of the legend.
A LINK BETWEEN EAST AND WEST
There is nothing therefore. inherently anti
pathetic between the Jews and the Mussumans,
and we driven to reflect, we have often
been driven before, whether the author of Daniel
Deronda' may not have been better inspired
than some of her critics whether, that is. the
Jew may not some day turn out 20 be the neces
saTy link between the West and the East. 1t is
rather an important question, for West and
East being driven together by super
natural machinery and begin to feel their in
ability TO understand each other an immediate
political and social impediment. The Jews as
| a race understand both, and though they prob