New-York tribune., 1905-11-26
THE JEWISH oUARrERMILLEYARY.

The celebration of the (approximate) 250th
anniversary Of the Jewish people in America
commands special attention from the general as
we'll as the racial or sectarian point Of view as
8 reminder of the part which this country has
PLAYED In the development OF human freedom
throughout the world We must remember that
the discovery Of America occurred at the time
when Jewish fortunes IN Europe seemed to be at
their lowest ebb Just two centuries before prac-
ticaIly all Jews had been exiled from that coun-
ry-England-which was then. as now, on the
whole, the freest in Europe. During the four
teenth and fifteenth centuries the Jews were
subjected 70 almost universal pillage and perse-
cution. They were infamously charged with
having caused the plague By poisoning the wells
and springs and were maSSacred on that &C
count Finally. in the very year Of the discovery
Of America they were forcibly expelled from
Spain, Portugal and France 10 the number OF
hundreds OF thousands-Spain herself in that
monstrous act of bigotry and despotism sealing
her own industrial and commercial death war
rant In such circumstances there was at least
an intimaion of good tdings to the prosecuted
people IN the discovery of new world
Not at once however. were they permitted 10
seek asylum here, The powers which pard-
toned the New World among themselves con-
troIIed for long tine all migration hither, and
they rigidIy denied the privilege to the Jews.
Tudor and Stuart, as well as Yalots and CASTLE,
barred the gates of the Americas against them,
and It was not until the wise, tolerant and oeneT-
olent administration OF Cromwell that the bars
were thoroughly broken down That illusrlous
man removed In England the ban which had
prevailed against the Jews for nearly four GEN.
turtles, and thus opened 10 them not only Eng
land hut those English colonies which were IN
time TO dominate the North American continent
II was not for many years not indeed. until
after Spottswood planned the first e1pansiontst
campaign IN the Shenandoah Valley, that Jews
were permitted to become landowners in Eng
land, and II was not until Just before that war
which gave to the English colonies the land be-
tween the Alleghanies and the Mississippi that
they were admitted to English citizenship, and
even that law was afterward- unhappily. for
time repealed But It was by virtue Of their re-
admission TO England by Cromwell. and-in q
measure perhaps because OF the encouragement
which Cromwells action gave to Holland-of
the Grant of Privileges in favor Of the Jews ad-
dressed by the Dutch West India Company TO
the Governor of New-Amsterdam, that they were
enabled securely 10 settle in this country in large
numbers two hundred and fifty years ago In
this year Of jubilee. therefore. England and
Holland. Oliver Cromwell and the Dutch West
India Company are especially entitled 10 the re-
membrance and thanksgiving OF the Jews
It IS OF course not 10 be forgotten that Jews
aided Columbus In his great venture. Some
actually sailed with him on his first voyage
and others were companions Of the conquerors
OF Mexico and Peru Suferance WIS. however,
the badge OF all their tribe even IN the doing Of
these services, and the few who were able, half
surrepttiously. to settle in Surinam. Curacao
and Jamaica constantly felt themselves under
the ban and in danger OF persecution and de-
gtructton But when Cromwell enancipated them
IN 1850 their whole status was changed. Five
years later English possession OF Jamaica made
that island safe refuge for them, Of which fact
many q token is 10 be seen there 70 this day.
Thence they came TO what is now the United
States where they met with various fortunes
In Nex>Amsterdam. although they wera toler-