Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-30
PRESIDENT TO JEWS
Roosevelt Writes Letter to Be Read at
tho Jewish Settlement Meeting at
Carnegie Hall This Afternoon
Praises the Hebrew Character.

Praises the Hebrew Character.
New York, Nov. 30.-At the Jewish
settlement meeting at Carnegie hall
this afternoon the following letter
fro mPresident Roosevelt was read:
"My Dear Sir: i am forced to make
a rule not to write letters on the oc-
casion of any celebration, no matter
how important, simply because can
not write one without either commits
ting myself to write hundreds Of ota-
ers or else running the risk of giving
offense to worthy persons. I make an
exception in this case because the la
mentable and terrible suffering to
which so many of the Jewish people in
other lands have been subjected makes
me feel it my duty as the head Of the
American people not only to express
my deep sympathy for them, as / now
do, but at the same time to point out
what fine qualities of citizenship
have been displayed by the men OF
Jewish faith and race, who having
come to This country, enjoy the bene-
fits of free institutions and equal
treatment before the law. l feel very
strongly that If any people are .op-
pressed anywhere. the wrong inevita-
bly, reacts in the end on those who op-
press them; for it is an immutable
law in the spiritual world that no one
can wrong others and yet in the end
himself escape unhurt. M
e1r1i, t,.oy, Off 10 ~
niversary of the settlement of the Jews
in the United States properly empha-
sizes a series of historical facts Of
more than merely national signff1-
canoe. Even in our colonial period the
Jews participated in the upbuilding OF
this country, acquired citizenship, and
took an active part in the develop
ment of foreign and domestic com.
merce. During the revolutionary per-
iod they aided the cause of liberty by
serving in the Continental army and by
Substantial contributions to the empty
treasury Of the republic During the
civil war thousands served in the arm
les and mingled their blood with the
soil for which they sought. am glad
to be able to say, in addressing you on
this occasion, that while the Jews. OF
the United States, who number more
than a million, have remained loyal to
their faith and their race traditions,
they have become indissolubly fncor-
porated in the great army Of Amer1-
can citizenship, prepared to make all
sacrifice for the country. either in war
or peace, and striving for the perpet-
5uation Of good government and for
the maintenance of the PRINCIPLES emf
bodied in our constitution. They ara
a1onorably distinguished by their In
dustry, their obedience to
law, and their devotion to the national
welfare They are engaged in gener-
Gus rivalry with their fellow citizens
OF other denominations in advancing
the interests Of our common country.
This is true not only Of the descendants
Of the early settlers and those of AM
ercan birth, but Of a great and con-
stantay increasing proportion of those
who have come to our shores within
the last twenty-five years as refugees
reduced to the direct straits of penury
and misery. All Americans may well
be proud Of the extraordinary illus
tration Of the wisdom and strength of
our governmental system thus afford
ed. In a few years, men and women
hitherto utterly unaccustomed to any
Of the privileges of citizenship, have
moved nightly upward toward the
standard Of loyal, self-respecting Ann
erican citizenship; Of that citizenship
which not merely insists upon its
rights, but also eagerly recognizes its
duty to do it's full share in the mater
ia1 and moral advancement of the
nation.
with all good wishes, believe me.
Sincerely yours.
(Signed) THEODORE ROOSEvELT.'
Jacob H. Schiff Esq, chairman.
committee OH celebation OF the 250th
anniversary Of the settlement of the
Jews in the United States, NO. 50 Will
lam street, New York"