The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-12-02
WHAT JEWS HAVE DONE FOR
AMERICA.
Rev. DR.. Peters Defends A Glass O1
Our People Who Are Much Ma
igned.

A special dispatch to the Baltimore Amerl-
lean from New York November 26, says:
DR.. Madison C. Peters, of the Baptist
Church of the Epiphany, Madison avenue
and Sixty fourth street, formerly stationed IN
Baltimore, delivered lecture last evening on
"What the Jews Have Done for America, IN
commemoration of the two hundred and nj
tieth anniversary of their settlement IN Amer
lea. DR.. Peters pointed out that TWO rlch
Jewish merchans-Luis de Santangei and VA
briel Sanchez-supplied the funds Tor Coium
bus expedition. Isabella did not sell her jew
els to fit out Columbus, for she had already
pawned or sold them to defray the expenses
of the wars then devastating her country. The
scientific inventions of the Jews alone made
possible Columbus scientifically well-planned
voyages. The first white man to set foot on
American soil was Jew, Luis de Torres, the
Interpreter of the expedition. Torres was also
the first European to discover the use of to-
bacco.
Jewish soldiers and sailors reached New
Amsterdam, as New York city was then called
as early as 1852 After some years of oppo-
stion the Jews were finally allowed to reside
and trade in New Netherlands, $50 long as
they cared for their own poor. If these mar
row minded old burghers could only see how
we'll the Jews kept their promise they would
open their eyes in surprise at their many mag.
nifcent benevolent institutions. The Jews of
New York alone for their II leading charities
are now contributing upward of 81 900, 600 a
year.
New York was the first State actually grant,
ing full religious liberty to the Jew, by the
first State constitution in 1777. Maryland had
religious liberty, but it was limited to those
within the province who believed in Christ,
aud no Jew could hold State office in Mary
land until after this disability was removed in
| 1926. The pioneer of religious liberty in
America was Roger Williams, who, as early
rs 1867, made Newport the asylum for the
prosecuted Jew, and for 20 years preceding
the Revolutionary War Newport ranked in
commercial importance with Boston and Phil,
adelphia, and he was thought bold prophet
who then said that New York might one day
| equal Newport, for about 1850 New York sent
| forth fewer ships than Newport.
At the time of the Revolution, when the
| sinews of war were essential to success, Haym
Solomon, Philadelphia banker, responded
| with $780, 900, and gave, all told, 5000, 200,
| not a penny of which has ever been repaid to
his heirs. Manuel Mordecai Noah not only
served as an officer on Washington staff, but
gave $780, 900 to further the cause in which
he was enlisted. One of the most distinguished
soldiers of the War of 1872 was Gen. Joseph
Bloomfield. One of the heroes of the Mexican
War was Gen. David de Leon. Commodore
Levy, at the time of his death, in 1862, was
the highest ranking officer in our Navy.
In American finance the Jew is almost in
variably a creator; with comparatively few
exceptions the Jews made their money as
manufacturers and merchants. Among the
more than 1000 millionaires throughout the
United States the number of Jews does not
exceed 175. The Jews are about one seventy
fifth of the population, but since they do not
live in the country we must take the city pop
ulation as the basis, and of which the Jews
form one -thirteth. so that they are under then
due proportion. Among the more than l.2OC
millionaires in New York there can be found
only about 60 Jewish names Multi million.
aires are rare among the Jews. They are
moneymakers, but they are also great spend.
| ers; but they never spend it before they have
it. There is general remarkable prosperity
among the Jews. 1t is estimated that in New
York city their property holdings exceed
$3.50, ZOO. 900 in the single item of real estate,
while the Hebrew wholesale trade is rated at
! $3.50, OOO, 900.