The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-04-25
The Jews OF America.

tThe Jews Of America. are preparing 10
celebrate their'first coming to this coun-
! try. two and a half centuries ago. The
celebration will center in New York city,
where there are as many Jews as there
| are in nll other parts of the country coT-
bined There are nov in New York city
100000 Jews. most of whom have come
in within the last twenty years The
Tribune says that to-day on an average
one man in six met in New York is a
Jew, and that if the tide Of immigration
| from Russia and Southeastern Europe
continues as in the past the proportion
OF Hebrew citizens will be still greater.
Twenty years prior to 1904 there arrived
at Ellis Island 6s4172 Jewish immigrants,
OF whom 504,lSl remained in the city.
Contrasting the condition of tho Jews
in New Amsterdam and those lin New
York to-day, the Tribune says that when
the first twenty-three Jews who formed
the first Hebrew colony in this country
landed in New Amsterdam in 1864 their
baggage had to be sold at auction to pay
their passage, At the present time it Is
estimated that, the Jews OF New York
investment of $50 ooo. 900, and their annual
wholesale TRADE is now rated at $780,
100000. The first Hebrew settlers in New
Amsterdam were refugees fl.m the op-
preston of the Portuguese and came
originally from Brazil by way Of the
West indies Their coming was the sig
nal for number of law suits which
caused q stir in the little colony. Other
Jews arrived in the meantime, and it,
Is believed that they, having larger means.
or the courts. When Governor Stuyve-
SAINT saw more Jews coming in he took
alarm and decided to evict them all.
But it turned out that a large amount Of
Jewish money was invested in the Dutch
West India country, and the directors
Informed the Governor that such persecu-
ton Of the New Amsterdam Jews would
be exceedingly unwise. The Jews re-
manned. but their oppression continued
They were not allowed to have ground
for a cemetery until one of their number
died, when they were given plot for
q burial ground. They were also for
1,dden to build a synagogue and when
they tried to sell goods at retail they
learned that the directors OF the COM
pany had refused them this right When
they wanted to buy real estate they were
informed that this was against the law,
The refusal of the Dutch to lot the Jews
carry on a retail trade caused them to
engage in the import trade and to this
line Of business they have ever since do
voted so much attention that they now
carry on most of the wholesale trade OF
New York. But In addition they have
captured most OF the department stores
in the city and now carry on the great
bulk Of retail trade.
It was also designed originally that the
Jews should live in the Same quarter OF
the community and If the wishes Of the
directors Of the Dutch West India Com
pany had been carried out New York
would have had real Ghetto; but IN
spite of that design. the city to-day has
Nv h"a'tS' WHlSH may NC STRICTLY Called
the Ghetto, and at the present time, adds
the Tribune the wealthiest Jews have
homes in the most arstocratlc districts
and many of tho houses III Alillonaircs'
Walk" opposite Central Park, arc owned
by them They have n large number OF
fine synagogues, and they nre most in
fluential in the financial and political at
fairs of the city.
The Jews in all parts of America are
part and parcel of the body polite. and
in the South at least they are not treat.
ed or regarded as a distinct nationality.
They are American and Judaism is their
religious faith 1t is no wonder that they
feel like celebrating this notable anniver-
sary and their great achievements In
America.
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