The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-09-10
No Race Distinction.

from DR.. FUNK and Dr. lsIDoRE SINGER
warning the Jews against such move
ments OF self-assertion as the attempt
to force out of office the State Librarian
because of alleged but improved discrim-
ination against the Jewish race are OF
grave Importance.
Aswe have frequently pointed out, Jew
ish development in the city Of New York
has been unparalleled in the history OF THAT
race. Estimates OF the late enumera-
ton Of the population Of this community
made by the State vary from about four
millions to more than four millions and
a quarter for the actual statistics will
not be published until very much later
in the present month. Whatever the
official enumeration, it is reasonable to
assume that the larger estimate is nearer
the fact. The accuracy of State censuses
generally is more open to, suspicion
than that OF the Federal. More espe-
cially in a great community like New
York both are taken at season when
the difficulty Of obtaining full enumer-
alton Of a cosmopolitan population is
|
considerable part Of the population
leaves town. Whole blocks in the resi-
dental districts are then abandoned by
their usual inhabitants, and very many,
probably most, Of the houses are left
without caretakers. Moreover, political
considerations involved in the redis-
tricting OF the town for voting and
representative purposes come in to throw
reasonable suspicion on the returns
reported.
The immigration to this port in the last
five years has been the greatest in the
history of the town. 1t has aggregated
more than two millions, and it has been
Of the kind of which the largest percent
age always remains in this town. 1t is
reasonable, therefore, to assume that the
growth Of the population since the Fed
eral census of 1900 has been at an I'M
usually high rate.
This accession by immigration has
been almost wholly Of Jews and Italians,
and the numbers of those races in New
| York have changed the whole COM
plexion OF the community. The sta
tistics of births cannot be relied on for
scientific accuracy, but they may be
taken as indicating something approx
mating the relative numbers Of the diff
ferent races in the population. Those
statistics for last year showed natural
increase among the Jews far greater
than in any other race. A Jewish popu-
lation OF three-quarters OF million had
been estimated but this indicated birth
rate suggests that actually their num-
Der moro nearly approaches million,
and the vast Jewish immigration since
1900 fortifies the assumption. That would
make the Jews about quarter Of the
whole population, and at present they
are increasing rapidly by further access
sions from eastern Europe.
As DR.. SINGER says, this influx Of
Jews into New York, where already they
make up by far the most numerous
single community of their race gathered
together in the history Of mankind,
raises a Jewish problem of new and
momentous importance. Business jeal-
ousy and race prejudice unite with in
herited religious superstition to make
serious their aggregation here, and the
greatest moderation on their part, the
avoidance Of any effort at distinctive
race assertion, is desirable both for them
and for their gentle neighbos.
The Jews as something like quarter
Of the population Of New York are
powerful politically, and their power
might be dangerously provocative II it
should be asserted simply as race.
As it is, however, they are divided polit-
ically very much as are other races,
but the attempt to concentrate their
political strength for such a purpose
as forcing the removal Of particular
State officer against whom no accusation
was made except that business enter
prise with which he was associated
privately had offended Jewish sus-
capabilities, suggests mischievous
possibility. 1t suggests an attempt to
force social equality, something which
can never be forcibly established. Nor
was there any necessity for making the
effort. The Jews, 30 numerous, con-
tanning among the number so many
materially rich and powerfully endowed
intellectually, need no'such assistance in
the making of their way socially.
The fact that more than any other
race in the community they are push
ing forward in trade and the professions
shows that they are actually suffering
practically from no race discrimination
They crowd the public schools, in which
majority Of the pupils attaining the
highest rank enthusiastically are Of their
race, and in the colleges and UNIVERSE
ties Of the town they are more numerous
proportionately than in the population
as a whole. In business, in education,
in the professions there is no bar to
their progress socially In the end
everybody receives the social consider
alton to which he 10 entitled, but he
must wait to be called up to the chief
seats u the synagogue. In London
there is a marked absence of social dis
elimination against Jews Of refinement.
A Prime Minister Of England, illustrious
in its history, was Of the Jewish race.
Another English Prime Minister married
a Jewess. At Newport in this country