The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-11-29
25Oth Anniversary.

25Oth Anniversary.
The two hundred and fftieth ami
versary of the landing Of the first par
ty of Jews on Manhattan Island is to
be celebrated by the people Of that
race throughout the country on Sat
urday, the 25th instant. 1t is posi-
BILE that a few Jews had reached
North America before this party ar
rived. But this was the first party,
and their coming caused something
of commotion. They had been driv-
en- out of Brazil and took refuge in
New Amsterdam because that was at
the time Dutch territory and the
Dutch had been less hostile TO the
Jewish race than other nations. New
ertheless, Governor Peter Stuyvesant
would have driven the refugees away
but that he was forbid by the Dutch
East India Company, in which there
were Jewish stockholders. This party
were so poor when they landed that
their baggage had to be sold to pay
their passage That was the begin
ming of the Jews in New York. They
now constitute one-siXth Of the popu-
lation Of that great city and own one
fifth of its wealth, their holdings be-
! ing estimated at a thousand million
dollars There are today more Jews
in New York city than ever lived at
one time in any other city-more than
Jerusalem ever contained, more than
there are today in the German En-
pire, France and Holland combined
and twice as many as there are IN al
the British Empire and South Amer
lea. In the size OF its Jewish popula-
ton the United States, stands third
among the countries OF the world,
and nearly half Of all the Jews in the
United States live in New York. The
number of Jews in the world is esti-
Charles NJ. Harvey in Leslie's Week
ly, at 100000. Of these, accord
ing to Mr.. Harvey's figures, 100000
live in Russia, 100000 in Austria
and 10000 in the United States. In
the number Of its Jewish citizens the
United States will soon stand first, fo-
they are coming at this time TO our
shores at the rate of 100, 900 a year, or
100000 in a decade, and with the
cruel prosecutions in Russia the tide
of emigration to this land Of freedom
and toleration will grow stronger.
1t was said that the blood Of the
martyrs was the seed Of the church.
And so the Jews have thrived under
persecution. Their industry is untir-
ing, the perseverance is unceasing.
They have triumphed over all obsta-
cles-over prejudice, over persecu-
ton, over jealousy, over unjust dis
criminations For centuries they have
been the leading bankers Of the world
and having their fingers on the purse
strings it has often been for them to
say whether nations shall go to war
or remain at peace. Since more just 4
and humane laws have admitted Jews
into the walks of political life they
have excelled as statesmen, as orators |
and as jurists. Disraeli, the Prime
Minister Of Great Britain, was a great
statesman and a distinguished author. !
judah P. Benjamin was one of the |
ablest of American lawyers. In all |
the walks Of life Jews may be found |
in the front ranks. There are eminent |
Jewish lawyers teachers, authors and |
physicians There are among them |
great bankers, successful merchants |
and manufacturers, and in the hum |
bier ranks of life they are busy work.
ers.
To this ancient race Christendom
owes its religion and the world its
grandest literature Its poetry and
its history go back to remote ages
The seven hills Of Rome the Eternal
CITY, were the homes of Wild animals
nearly three centuries after the