New-York tribune., 1905-01-29
REPLIES TO Mr.. DEwEY's LETTER.
Rabbi Bernard Drachman Answers State
Librarian.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir; Permit me to give expression TO few
thoughts in reference to the letter OF State Libra
rian Mevil Dewey in your issue OF the 24th inst,
in which he attempts to defend his connection with
the Lake Placid Company. organization which
excludes the people OF my faith from its holdings
in the Adirondacks.
The letter is about as painful bit OF reading as
it has ever been my misfortune 10 peruse. That
such intense bigotry and bitter prejudice can exist
in this enlightened age and land is shocking
lation. That the savage hatreds and malevolent
antipathies of the Dark Ages did entirely pass
away with the advent Of better time Is Of course.
a tTuism. Hitherto however, they have been sup
posed to be confined TO benighted lands OF the Old
World such as Russia or Morocco. That they
should exist in this country. be openly professed
by organizations and be participated in by men OF
prominence in the educational world such as the
State Librarian is a painful surprise. For the
standpoint OF the Lake Placid Company, as stated
in the letter of Mr.. Dewey. IS not merely the ex-
clusion Of dsagreeable persons, Hebrews or Chris
tians but the ostracism Of Hebrews as sueh be
they the most refined and cultured He states ex-
plictly that the offensive circular complained II
by the New-York gentlemen who are asking his
removal was issued because II was found TO be the
only means of excluding cultivated and desir-
able Jews" q quote his own wordsl
For such extreme prejudice there can be no rea-
sonable foundation, it can only be comprehended
as a species of atavism--a blind. inherited sntip-
athy to name. No sensible Jew will object to the
exclusion from social intercourse OF disagreeable
persons OF his faith or Of any other. They bring
their punishment upon themselves by their mis-
conduct or repeIlant hRracteristics. 10 make how
ever the mere fact OF Judaic descent or creed in
dependent OF personal characteristics disability
in itself is an act OF outrageous unfairness OF
which no person OF true refinement or nobility or
thought would be guilty. For a State official to
encourage such sentiments ought to be sufficient to
make him impossible IN the service OF a liberty
loving people
1t is not my intention to defend the Jewish people
They need no defence at my hands race OF
unrest Caucasian blood which has stood for thirty
centuries at the forefront OF civilization TO which
the world owes its Bible its religion and its moral
ity whose men have been renowned Tor WISDOM ana
benevolence and its women for beauty and virtue
since time irnmemorial. has Its reputation TOO
firmly established be injured by petty social ex-
olusiveness But 1 must express my conviction that
an officer of education who AIS ahd abets the
rousnR of racial and religious preJudices mas To-
.sU,, failed to comprehend the nature Of his office
ord ,s nanifesy unfit for his post. All efforts on
the mart of Mr. Dewey to smooth over this fact are
unavaiIing and arouse only the disgust OF seIi
respecting men,
NJ Dev,ev tries 10 establish distinction be-
tween his official and his private conduct. and
statea that while in private he may have as
sisted in ostracizing the Hebrews. in his Official
life he has always been extremely friendly 10
them Such distinction VIII not oo' one cannot
NAV DIR. Jekyn and Mr. Hyde; extend the glad
hand or friendship in official life. and show the
demouiaeal countenance OF hatred ana ostracism
tn nrivate The fact remains that the state
thra rtan is connected with and has been manager
oF an organization which puts the grayest anront
CosShle upon the entire Jewish community, nun
dTeds OF thousands OF loyal and law abiding Gu.
seCs and taxpayers, and declares, in effect that
the best and noblest of them is not fit to be asso-
ciated with. And, therefore, while usuaIIy pc
IieVe IN ignoring such manifestations Of senseiess
hiogtry / agree in this instance with the gentle
men VINO have petitoned for his removal from the
nnbc office which he holds. Such a man Is out
~ place in the governmental system or state
which has its basic theory equal rights Ior
All most of ALL IN the department OF education
BY example, II not BY precept. he Is sowing inc
seeds OF racial and religious aIliInosity, thus
nuIIifying one OF the most important kinds or
work of our public school system. the harmopiza-
ton and assimilation of the different elements OF
our citizenship.
Permit me in conclusion 10 dwell brteny upon
that which is the root OF the whole troueie-the
social ostracism OF the Hebrew. II appears 70 me
that this is a great mistake, Just from the stand
poipt OF AmeTicanism. What does II meanf IL
means that the Hebrew is being punished Tor be-
coming AnericaniZed for seeking closer connee-
ton with the nation with whom his lot is cast In
former ages the Jew clung TO his ghetto and anx-
iously avoided contact with the Gentle. Ihsn ne
reproached with exciusiveness was eailed
clannish and narrow. The liberty and poltueal
privileges OF America have broadened his heart