The news & observer., 1905-12-02
Cleveland and Roosevelt
Recognize His Worth.
WISE AND PATRIOTIC
Has Given Gold and Blood in the Up
building Of This Nation. Two Hun
dred and Fiftieth Anniversary
Of His Landing ia America
Celebrated.
(By' the Associated Press. }

(By the Associated fFeSS.
New York, Nov. 30.-In celebration
of the 250th anniversary of the land
ing Of the Jews in America, a meet
ing was held in Carnegie Hall today
at which addresses We're delivered by
Grover Cleveland. Governor Frank w
Higgins. of the New York; Mayor
George B. Mcclellan, of New York
city; Bishop Coadjutor David Greer
of the New York diocese of the Pro-
testant Episcopal church; Mayor SulZ-
berger and Rev DR.. H. Pereira Men
deZ. President Roosevelt, who was un-
able to attend, sent significant letter
which was read to the great audience.
Vice-President Fairbanks telegrapned
from Washington his regrets and an
appreciation of the Jewish character
Jacob H. Schiff, chairman of the
executive committee which arranged
the celebration presided.
Mr.. Schiff, after few Introductory
remarks, presented Mr. Cleveland as
the first speaker
Cleveland's Address.
The former President gree,ed
with enthusiastic applause. He said
in part:
IF the people of the United States
glory in their free institutions as the
crown of mans aspiration for self
government, let them lot be unmind-
full of the fact that the Jews among
us, have in their care and keeping tn
history and traditions of an ancient
Jewish commonwealth astonishingly
like our own Republic in its democ-
racy and underlying intention. This
ancient cOmmonwea was ordained
of God for the government of his
chosen people; and we should no.
close our minds to q conception of the
coincidence in divine purpose, discov-
cradle in the bestowal of a similar
plan of rule, after thousands of years,
upon the people of the United States.
who also had their beginning in will-
ing submission to Gods sovereign
and the assertion of freedom in hi
worship. When with true American
enthusiasm and pride we recall the
story of the war for our independence
and rejoice in the indomitable
courage and fortitude of our revou-
tionary heroes. we should not fail to
remember how we'll eile Jews of Amer
lea performed their part in the strug-
gle and how in every way. they use
fully and patriotically supported the
interests of their newly found home.
Nor can we overlook, if we are de-
Gently just, the valuable aid cheerfully
contributed by our Jewish fellow
countrymen in every national emer-
gency that has since overtaken us. They
give convincing evidence of their as
similation with the best sentiment of
American patriotism by heartily join
ing in the popular acclaim that met
the selection of Washington as the
first President of our new republic
In support of this statement it certain
ly cannot be amiSS to quote the fol-
lowing passage from a letter address
sed to General Washington after his
election to the Presidency. by the He
brew congregation in New Port
Rhode Island:
Deprived as we hitherto have been
of the incense of gratitude to the AL
mighty Disposer of all events behold a
government erected by the majesty OF
tho people government which %
bigotry gives no sanction, to persecu-
fording TO all liberty of conscience.
and mmunitive of citizenship
deeming everyone of whatever nation,
tongue and language equal parts Of
the great government machine.
This SO ample and extensive Fed
eral Union, whose baAa is philan-
thropy, mutual confidence and public
virtue. we cannot but acknowledge 70
be the work Of the great God who
rules i'm the armies of the heavens,
and among the inhabitants of the
earth doing whatever seemeth to Him
good.
These expressions, besides bearing
on the hearty participation OF our
Jewish fellow citizens in the patriotic
sentiments of time. illustrate how
thoroughly they appreciated the new
opportunities and the new security of
fered To them by free, just and pop
ular government
"And thus it happened that the
Jewish immigrants who We're driven
to our colonies by religious persecu-
ton and their descendants. have, un-
der the kindly influence of liberation
and equality co-operated in nation
building with those of different. re-
ligious faiths whose ancestors nf
they themselves had also sought amid
hard and inhospitable surroundings,
freedom to worship God. Jewish pa
triotism. which had been for centu-
ries submerged and smothercd IN
homeless WanderingS and nationless
existence. in the more cheerful ligh'
and warmth of a safe abiding place,
sprung up and ffourished. 1t has been
said: IF you persecute you make
slaves: only by declaring equal rights
for ALL will make you good citizens.
The rule that equality in right is es-
scntial to good citizenship has never
suit of according equal rights to the
Jews who found a home on the soil
of the United States.
1--WE have only today to look about
us to discover that in every phase OF
present American enterprise and ef-
fort. the Jews of the United States
with Unrestricted toleration and equal
ity are making their impress more
and more deeD and permanent upon
our citizenship They accumulate
wealth without exhibiting or encourag
ing harmful extravaganza and busi-
ness recklessness. They especially
care for their poor but they do II
sensibly and in a way that avoids pau
per making. On every side are seer
n pnuments of their charitable work
- o.-ia~nco- IF their determination
to furnish their children and youtf
equipment for usefulness and self-sup.
port. 1t is not among them that dan
gerous discomfort and violent demon
:trltions against peace and order are
facta There Dt