Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-01
JEWS CELEBRATE
Big Function at New York Marks
250th Anniversary of
Settlement Here.
GROVER CLEVELAND SPEAKS
Letter Read From President Roosevelt
Other Prominent Men On the
Program.

I New York. Dec. 1.-The 25Oth ami
versary of the first settlement of Jew,
| in America was celebrated last nigh;
| in a great meeting in Carnegie hall. al
which former President Grover Cleve
land delivered the principal address
\ letter from President Roosevelt was
one of the principal features. Other
addresses were made by Jacob n
Schiff. who presided; Gov. Higgins. and
Mayor Mcclellan. 4 telegram of con
graduation from Vice President Fair
banks was read Mr.. Schiff prefaced
his presentation of The speakers with
Il short address
Letter of President.
President Roosevelt's letter read as
follows in part:
The White House. Washington,
Nov. 16. 1905. My Dear Sir: | am
forced to make rule not TO write
letters on the occasion of any celebra-
ton, no matter how important. simply
because | cannot write one without
either committing myself to write hun
dreds of others or else running the
risk of giving offense TO worthy per-
sons.
Il make an exception in this case
because the lamentable and terrible
suffering TO which so many of the Jew
ish people in other lands have been
subjected makes me feel il my duty
as the head of the American people
not only to express my deep sympathy
for them, as | now do, bur at the same
time 10 point out what fine qualities
of citizenship have been displayed by
the men of Jewish faith and race, who
having come TO this country, enjoy the
benefits of free institutions and equal
treatment before the law.
Il feel very strongly that if any peo-
pie are oppressed anywhere. the wrong
inevitably reacts in the end on those
who oppress them; for it is an i'm
mutabIe law in the spiritual world that
no one can wrong others and yet in
the end himself escape unhurt''
Words of Ex-PresIdent.
Mr.. Cleveland said:
Among the large enterprises and
undertakings which have become IA
miliar to the people of the United
States there may be mentioned the ex-
Il a tiS1 ant Cttt'bld ION. especially Ill
these latter days, of all sorts of ami
yersaries and events. Many of these
undoubtedly tend 10 the Improvement
and stimulation of patriotic sentiment.
But there is good reason To believe
that others have no better Justification
than the Indulgence of local pride or
the futhcrance of narrow and selfish in
terests.
we join today in the celebration of
the two hundred and fiftieth anniver-
sary of the settlement of the Jews in
the United States. This event created
such an important epoch in our
country's development. and its rela-
tion ship TO our nations evolution is
so clearly seen in the light of present
that every thoughtful Amer
lean citizen must recognize the fitness
and usefulness of its commemoration
''To those of the Jewish faith il re
calls a foothoid gained that meant for
them a home and peaceful security,
after centuries of homelessness and
persecution. To those of us
protesting a different religious faith
il brings TO mind the landing upon our
soil of an element of population whose
wonderful increase and marked traits
of character have added a powerful
factor TO Our national progress and
ACHE vement.
'All nationaliies have contributed to
the composite population of the United
of them in greater mum
ber than the Jews. And yet | believe
hat IN can be safely claimed that few
if any. of those contributing national
tiles have directly and indirectly been
more influential in giving shape and
direction 10 the Americanism Of to-
day"