Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-01


upon me 30 preside over this celebration,
and before; I exercise the great privilege to
present totvou the honored speakers of the
day / ask to be permitted to give express
sion in few words to the feelings which
animate us upon this rnomentous occasion.
Early Benef1ciaries of Heritage.
when III 1Gaa 80 years ago. people of
| our race and faith first set foot upon these
shores 10 become permanent settlers hardly
| century and a half had passed since CO.
| lumbus had unlocked the gates of this
| hemisphere to the civilized world Thus the
heritage which the great Genoese had pre-
sented TO mankind was awaited of by orr
own people at so eariy period of the de-
ve1opment of the new world that we be-
ffeve to be justified III the claim that this
| is our country, to like extent az it has
become the country of other early and
| later Corners. In common with whom We
| have built this great nation, of which We
ROW form part and parcel.
| Look at the record of the wonderful
and glorious progress and development of
our country, and upon every page will be
found the name of the Jew as having rem
dered merftorfous and patriotic service.
| Not that we claim that the Jewish citizen
has at any time done more than his sim
pie duty-but in the attempt SO frequently
! made to consider foreign element 1t Is
we'll and proper, upon an occasion like the
present. to emphasize the fact that $50
has landed these shores, has come
hither to throw his lot with Its people, to
share their burdens, to benefit by their OPP
portunities. to become an American In the
best meaning of this proud title and all II
stands for.
Ever Mindful of Liberty's Blessing.
And having said this. we need add, as
Jews, We are ever mindful of the untold
blessing which the fact the beacon light
NfI ,,,y,,
ing brightly by the people of the United
States brings not only to those of his race
whose good fortune Il is to be among the
dweilers within this blessed land, but even
to his brethren in faith in foreign lands
who still suffer under restrictions unworthy
of modern civilization-and L need sorrow
fully add in the light of recent events, are
still made the victims of the lowest hui
man passions and prejudice. Because OF
this great blessing the United States is be-
slowing upon mankind the Jew everywhere
is an ardent admirer of America and her
people, and everywhere his face Is set
longAlgly and hopefully toward these
shores.
I'VE, who are Americans, pledge our
selves anew upon this momentous occasion,
to our fellow citizens. from whatever race
they may have sprung or whatever faith
they may profess. that we ever stand
ready to be one with them in every en-
deavor TO further augment the greatness
OF this our beloved common country and
the respect in which it is held throughout
the world
Mr. Cleveland's Address.
Mr.. Cleveland was greeted with cheers
when he was presented to the audience
He said IN part:
"All nationaiitieS have contributed to the
composite population of the United States
many of them in greater number than the
Jews. And yet 1 believe that it can be safe
t. claimed that few if any. of those con-
tributng nationalities have directly and in
directly been more influential In giving
shape and direction to the AmercaniSm of
today. What our Jewish fellow-citizens
have done to increase the material advance
ment of the United States is apparent on
every hand and must stand confessed.
But the best and highest Americ anism is
something more than materialistic. Its
spirit which should make II imperishable
and immortal, exists in its patriotic aspira-
tons and exalting traditions. On this high
er plane of nationality, and in the at
mosphere of enno5ling sentiment, also
feel the touch of Jewish relationship. If the
discovery of America prophesed the coming
of our nation and fixed the place of its
birth. let Us not forget that Columbus on
his voyage in search of new world was
aided in a most important way by Jewish
support and cOmradeship.
If the people of the United States glory
in their free Institutions the crown of
mans aspiration for self-sovernment. let
them not be unmindful of the fact that
the Jews among rs have in their care and
keeping the history and traditions of an
ancient Jewish commonwealth astonishing
iy like our own republic in its democracy
and underlying intention. This ancient COM
monwealth was ordained of God for the
government of His chosen people; and we
should not close our minds to a conception
of the coincidence in divine purpose dis
coverable in the bestowal, by the Ruler of
the Universe, of a similar plan of rule, after
thousands of years, upon the people of the
United States. who also had their beginning
in willing submission to Gods sovereignty
and the assertion of freedom in His wor-
ship
Jewish Part in Revolutionary War.
when with true American enthusiasm
and pride we recall the story of the war
for our independence and rejoice in the in
domitable courage and fortitude of our rev.
dictionary heroes. we should not fail to re-
member how well the Jews of America per-
formed their part in the struggle and how
in every way they usefully and patriot
ically supported the interests of their new
ly found home.
Nor can we overlook, If We are decently
just, the valuable aid cheerfuly contributed
by our Jewish fellow-countrymen in every
national emergency that has since oyertaken
us. They gave convincing evidence of their
assimilation with the best sentiment of
atrin Inv baa