Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-01
Presidents Roosevelt's Letter.
THE WHITE HOUSE.

WASHINGTON, November IL, 1905.
My Dear Sir-I am forced TO make a
rule not to write letters on the occasion of
any celebration, no matter how important,
simply because / cannot write one with
out either committing myself to write hun
dreds of others or else running the risk OF
giving offense to worthy persons. ! make
an exception in this case because tht.
lamentable and terrible suffering TO which
so many of the Jewish people in other lands
have been subjected makes me feel it my
duty, as the head of the American people
not only to express my deep sympathy for
them. as I now do, but at the same time
to point out what fine qualities of citizen
ship have been displayed by the men of
Jewish faith and race, who, having come to
this country, enjoy the benefits of free in
situations and equal treatment before the
law. | feel very strongly that if any peo-
pie are oppressed anywhere, the wrong in
evitably reacts in the end those who
Cypress them; for il is an immutable law
in the spiritual world that no one can
wrong others and yet in the end himself
escape unhurt.
THE celebration of the two hundred and
fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of
the Jews in the United States properly en-
phasizes q series OF historical facts of more
than merely national significance. Even in
our colonial period the Jews participated in
the upbuilding of this country, acquired
citizenship, and took active part in
the development of foreign and domestic
commerce. During the revolutionary period
they aided the cause of liberty by serving
in the Continental army and by substantial
contributions to the empty treasury of the
republic. During the civil war, thousands
served in the armies and mingled their
blood with the soil for which they fought.
Il am glad to be able to say, in address,
ing you on this occasion, that while the
Jews of the United States. who now number
more than a million. have remained loyal
to their faith and their race traditions, they
have become indissolubly incorporated in
the great army of American citizenship
prepared to make all sacrifice for the coun-
try, either in war peace, and striving for
the perpetuation of good government and
for the maintenance of the principles en-
bodied in our Constitution. They are honor
ably distinguished by their industry, their
obedience to law, and their devotion to the
national welfare. They are engaged in
generous rivalry with their fellow-ctizens
of other denominations in advancing the in
terests of our common country.
This Is true not only of the descendants
of the early settlers and those of American
birth, but of a great and constantly in
creasing proportion of those who have come
to our shores within the last twenty-five
years as refugees reduced to the direSt
straits of penury and misery. ALI Ameri-
cans may well be proud of the extraordi-
nary Illustration of the wisdom and strength
of our governmental system thus afforded
'In a few years men and women hitherto
utterly unaccustomed to any of the privi-
leges of citizenship have moved nightly
upward toward the standard of loyal. self
respecting American citizenship; of that
citizenship which not merely insists upon its
rights, but also eagerly recognizes its duty
to do it's full share in the material. social
and moral advancement of the nation.
with all good wishes, believe me,
Sincerely yours,