Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-01
In HONOR W lHt JEWS
CONTINUED from First PageJ

citizens in the patriotic sentiments of the
time, illustrate how thoroughly they APP
preclate the new opportunities and the new
security offered to them by free, just
and popular government
Expansion Under Freedom.
And thus it happened that the Jewish
immigrants who we're driven to our colo
MES by religious persecution. and their de-
scendants, nave, unuer the kindly influence
of liberation and equally. cO-Operated in
nation building with those Of different re-
ligious faiths, whose ancestors or they
themselves had also sought amid hard and
lnhospitdble surroundings freedom to wor-
snip God. jewish patriotism, wniCh had
been for centuries submerged and smooth
cred in homeless wanderings and nation
less existence, In the more cheerful light
and warmth of a safe ab.sinS place, sprung
up and fiourished' II has been said: III
you prosecute you make slaves; only by
declaring equal rights for all will you make
good citizens" The rule that equality i'm
right is essentias TO good citizenship has
never been better supported than by the
result of according equal rights to the
Jews who found a home on the soil of the
l nited States.
do not overlook the fact that the full
enjoyment by the Jews OF .eligious and
industrial freedom was no! without re-
straint or limitation at the time of their
to clair1 that Jewish characteristics or the
Jewish religion are. or syer have been,
bad citizens 1t cannot be denied how
ever, that with even the limited equality
OF rights at first accorded to the Jews by
the American colOnists their loyalty and
effective patriotism when needed were not
wanting.
Impress on America.
We have today only to look about us to
discover that in every phase of present
American enterprise and effort, the Jews
OF the United States, with unrestricted toll
GRAFTON and equality, are making their inn
press more and more deep and permanent
upon our citizenship. They accumulate
wealth without exhibiting or encouraging
a "a "a ga aNA n nd BfN IL
lessness. They especially care for their
poor, but they do 1t sensbly and in a way
that avoids pauper-making. On every side
are seen monuments OF their charitable
work and evidences of their determination
to furnish their children and youth equip
ment for usefulness and self-support 1t is
not among them that dangerous discon-
tent and violent demonstra tions against
peace and order are Matched and fostered.
There may be something of separateness in
their social life among us; but this should
be naturally expected among those who
are are not altogether flee from the disposition
ality, to seek in I'd lnmon devotion % their
peculiar religious creed the strongest bond
Of their social fellowships. And yet, with
II all, they are by no means laggard in the
civic duty and the work in behalf of the
general welfare Of the state which are the
badges of good citizenship.
II is time for the unreserved acknowl-
edgement that the liberation and equal OPP
portunity accorded to the Jews of the
United States have been abundantly repaid
TO us And in making up the accounts, let
us not omit to put to their credit the occa-
sion presented to us through our concession
to them Of liberation and equality of
strengthening by wholesome exercise the
spirit Of broad-minded justice and consid-
GRAFTON, which, as long as we are true to
ourselves, we must inhexibly pronounce as
the distinguishing and saving trait OF our
nationality
No Place for Prejudice.
know that human prejudice-especially
that growing out of race or reigion-is
cruelty inveterate and lasting. But wher-
ever in the world prejudice against the
Jews still exists there can be no place for
II among the people of the United States
unless they are needless of good faith, rec
reant to the underlying principles Of their
free government and insenSible to every
citizenship.
Roger, Williams, the pioneer of religious
liberty In America expressed the fear long
before the Unite ltates became a nation,
that England ana the other nations had a
70 desire Se% no aRd Sert Sdf6 10
myself which l would not freely and i'm
partially weigh out to all the cOnsclences
no score to pay to the Jews. As a people
We shall never suffer the humiliation OF
appealing TO them for favors with the
shamefacedness Of intolerance unforgotten
and unforgiven. The Jews of the United
States have become our fellow-citizens and.
like us, have at heart vre prosperity and
as we have desired not that libery to our
selves which we would not freely and i'm
of the world beside.
After all, it comes to this We celebrate
an event in the history of our country
fraught with important results deeply con-
corning us all as citizens of the United
States. In the spirit of true Americanism
let us all rejoice I'm the good which the set
Element we commemorate has brought TO
the nation in which we all find safety and
projections; and, uninterrupted by differ-
ences in religious faith, let ms. under the
guidance of the Genius OF federation and
Equality, here consecrate ourselves more
fully than ever to united and devoted labor
I'm the field of our common nations adj
vancement and eXaltation.
The letters from President Roosevelt and
Vice President Fairbanks were next read.
President Roosevelt's letter was as fol-
lows:
THE WHITE HOUSE. WASHINGTON
Nov l6, lS05,-My Dear Sir: | am forced to
make rule not 10 write letters on the oc-
caSion OF any celebration. no matter how