The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-15

M~esopotamia and Syria; from the ooun-
tries Of the lesser and the g reater Asia;
Egyptian, Libyan, Greek and Arabian
Jews and especially Jews from Rome
itself. some of which latter are particularly
mentioned as Roman proselytes."
1t is pronounced in the book before us
historically false, also, that the small section
OF. the Jewish race which dwelt in Palestine
collectively rejected Christ. The reverse
Is the truth. Had 1t not been for the Jews
Of Palestine the good ,tidings OF our Lord
would have been unknown forever to the
northern and western races. The first
preachers of the Gospel were Jews, no
others; the historians OF the Gospel were
Jews, no others. No human being has
ever been permitted to write under the
inspiration OF the Holy Spirit except a Jew.
1They nursed the sacred fame OF which
they were the consecrated and hereditary
repositories. When the time was ripe to
diffuse the truth among the Ethnics tGen-
tiles] it was not a Senator Of Rome, uor q
philosopher Of Athens, who was personally
appointed by our Lord for that office, but
q Jew Of TarHus, who founded the seven
churches Of Asia. That greater Church,
great even amid It's terrible corruptions,
that has avenged the victory Of Titus by
s~ubjugating the capital of the Cesars
and has changed every one Of the 0lympian
temples into affairs OF the God OF Sinai
and Of Calvary, was founded by another
Jew, a Jew Of Galilee." From all which
DisraeH concludes that the dispersion Of
the jewish race, preceding as 1t did for
ages the advent Of our Lord, could not
be for conduct which occurred subsequently
to his nativity, and that they are also guilt
less Of that subsequent conduct which has
been imputed to them as a crime, since for
Him and His blessed name they preached,
and wrote and shed their blood, "ae wit
nesses.'
LIS 1t possible that what Ii not historically
true can be dogmatioally sound? Such a
conclusion would, Of course, impugn the
foundations Of all faith. Disraeli deems
1t easy to prove, however, that there is no
dogmatioal foundation for the belief that
the present condition Of the Jewish race
is q penal infiction for the part which some
Jews took at the C%rucihxion. He denies
that there is a single passage in the sacred
writings which in the slightest degree
warrants the assumption. The impreoa-
ton Of the mob at the Crucifix ion is some
times strangely quoted as a divine decree.
1t Is not n principle of Jurisprudence. human
or inspired, to permit criminals to ordain
their own punishment. Why, too, should
they transfer any portion of the infection
to their posterityp What evidence have we
that the wild suggestion was sanctioned by
Omnipotenoe? On the contrary. amid the
expiRting agony a divine voice at the same
time solicited and secured forgiveness.
And, even IL unforgiven, could the cry Of
q rabble at such a scene bind a nation?"
But, though the opinion that the dis
persion Of the Jewish race should be ao-
counted a penalty incurred for their con-
nection with the Crucifixion has neither
historical nor doctrinal sanction, may it
not be possible that it's degrading influence
upon it's victims may have been as efflca-
cious as II their present condition were, in
deed. a judicial intiiction? May not. in
other words, persecution, although unjust,
have reduced the modern Jews to a state
almost justifying malignant vengeance?
May they not lave become 80 odious and
% hostile to mankind as to merit for
their present conduct, no matter how
occasioned. the obloquy and i'll treat
ment Of the communities in which they
dwell but with which they are scarcely
permitted to mingle? Disraeli examines
this branch of the subject. He comedies
that in all the great cities Of Europe,
and in some Of the great cities Of Asia,
among the infamous classes therein ex-
listing there will always be found Jews.
They are not, Of course, the only people
who are uslrers, gladiators and followers
Of mean and %scandalous occupations, nor
are they anywhere a majority Of such, but
Disraeli would not deny that, considering
THAR. naparal n,,p,hora than confrihufQ
perhaps, more thar their proportion to the
aggregate Of the vile. He contends, how
ever, that in this particular they do but
obey the law which regulates the destiny
of all prosecuted races: the infamous is
the business Of the d~ishonored, and as
infamous pursuits are generally illegal
pursuits the prosecuted race which has
mos. ability will be most successful in com
batting the law. Att TIT worst, the Jews have
never. been 90 degraded as the Greeks were
throughout the Levant before their eman-
cipation, though the degradation Of the
Greeks was produced by a period of per-
s~soution which neither in length nor in
suffering can be compared with that which
has been endured by the Children Of Israel.
This popularity, however, has attended
the Jews under the most unfavorable cir
| Culub tdLlCcb, thC otllcl dcBlduCd IdCS6
wear out and disappear; the jew remains,
as determined, as expert, as persevering,
as full OF resouroe and resolution as ever.
| Considered from this point Of view, the
resistance Of the Jewish race to degrade
ton is pronounced a striking proof Of it's
excellence, for o n but n Of the great
/ races could nave survived the trials which
it has endured.
At the same time, while acknowledging
the partial degradation Of the Jewish race,
Disraeu was not prepared to agree that this
limited degeneracy is any justification Of
the prejudices and prosecutions which origi-
mated IN barbarous or medieval super
s%titions. On the contrary, viewing the
influence Of the Jewish race upon modern
communities, without any reference to the
past history or the future promises Of
Israel, Diminishing from mind and memory,
II that be possible, all that the Heb rews
have done in the olden time for mar and
all which it may be their destiny yet to
fulfil. Disraeli holds that, instead Of being
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