Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1906-03-02

WAS eitucI hiticu w S~ouuucu, uui
was twice thanked by congress for
bravery and ability. Seven others
were mentioned for meritorious' SER
vices during this campaign; four OF
these were officers. Major Alfred
Mordecai was a recognized authority
In the military world and his son be-
came an instructor ut West Point.
Commodore uriah Phillips Levy. at
the time Of his death, 1862. was the
ranking officer Of our navy, and to
him credit must be given for abolish
Ing corporal punishment In the navy
But the civil war, that magnificent
struggle. where manhood faced man
hood for rights that each conceived
fundamental. showed the Jew best as
a patriot. Out Of q Jewish population
OF 10000. 1854 took up arms and
fought In the various battles. Over
Is Q cent OF those able to carry
arms did so! What grander tribute
to Jewish ,alor and patriotism? These
men fought for the truth as they saw
H.. They were N both sides Of the
battle.
While Michael Heilprin denounced
slavery In the New York Tribune.
while Rabbi Sabato Morals was elect
cd a member Of the Union League
club OF Philadelphia for his strong
protest against slavery and his plea
for the rights OF man. and while DR.,
David Einhorn was driven from Bal.
timore for his anttslavery discourses
and threatened with death II he dared
return, North Carolina sent six Cohen
brothers. North Carolina the five
Moses brothers; Georgia, Raphael
Moses and his three sons; Arkansas
the three Cohen brothers; Virginia
the three Levy brothers, and Missis.
sippi, the five Jonas brothers Zone
Of whom became United States sen.
ator.) 10 uphold the rights they deem.
ed absolutely true. The Jew fought
on the side of his convictions and his
sympathies. New York sent nearly
1000 Jewish youths to the front, and
Ohio over 1000. To select names for
special mention Is useless, because
each one fought as best he could.
each M strove for the truth as he
saw II, each one was first, last and
always a defendant OF the side he
deemed true. and a better defendant
because he was a Jew.
And in the late nnpleasantness with
Spain. the Jew took an active and
prominent part. Fifteen Jews went
down with the Maine, and commander
Adolph Mark. a Jew, vas recorder of
the Maine disaster board Of inquiry,
The first man to volunteer for service
In this war was d Jew, the first Amer.
lean killed vas a Jew, and the first
II TO fall before Manila was Ser
geant Maurice Justh, Of the First Cal
if0rnia volunteers, a regiment thar
numbered 100 Jews.
Five thousand brave Jewish lads Of
fered themselves to the governor OIL
New York for active service, ant
when the great holidays came, ovel
1000 furloughs were grantedst to Jew
ish soldiers to observe these sacret
days.
The famous Rough Riders, that pic
tnresque regiment with which oul
president went to the front. contained
seven Jews. and President Roosevelt
tells us that the most astonishing
courage was displayed by seven Jew
ish Rough Riders, one OF whom be
came a lieutenant"
After considering these simple
facts, is there anyone who will den.
that the Jew Is a patriot? After hear
Ing these statements, what can W
say to the sneering remarks Of Gold
win Smith: "The Jews have no
been everywhere made voters: {.
make them patriots while they remain
genuine Jews is beyond the legislativ,
power" Are WI not forced. as homes
men and women. to reply, with Mari
Twain. that this Ia a slander,-"i
SANDER that has done its work, don,
it long and faithfully, and with higl
approval. It ought to be pensionet
off now and retired from active ser
vice."
The Jew has stood shoulder Il
shoulder with those of other faiths
He can point with pride at his recort
from the very dawn OF this great re
public. He has not only given his
quota OF defenders, but has giver
more than his share. But he asks fol-
no special recognition. He gave be
cause he felt more strongly the neef
Of u~pholding liberty; he gave because
having felt oppression and persecu
ton, he knew the true value OF lib
erty and equality. Whenever the tins
comes when this country needs patri
OTIS TO defend Its shores and its homes
the Jew will be found ready to shoul
der knapsack and carry rifle, ready Il
set aside his personal needs and re
spcnsibilities and take up those Of hi
country. God grant that war will M
longer be necessary, but II II Is, W.
shall go forth as citizens and patri
OTIS, to fight the cause Of right and I,
fight more bravely and more trul!