The Denver Jewish news., 1919-01-22

universities. and from official rank in
the army: and they had to submit to
many other dcgradations. In Austria.
althO the Jews were citizens. we had
the Polish boycott and the Galician
Outragcs in an anti-Jcwish spirit un-
PARALLEL for bitterness. This happen
ed in countries where the Jews had
rights.
In Russia. since the abrogntion of
the exceptional laws against the Jews
which resulted in their receiving equal
rights, they have. have recently been
informed by Prince Lvov. been suf-
fcring at the hands of the Bolshcviki
with whose policies they disagree. and
at the hands of the Russian masses
who regard them as the source of all
of Russia's troubles.
Yes. people may have equal rights
before the law nations can he forced
to include in their constitutions and
to place upon their salute books dec
laintions that the Jews are citizens
and have the same rights as other
citizens. But these are rights only
on paper; they are only paper rights"
do not wish to be understood ns de-
claring that the Jews would be better
off without even these paper rights:
wish only to point out that all our eff
forts and all our pains may result in
mere paper victory-in rights mere
ly upon paper.
Would it he possible for us to form
ulatc not only the rights we ask but
also to show how they should be car
ricd out in practical life? Would il
be possible to work out and to get
guarantees that the rights of Jews
shall he observed in every land and
by every nation among whom they
dwell?
It is very difficult to foretell. II
appears to me however thar even guar
antics will avail, us little. There are
no such things as rights in them
selves. They are not concrete objects
which can he kept and can he guarded
against theft. Rights are legal term
They are formulated in the constitu-
tiOnS and in the laws of every cOun-
try. They exist only in the vOlun-
tary recognition of the people them
selves. and of their governments.
Rights depend OH the sririt in which
they are conferred. Were the oman-
cipation of the Jews to proceed from
the will Of the people of every land
from the voluntary consent of the
ncOple because they recognize that the
Jews are entitled to equal rights as
human beings. as inhabitants. as part
and parcel of the land to whose dc
fenSc the Jews have contributed
great deal. especially within recent
wears. then Jewish emancipation would
he genuine. complete. Then. it would
he expected that they would actually
cniov their freedom. 4 friendly spirit
would prevail All rast troubles would
he forgotten. and q new leaf would he
turned in Jewish history.
But the actual situation is not so
We will he compelled TO fight for
every shred of rights that we get ir
every country. We will he compelled
to fight for them. or the Peace Con
ference will he cOmnellcd to do so
The spirit of the neople in every l'nd
is hostile: the enemy is strong. Well
what can we expect? Rights for Jews
will he written into the constitutions
the laws will no longer have nnv Soy
cent Jews" But in actual life thi"
will have little effect. Laws must h"
interpreted: they are executed hv hu-
man beings. and If It is desired tc
hit tho Jew. n wnv can he fonnd t" dc
so. No guarantees can make philo
SemitcS of the enemies Of Israel. II
IS nosSihle that the observance Of the
lottcr of the law can he compclled hu.
II will not he nossihlc to comncl II"
Observance in Snirit--and ii is the
Spirit which is the more imnortnnt.
have n nrofonnd fear that the right
IF the Jews will he merely words writ
ten unon paner--thnt they will he on
ly paper rights.