The Denver Jewish news. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-1925, 1920-10-13
the Sole Hope
of European Jew

One evening during the first year of
the war, l was at the house Of one Of
the citizens of this town. 1t is Il kind
ly and refined family, its atmosphere
is marked by deep and humane feel
ings. As was usual at that time, the
conversation turned upon Belgium
Orr host, an old officer, arose and
warmly and vigorously protested
against the outrageous crime commit
ted upon the small, heroic people.
Each of the guests arose in turn in
order to give to his words and his
attitude his unequivocal and Indignant
approval 1t became an occasion for
an intense outburst of humane indig-
nation and the sense of Justice. Only
enc sat there without word-that
was l. Thereupon the old officer turn
cd to me and asked: Have you
nothing to say? Are you the only one
that feels naught of the spirit of fra
ternity, which bi:ids together all 9th.
crs in common suffering, common he
cause it is human
Then l arose and said: Il feel the
same as you and the others in this cir
Gle, but what could l say? Is it any
thing new for me, anything unheard
of? For centuries my people has been
compelled to suffer. the world has been
its enemy, no one its friend. Now
the world arises. with justifiable an,
ger and horror, because an injustice
has been done to a nation. cruel and
unmerited injury. Every single indi-
vidual in the whole world feels of.
Tended, wounded. stirred up in the
name of fraternity. But where was
the anger and horror when my PEG
pie was concerned. Who felt himself
insulted, wounded. his humanity stir
yed, when he heard of the horror
that day by day and year by year fol-
centuries had been perpetrated upor
a people without a country, without
Justice. without help. without friends
Since you have kept silent thruout the
years and are silent today, too. in
the face of my peoples sufferings and
misfortune. therefore l have kept 81.
lent this evening. What you have
ward II people behind whom stands
world of sympath / have felt thru
out my whole, life. and generations be
fore me, turnout theirs toward n pee,
nj l,aJ,tpI ctn nd pf
enmity, cruelty and contempt"
This is our accusation. The wOrlt
took notice and spoke when other peo
pies were in distress. When distres,
assailed our people, the world was
blind and deaf. The civilization of
people, or of country or of an indi
vidual is reflected in the treatment
accorded the subjects of that country
1t is reflected most sharply and most
strikingly in the treatment accorded
TO persons without legal rights, ano
country. In the fate meted out to til,
Jews in divers countries much vaunt.
ed western civilization is mirrored ~
a base and repulsive caricature. VIVA
"'" mas "o' i''' anu seen '"''' wen
'"o'e WIN ii"'e "is"e" ii'''iie' ~ ie''
n'i W sS "o n'' mere Sp"N VI
'he iieo mat 'is 81 io"o w iiea
'''"' inc "e"se' cars an" 'ie s'','S
hear's "'"i'' pe ''uc"eo. spe"h Vi
''e sinai ''' ''''h'ieSs '"'p'rsos vi
h'eaie'ai revenge. hatreo' envy anu
:.
III i"rse city Ill 'he must OF ''n
passing ihrohs' you come 10 s'a.if
sun pe'ore "ihuo" III oroer 10 eN
ali'iie the ooJects dispiavea. All AZ
once YOUR eye iails upon an lhloceh'
iookinS sip OF piper pasted OH tHt