The Denver Jewish news. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-1925, 1921-11-30
JEFFERSON AND MOORE ON
ANTI.SENHTISM.
BY MAX j. koHLER:


Tooth anniversary OF the founding Of
the University of virginia., the orator
of the day, Prof. John Iinssctt Moore.
our leading American authority on In
ternational Law, said:
To-day We are living in Il world
still rackcd by tlic passions resulting
from a great war. Human beings. in
stead Of loving one another, have been
fighting and KILN. one another. This
is II condition into which the world,
as long as we have known it, has from
Time to time fallen and at such juno
TIRES confidence being supplanlrd
with suspicion. there Is a. tendency TO
regard differences Of opiuion us men
ace and as something ito bc suppress
ed. We should ever be on our guard
against this tendency. ALIKE in So
ciety, in politics and in religion. To
day our eyes and ears are constant
ly assaulted with wholesale attacks
upon persons of n particular faith.
attacks which. il not inspired by pas
sionatc excitement. would he regard
ed as purely wanton. Such things
can only he deplOred Ms manifesta-
lions OF human traits which fcreunate-
ly are exhibited chiefly under ub-
normal conditions"
In the course of his philosophical
and able address, .rof. Moore urged
that the University rcnla in true to the
principles of its DISTINGUISHED founder.
Thomas Jefferson. The. above-quoted
passagc from this centenary address
may be probably compared with a
little known. but thoughtful letter.
written by jefferson himself to Isaac
Hardy. pioneer Of Reform Judaism in
America. Publications of the .Ameri-
can Jewish Historical Society No. 4.
y. 200, reading as follows:
Monticello. ian. q. 1876.
Sir:-I have to thank you for the
copy You have been so kind rs to send
me Of your discourse" before the RE
formed Society OF lsracliics." am
little acquainted with tic liturgy of
the Jews or their mole of worship
but the reformation proposed. and ex-
planned in the Discourse. appears en-
tircly reasonable. Nothing is wiser,
than that all our institutions should
keep pace with the advance of time.
and be improved with the improve
ments of the human mind. i have
thought it cruel addition to the
wrongs which that Injured sect have
MI hnf l,,t Shn,pI1 1e
excluded from the instruction in
science afforded to ull others in our
public scminaries. by imposin. upon
them n course OF Theological Reading
which their consv.icncrs Ito not permit
them to pursue: und in the University
lately established here, VIC have set
the example Of ceaSing to violate the
rights of conscience by nny injunctiOns
Oh the different sccts respecting their
religion.
respect and esteem.
Thomas jefferson.
Jcfrcrson's relations 10 the Jews ami
his influence on Jewish emancipation
constitute interesting lines of inquiry.
| had occasion twenty five years ago
to suggest thar lie uud Lafayette were
particularly important influences in
inducing France to adopt American
presidents in emancipating the Jews
t"Phascs In the History of Religious
Liberty with Special Reference to the
jew" in No. II OF the Publications oil
the American Jewish Historical So
cicty), and since then, Prof. George
Jcllnck's able work Origin OF the
flights Of Man aud of Citizcnship'
strongly reinforced the argument in
favor of American influences on
French establishment of religious lib
crty. In u paper entitled "Unpublish- |
ed Correspondence between Thomas !
Jefferson and Some American Jews"
ing letter Jefferson wrote on July s.
1870 to Joseph Marx Of Kichmsnd. in
acknowledging volume of the trans
actions of the Napolconic Sanhcdrin,
as follows:
Thomas Jefferson presents TO Mr..
Marx his compliments aud thanks for
the Transactions of the Paris Sanhrd-
Gin, which he shall read with great in
fercst and with the regret he has ever
felt ut seeing Il sect. the parent and
basis of all those of Christcndom'
singled out by all of them for a per-
sccution aud oppression which prove
they have proiitcd nothing from the
benevolent doctrines Of him, whom
they profess TO make the model OF
their principles and practice"
l't,rnns. Nl.rn 1p.ypur-,II violin