The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-03-11
Connecticut Jewry An Asset Or A
 Liability
(By Hon. Philip Troup, Postmaster
 Inf New Haven.l


 of New Haven.)
 An address delivered at the Hun ger Dinner opeHing the $50,000,00O Brid geport campaign off Jewish War Sufferers at The Stratfeld Sunday.
 "Charles Shapiro, who was an old classmate of mine in Yale, called me up on the phone on Friday, and ask ed me if I would go to Norwalk and of the Jewish Relief Campaign there. Ordinarily, I would have refused any invitation from any sourse that came to me at this particular time, be- cause ] am transferring the New Haven Postoffice to the hands of my worthy successor, and am taking over new and arduous duties in another field. But this was a call could not refuse, and I considered 1t priv uege and an honor to come.
 The world of today is linked up so closely that nothing can happen any where over the face of Gods green of us but may directly affect every soul who lives in the farthermost ends of the earth. You know that in this great big world of ours we not count for very much in Gods great scheme of things: yet if you
 will study history you will realize that very often it is the littel act and the little thing of the humblest indi- vidual that is followed with the most mOmentouS consequences. was reading a day or so ago about an in- teresting legacy that was left. in England by a worthy gentleman, to be given in the form Of annuity to that British soldier who. in the opin- ion of the Duke of Wellington, and the staff of military experts. had done the most to win the battle of Water. loo. This committee was organized and in due course they searched the records of that celebrated battle and when they had completed their in legacy to the Duke of Wellington, nor did they give it to any high off, cer in command. but came to the con- clusion that the legacy should go to psychological moment had rushed forth at the risk of his life and closed the gates of Hugenot Castle against the on-coming foe.
 Hugenot Castle assumed a strategic position upon one of the extreme Hanks of the British line and Napo- leon, with that military shrewdness which always characterized him, real lzed that if he could take that posi- ton, he could turn the British fire, so he employed a large force to take that position and as they came up to these British supporters realizing that there was iron fence around, they ex- citedly rushed across the field, closed and locked the gate against the on- coming French, and that one act Of that one humble British soldier per
 
 enough until the Iron Duke could send for r.einforceme ents. That one act probably did more than anything else to win the battle of Waterloo, and I tell you, my friend, in life you can never tell what little act-what little service of this ktnd-how far 1t can reach out
 You don't know and nobody knows that perhaps over there in that stricken country there may be some great man such as these, and the little mite that we put into the pot may save that person for civilization.
 I tell you, my friends, when you look at this thing broadly, when you consider it from the standpoint of its larger implications and when you can stand up and say we are not inter ested in what happens in Eastern Europe, you cannot say We have enough trouble here of our own at so close together, life has become link ed up in such a manner. that the thing which happens over there may be fraught with tremendous slgnlh, so I hope in going at this campaign in Bridgeport, you will pitch it upon the highest possible. plane and to do favor of not leaving them out of this I know we have narrow minded people, people who are not were ashamed of some of our own people, but please do us the service of calling upon us and allowing us to help you in this work because I want to tell you that so far the city of New Haven is concerned, can speak of that city from personal experience. We have never gone out in any Gentle drive in that city, when we have not had the whole souled support of the Jewish popu1a- tion of that city.
 As matter of fact, ths Constitu- tional forms of government of every single one of our New England Colo nies is founded upon the Mosaic code, and oral serm ons which preceded and awakened our people to the desire for their independence and freedom in this country, were based largely upon the great principles laid down in the Old Testament. All through our history you will find a Jewish contribution to American life and progress that is not to be lightly con- isdered by any means. Indeed, 1t is very doubtful if the New World would have been discovered by Co., lumbus if it were not for the Jews. It was not the jewels of Queen Isa- bella which made it possible for Co., lumbus to go across the ocean, but it was the ducats of the Jews. Fifty the chief navigator was a Jew, the ship doctor was a Jew, and the first man to. step on the American soil was a Jew. During the Revolution ary War, that struggle, in all proba- bility would have been lost if it had not been for the financial aid given by Haym Solomon, and I would go on at great length and show to you that Americas debt to the Jew is by no means a small one. but want to say this: That no man can be truly and spiritually a real American in the proper and big sense of the word and hate a Jew, because there is no room in this country among right-thinking Americans for that sort of small, cheap, prejudice.
 My friends, I took home this little pamphlet Here and There'' the other evening and read, and I got over as far as this picture of these children. looked at those pictures and believe me, I was ashamed of those nations who considered themselves Christians. and perpetrated any Ioutragses as that, and I could not go any further in the of that pamphlet, but took resolution with myself that if there was anything could do by word, pen, 1 ~rv-~