Intermountain Jewish news., 1926-09-09

on a secret diplomatic mission to Min.
isters Jay at Madrid and Franklin 4,
Paris, and he was entrusted with sim
liar confidential errands many times
thereafter.
| Gallant Capt. Isase Franks
There was, also, the gallant Cap
tain Isaac Franks, who enlisted at the
age of II, was captured by the Brit
ish, and, after being prisoner for
three months, succeeded in making
his escape from prison and returning
to his regiment. At nineteen he was
made forage master for the army,
and at twenty-five, was made ensign
of the Massachusetts, infantry. He
was an intimate friend Of George
Washington, both during the war and
after the return Of peace, the latter
living at his home for awhile during
his incubency Of the presidency, the
capital of the nation then being in
Philadelphia, in a suburb of which
town-Germsntown-Franks had his
| home
In the rosters of officers of the Rev.
olutionary army, we also find the
names of Colonel Phillips, Major Ben
jamin Nones, French born, who came
from France in ITO to fight as a
private in the Revolutionary army
and was eventually promoted to the
rank of major, serving successfully
on the staffs of Washington, Lafa-
yette and De Kalb. When De Kalb
fell seriously wounded on the battle
field he was carried to safety by FIVE
Of his lieutenants, among whom were
Major Nones, Captains De La Motta
and De Leon, all the three of them
Jews. Altogether, there were four
colonels, three majors and six cap
tains of the Jewish faith in the en-
battled army of the patriots fighting
for Independence, aside from many
nom on-commissioned officers and pri-
Yates in the ranks.
Jewish Population Stood BY
And one need not wonder at this,
consistent as well as persistent, pa
triotic attitude of the Jews in the hour
Of the supreme trial for their adopted
land and their uncompromising stand
against tyranny. The Jews, after
having suffered so much from the big
otry and fanatical zeal Of almost all
European nations, having paid dearly
and with their very blood even. for
the rampant intolerance Of the "Chris-
tian" rulers of the many lands Of their
previous sojourn, knew well how to
appreciate the spirit of friendship
and tolerance that they found on
landing on the shores Of the New
World. And they instinctively felt
that victory for freedom always
meant victory for tolerance as well,
while victory for autocracy usually
spelt also victory for intolerance
and the persecution of the nom
Christian. So it has been in every
Christian country all through history.
Old Testament Influence
at is, indeed, historical fact
emarked the Historian Lecky,
("Rationalism in Europe" Vo!. II, p.
1881, "that in the great majority OF
instances early Protestant defenders
of civil liberty derived their political
opinions chiefly from the Old Testa-
mcnt and the defenders of despotism
from the New. The rebellions that
were so frequent in Jewish history
formed the favorite topic of the one,
the unreserved submission inculcated
by st. Paul of the other" And when
did man hear the Old Testament
quoted so often, and so. enthusiastic
cally as in those stirring days of Rev.
olution in the colonies? The sermons
preached by the various divines, the
sermons usually afterwards reprinted
and distributed among the soldiers ir
r--I