Literary Production. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. May 1891 · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Literary Production. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. May 1891

Author

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

1 May 1891

Location(s)

United States -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

United States -- Pennsylvania

Format

11 pages on 4 sheets

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?

Language(s)

English

Source

Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies

Sabato Morais Collection, Box 10, Folder 9

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p38w38m5c/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p38w38m5c

Provenance

Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx10FF9_16.xml

content

S. MORAIS,
546 N. FIFTH STREET,
PHILADELPHIA.

95

May/91
On decoration day

Every civilized nation sets apart certain days of the year, which have become memorable in its an--nals. The practice is praiseworthy, for the a mental preservation of the sublime deeds of the anciently ancestors, serves as a sentinel guarding against watching to hinder the degeneracy of their pos--terity. It That sentry should be made to stand conspicuously forth to be viewed at stated times, that its looks may in--spire patriotism. America can justly boast of her fourth of July. It is the natal day of freedom. This dear city of ours witnessed its birth, but like the colossus of Rhodes, the nurstling grew so gigantic that peoples beheld it from afar, and hailed its fast increasing strength. Wherever the exhilarating air of liberty is breathed, the sweet perfume thereof is wafted over by the child given unto us in the year 1776. To keep fresh the record of that event, it behooves all who love the Republic of the North. More fittingly than by the deafening din and dangerous discharge of fire arms, the great day would be honored by the sound of psalmody to the God of battles, who caused Right to conquer Might.

Israelites do not hold festivities commemorative of the birth of human beings. Patriarchs and Prophets, heros and Sages receive a venerated mention in Jewish history, but no season is appointed to the exaltation of man. The rigidness of the faith, which ascribes all achievements to the Sovereign Lord form whom power and wisdom emanate, prevents it. Nevertheless the 22nd of February is not inap--propriately devoted by the beneficiaries to the glorifi--cation of their mortal benefactor. His prowess won abundant happiness; his sagacity dealt the seve--rest blow at Kings' pretentions. George Washing--ton, who might have set a crown upon his head, or have become a dictator, but who chose only to be enthroned into the hearts of his countrymen, is assuredly de--serving of all the grateful outpourings of multitudes. The day which recalls his entrance into the world may well be devoted set apart to the narrative of his acts of nobility. Even Hebrews, warned by their uncompromising be--lief against human deification, may not scruple to ex--tol the prince of peace, who bethought him--self of the seed of Abraham.

A land which demanded and enforced the divorce of the church from the state, can scarcely assume with consistency a religious office, and ask of her inhabitants to hold a general thanksgiving day. In like manner as she would resist an encroach--ment of ecclesiasticism upon her constitution, so she it were ought to better that she should disclaim the prerogative of exercising priestly functions; that she ought should not to counsel the observance of public worship towards the end of the civil year. That privilege belongs to another department of acknowledged authority. Still, the incongruity may be overlooked, by reason of the object to be reached. The meeting together of millions who avow the blessings attending an unchecked pursuit of trades and commerce, and a heavenly bestowal of plenty to render life pleasurable, is a sight worthy of the freest beings upon earth. Would that the President's proclamation were carried out everywhere in a spirit of righteousness, and become not in too many instances a pretext for an indulgence in intemperance and idleness!

But the occasion which Americans observe this day has none of the just real or plausible motives, that I have named in connection with other national celebrations. I expressed my views without equivo--cation against the new devise, shortly after it had become an accepted institution, and hoped that it would not extend through the length and breadth of the Union. But what was originally partial, has grown to be universal. Another day has been added to the many in which the laboring man is forced obliged to withdraw from his calling, and the viciously disposed are given opportunities to waste away their earnings. And why? Is the day calculated to improve the majority morally; politically? Let us reflect. A war, the memory of which sends a thrill of horror into the human soul, was waged be--tween brothers. During four sad years we in the North raised fearful armies to fight unto death men in the South, and those in the South did not sheathe the bloody sword until exhaustion compelled the reluctant act. Civilization stood aghast at the terrible carnage.

I shall waive the question as to whose side high principles gave offered an incentive; which of the two contending parties in the fratricidal struggle aimed at the victory of an ideal, and which at the subjugation of freedom. Enough to bring to mind the desolation of countless homes where bereavement entered; fields trodden down by the heels of a soldiery, enkindled with passions; enough to remember gaunt starvation where plenty had smiled, poverty where affluence had uninterrup--tedly flowed; and then the assassin's shot, the agonies of prisoners preyed upon by vermin, and then the heavy taxation, the demoralization which bloodshed engenders. Let us cast a veil over that dreadful past. It should not be flung aside. Thankful for the final issue that redeemed the fair name of the Republic of the North, the stronger ought to help the weaker in their ascent upon the ladder of progress, whether they aim strive to gain its top by efforts to, raising them intellectually, socially, morally, commer--cially or politically.

But how does the "Decoration day" contribute to that end? Hypocrisy says to falsehood: "We will go and honor the dead. We have come to a spot in which some who had tried to destroy the Union like the sleep that knows no waking. We must lay a wreath over their tombs. Were they not brave? Here is coffined one who swore eternal hatred against the upholders of slavery. It matters not that I considered negros human chattal fit only for the market. It mus plant a garland with the star spangled banner on the sod that covers him whose ideas I detested." Can that be sincerity? Is it not, to the contrary, offensive untruth? Is not deception that the "Decoration day" fosters? If not it, then it is a mockery, mere child's play, a sense--less pastime, an absurd display of military array, a wordy exhibition of frothy oratory. To assume that mutual magnanimity gave it origin, is fallacy. Nature refutes the argument, for we cannot do reverence to what we had deemed treason, nor pay homage to such as we had looked upon as invaders.

The institution ought never ot have had a begin--ning, and gladly would I relate the end thereof, firmly believing that it keeps alive the memory of an episode in the history of the United States, which time ought to obliterate; so that our pos--terity may not inherit the least of the angry feel--ings which once divided a great nation into two hostile camps. As to the celebration on this very day, I shall not conceal the satisfaction I experience at having hindered what I regard a profanation, from a Jewish standpoint. The burial ground pertaining to our Congregation was announced to be among the cemeteries which would be visited by a mili--tary post, so that the few interred there, who are credited with having fought battled for the perpetuation of the Republic, might received the awarded de--coration. I opposed the plan on the same score as others would have opposed it if the occasion had happened on a Sunday. Sure--ly then it would have been postponed out of the respect to the religious sentiment of the majority. Israelites should not appear less regardful of their rules and practices usages than Christians are of their own.

A correspondence and personal interviews secured a pro--mise that the usual ordinary exercises will not be held in our burial place till the Jewish Sabbath is concluded. Let me trust that no double dealing will be pracitsed. ^ But the simple fact that the Philadelphia paper, ostensibly devoted to the interest of our creed, in urging a collection to defray expenses, and had published to the world that the anticipated celebration to be in our cemetery would be on our Sabbath, is a painful illustration of the Rabbi--nical saying: [Hebrew] a maxim, which in plain English, would mean: familiarity with sin, makes the sinner callous. So very general is the desecration of the fourth commandment of the Decalogue, that even its supposed defenders forget its sanctity. Self-respect, at all events, require that we shall not degrade it in the estimation of our neigh--bors of another belief. Let us be aware of Chillal- Ha-shem, but rather remember that we are in duty bound "to hallow the Holy One of Jacob, in order that "they who err in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmur shall obtain instruction" [Hebrew]

^(I learnt since that the decoration did take place before the Sabbath was over)

Identifier

p38w38m5c

identifier

SMBx10FF9_16