Literary Production. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Feb 1897 · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Literary Production. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Feb 1897

Author

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

1 February 1897

Location(s)

United States -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

United States -- Pennsylvania

Format

10 pages on 5 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 11

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3br8n120/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3br8n120

Provenance

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

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx10FF11_7.xml

content

S. MORAIS
546 N. Fifth St.
Philadelphia,

140
Feb./97
On Russian affairs

On the 19th day of January, I stood before a large represen--tation of Episcopal clergymen. It was in obedience to the urging of respectable and kindly disposed women of a Christ--ian denomination, that I addressed that dignified Minis--terial body. They Those well-wishers of mankind, believed that my pleading, on the score of humanity, in behalf of Jews who suffer almost unprecedentedly sore persecutions, would stir up a community to healthful actions. The influence of a church powerful by reason of its wealth, so highly regarded be--cause of the general culture of its members, and so defe--rentially listened to in view on account of the vast number of its adherents, would clearly show itself in Washington. Such were the hopes, and therefore I overcame my natural hesitancy. I was told that our government, traditionally on very amicable terms with that at St Petersburg, would inter--pose its merciful offices, so as to change for the better the situation of our unhappy coreligionists in the empire of the Czar. Nearly a month has elapsed since my effort in the guild room of the Church of the

Epiphany, and the beneficial result of my having spoken has not yet been reported to me. Even at the very meeting of the 19th to which I have alluded, I was made painfully to feel that the sympathy which good people, belonging to another creed from ours, anticipated, was not universal. For at the conclusion of my address, one of on whose support I had confidently relied, caustically remarked that, as Jews in Russia, tho' more numerous than elsewhere, form nevertheless a very small minority amidst the vast immense population, they should ward off ill-will by re--nouncing the peculiar practices of their faith. Upon hear--ing such sentiments, I imagined that the spirit of Gold--win Smith had entered the speaker's body and it echoed forth the advice which that worthy gave shortly before, in response to an inquiry from a New York Messenger claiming to be a Jewish mouth-piece. Well: a conforming with the counsel given would really expedite matters much more quickly than even the thumb-screw of the inquisition could possibly dispatch. Better still, the voluntary abjuration of Mosaic and tradi--tional ordinances, would secure each neophyte ten rubles, as a reward for his admission to baptism acceptance have knelt at the baptismal font.

Thanks, many thanks reverend sir, but my brethren are not pre--pared ready to rush into the embrace of the Greek church. In However, in a letter to a colleague of mine, I am assured that those I addressed are, with me, with a single exception, with me, and that they labor quietly but yet effectually. Perhaps so; meanwhile the manly remonstrance of Mr Cummings, more guardedly worded than that of Mr Baker, was set aside by Congress, and another by Mr Hitt was offered for approval, as milder yet still than either of the preceding ones. What will be its fate? Is diplomacy likely to change its heart of stone into a heart of flesh and melt at the tidings that reached our shores on Wed--nesday last? Or, will the United States, whose foundation stone lays on a protest against tyranny, still continue to look on unconcerned, when an ally is crushing mankind to death? Surely: the strong Or, will free America can and should heed the commandment of the greatest Legis--lator [Hebrew] "Stand not idly when the the blood of thy neighbor is being shed."? For the honor of the country, deemed held by the oppressed as an anchor of

salvation, I fondly cherish the hope that a voice of disapprobation will be raised, and despotism will blush at its inequities. I have said it: the Czar will not fling away, in a fit of anger, a friendly communication from the Chief Executive of sixty millions, asking for a less inhuman treatment of three millions and a half of creatures, whose greatest crime is that they were born Jews. On the Christian New Year, the emperor of all the Russians, read with a complacent smile a set of resolutions passed by American residents at St Petersburg, thanking him for the liberty which they were allowed to enjoy. Englishmen might not have fared so well. Probably they the subjects of queen Victoria would not have drawn such resolutions, for, open in undersigned are the political animosities of the Autocrat against Great Britain, and if we needed an illustration, the result which attended the Guildhall famous meeting would furnish it most strikingly. None should wonder that our unfortunate brethren lament the kindly interposition of England. When a despot of old, made our fathers' yoke heavier, because of Moses and Aaron's intercession, the Hebrews enslaved exclaimed [Hebrew] [Hebrew]

"May the Lord see it and charge a you with having made us hateful in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his officers, as if putting a sword into their hand to tell us." It is the language of the down trodden, who feel the iron heel on their bare necks. "Let us alone, for pity-sake", they cry "a word in our favor is the spade which g digs out our grave. So likewise it has happened in the Egypt of the nineteenth century. The memo--rial of Dukes and prelates; of literary celebrities, and parliamentary magnates, was returned in insulting silence, and we have read last on Wednesday thus: "British sympathy has aggravated the Jews' hard lot, which was already so wretched that it seemed impossible to be worse..... The daily severities practised against the families unoffend--ing men, women and children are incredible and wanton. Russia's reply to the Lord Mayor's respectful petition consists of secret circulars, ordering her officials to rigorously administer the anti-semetic laws, and to supply the legal deficiency by their own decisions, in harmony on with the government's intolerant spi--rit." But American sympathy will insure a hearing, if not for a corresponding feeling, for,

America has no territorial jealousies, bristling up their angry crests against Russia. The two lands clasp each other's right hand across the Atlantic, and give one another warm assurances of uninterrupted good-will. In the face of such horrors, as reported by late despatch--es, will not our Secretary of State instruct Mr Charles Emory Smith, our plenipotentiary, to seek ask for an audience and--Oh! soul-degrading anomaly!--lat at the foot of as des--potic throne the humble request of republicans? My eyes are strained looking intently for that hoped for advent and its issue.
But ardently praying for the relief of our enslaved breth--ren, we must prepare nevertheless for adverse cir--cumstances; for an influx of a foreign population that will hamper us our exertions fearfully. Already it has been stated that one hundred and sixty Jewish families are are on their way to Dakota, supplied with means by Baron de Hirsch, but I am reliably informed that that distant Western territory state has proved inauspicious to the colony planted there, and that its unsuccessful farmers travel on foot to St Paul, to Minneapolis and neighboring cities, in quest of food to satisfy hunger.

And now the knowledge that two millions and four hundred thousand dollars--which is the principal of the ten thousand dollars interest sent heretofore monthly, have been forwarded to the trustees of the Hirsch fund as a permanent fund capital [?] to be invested at pleasure by the committee, that knowledge, I say, will encourage many to seek our shores making heavier thus still heavier the incubus oppressing our hearts. For, however we may choose to boast in the secular press, that we are able to take care of all who need our assistance, the work of dispensing charity wisely and efficaciously, is daily assuming proportions, which appall those en--gaged in the tremendously difficult task. I shall not presume to suggest to men who enjoy the confidence of the world-renowned philanthropist, how best to carry out the intention of the incomparable singularly great donor. I am aware that in New York, a school for youths has been opened under the auspices of the unique benefactor, and it is not improbable that similar institutions will increase in the metropolis and elsewhere by through the munificent gift of the German Austrian Baron, but I, who study the wants of my fellow believers in Philadelphia, eagerly wish for an object, the realization of which has occupied my thoughts very nigh three years.

For its sake I have spoken in this pulpit with a frequency which perhaps became wearisome; for its sake I repeatedly consulted an un an untiring laborer in the noble scheme; for its sake I opened a correspond--ence with persons, who, I was assured, could approach the Jewish Croesus, and influence him favorably to my plan. My endeavours, have proved so far abortive. The latest communication from Paris, directed me to the President of the New York Branch of the Uni- -versal Israelitish Alliance, who is also President of the Hirsch fund. He should exercise his judgment as to the advisability fittest mode of furthering my project. I did not follow the course pointed out, because I hold that the Philadelphia trustees ought to be alive to the ne--cessity of devoting a notable portion of their quota of the yearly interest, to the erection, and maintenance of a comprehensive institution, mainly to the an institution promotive of industry, of the teaching cultivation of mechanics and trades, of English, & of Hebrew, of religion and morals.
But as I wish desiring to address a lad who has just completed his thirteenth year, I shall further refer in my next to this import-ant topic.

Identifier

p3br8n120

identifier

SMBx10FF11_7