THE JEWS.
THE decrepitude of persecution is pitiful. There is something inconsequent in an expiring intolerance, that deprives it of all claim to that equivocal respect inspired by a robust and powerful bigotry. If men of average sense and self-respect could "see themselves as others see them," they would never become liberal and tolerant by halves. Your goodnatured timidities, who can neither resist nor admit the claims of their Jewish countrymen to participate in the privileges of Englishmen, are sadly at sea. One will not oppose the bill intended to relieve the Jews from the neeessity of vouching their veracity " on the faith of a Chris- tian' " but declares with a most Burleigh-like shake of the head that neither can he support it. Another thinks it safe to intrust a Jew with all the power and influence of Lord Mayor, but deems it dangerous to allow him a vote as Member of Parliament among six or seven hundred others. A third is lost in admiration of the benefits which have flowed from the admission of Jews to chairs in the Prussian Universities, who would resist the admis- sion of Christian Dissenters to Oxford or Cambridge. A Jew may hold lands, and with them impropriate tithes and advow- sons ; a Jew may keep the consciences and votes of half-a-dozen constituencies in his pocket ; he may start his proteges on the road to bishoprics and the House of Lords, and he may send his nominees into the House of Commons. A wealthy and ambitious Jew may exercise by influence ten times the power over decisions of the Legislature that he could by his personal vote. Exclusion from the Legislature does not deprive the Jew of political power; it only forces him to seek that power by indirect means and underhand intrigue. As a Magistrate authorized to commit parties to gaol, the Jew exercises more real power than he could by exerting the six-hundredth part of that combined will which restricts the power of committal. If it is dangerous to intrust political power to a Jew, refuse to tolerate his religion, and forbid him to acquire property; : once these points are conceded, he can influence the Government if he has a mind. And where is the danger of intrusting a Jew with political power? The morality of Christianity and Judaism are the same : the religious dogma of Judaism is less developed—less spiritualized—than that of Christianity ; but it contains the germ of every distinctive fea- ture, of Christian doctrine..
Previous page
