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The Ho uthern Israelite
MARK EVERY GRAVE
Florence Memorial Company
Incorporate!
BROWN BROS., Owner*
Manufac*liiri‘rH of QUALITY MONUMENTS
FLORENCE, S. C.
!
,.i
Jones Auto Paint Co. Inc.
IIICI! GRADE AUTOMOBILE TRIMMING
AND PAINTING
156 N. Sanborn Street Hornier, S. L.
Florence Ice and Fuel Co.
ICE AND COAL
A Clean Hank
A Liquid Hank
First National Bank
In Florence
FLORENCE, S. C.
:❖
J. F. Stackly Company
Fancy Groceries
Florence, South Carolina
In Europe the I danger of a Me*
Conflict is Viewed as Possible
V iennese Writer Discusses the Political Situation
From a Jewish Point of View
By HEINRICH YORK-STEINER
The recent war swept over terri-
tory thickly populated by Jews. The
traces of this holocaust can never be
removed. Total destruction was pre
vented only by the incomparable sac
rifices of the American Jew. From
England came the liberating gospel,
came the immortal Balfour declara
tion, that expresses confidence in the
Jewish will to work, and in their abil
ity to build up anew a ruined land.
All these factors stand and fall with
the welfare of the Anglo-Saxon na
tions. If England and the United
States should ever go to war, all Jew
ish sources of help would be exhaust
ed, the Jewish future destroyed, all
hope buried.
It may also he anticipated that an
Anglo-American war would at the
same time signify the destruction of
Europe. Is it necessary to mention
how the phosgene gas poisoning in
Hamburg gave our lungs a fearful
warning of the murderous conse
quences of future war. How the heart
stops heating at the thought of the
terror of the people of the great Han
seatic city whose life’s breath was
in such terrible danger. No, it has
not yet been proven that Germany
would be drawn into the path of war
at whose end swift death is waiting.
The chemical genius, Bergius, pro
duces benzine out of the cheapest coal
which Germany mines in over-abun
dance. Yet slow death would be the
certain consequence of this world
war. \\ ho will forget those days
when the seas were closed to us, when
bread and meat, fat and sugar were
lacking, when bodies deteriorated,
souls languished, and hearts shrank
at the sight of starving children with
their exhausted bodies. Well then, an
English-American war would close all
the highways of the world, would
starve and destroy all of Europe.
Jewish policies, the hopes and fears of
the Jewish people, are in close con
tact with those of civilized humanity
as a whole.
W hen in the year 1911 the mem
ber of the House of Commons, Col.
Faber brought up a question whether
it was true that in February of that
year the entire English fleet had been
massed about the British Isles in or
der to attack the German coast, which
the minister did not deny, none of
us thought of the frightful possibili
ty which, three years later, brought
devastation into the world.
This time, however, we should be
wide awake, and to be the first to
awaken the conscience of the world
Wherever we gather in the name of
God, or in the interest of human
needs, let us remember the danger and
let us plan for its prevention. We
shall not fail to pray to God for His
help, to send up to heaven our prayer
for peace between America and Eng
land. Is it possible to evoke the help
of the Creator of all life? Prayer
is helpful, just the same. It gr’j ps
our soul, clarifies the spirit, refines
our feelings and makes us capable of
gentle compassion. In America and
England they believe a great deal in
the power of prayer.
Let the European Jew bear in mind
that it was the great republic beyond
the sea, America, that gave shelter
and refuge to his brothers at a time
when murder walked through the
ghettos of Eastern Europe. It is there
that they have grown strong in free
dom and have become economically
powerful. “Protect, 0 Lord, the
shores of this beautiful land from
mass murder and sufferings of war.”
From books by American authors
we learn from day to day about the
evils in the life of that country. Let
us not forget, however, that it ha?
introduced and made possible popu
lar freedom. We are now hearing a
great deal about the egoism of indi
viduals and the unsavory doings of
certain corporations. But we must
know that the population of the Unit
ed States in its great mass is easily
inspired to strive for what is noble
and good. These 120 million have not
yet spoken their last word; they are
scarcely stammering their first. “Per
mit us, 0 Lord, to live to see this
combination of all Europe, the rise
of this nation of all nations in its
completeness.”
American statesmen believe in
treaties because this young world
power has so far seldom been in a
situation where it could break them.
In June, 1913, I was told by Mr.
Bryan, the ex-Secretary of State,
well-known pacifist who, upon com
ing into office with Woodrow' Wilson
a few r months previously, had wanted
to unite all the countries of the won
by means of arbitration treaties:
“We have so far obtained the con
sent of fourteen states, ^our Em
peror Francis Joseph was the first w
agree, and Emperor Wilhelm has as- 1
expressed his willingness.” When t e
war emergency came, it became ap
parent that no national obligation re
suited from these letters. They *
been and remained private expres
sions of opinion. Mr. Bryan contm
ued further: .
“A few days ago, some America®
mine owners came to see me. 1
mines are being interfered wit
the Mexican government. They
ed me to direct at the Mexican »
ernment a threat of war, like *
den stream of cold water. I ra P _
‘Not even as a threat shall the
cursed word be spoken in this o c •
The cursed war cast its flames aS .
as Washington. Mr. Bryan P a
up his bundle and left his office.
No; the Kellogg Pact brin «?J£ j,
curity, no assured peace. ^
possible, war is probable.