Jew Baiting.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 32, 7 August 1902, Page 24

Jew Baiting .

Never (says tho ' Catholic Times ')) havo wo had any sympathy with the inreligious fanatics who, in the name) of God try to deprive their neighbor of his civil rights. Anti-Semi-tism is as logically indefensible as 1 it is morally unjust. And it runs counter to tho actions and policy of| tho Roman Pontiffs, who did much to defend the persecuted Jews against the violence and fanaticism of medieval ignorance. Conseq,uent> ly wo deeply deplore the wrong; which is being wreaked on the Jews by tho Roumanian Government. Under a system of tyranny thati Government has entered on a crusade to suppress the Jews, of whom there aro about a quarter of a million in tho country. It excludes them from tho public service ; forbids them to act as collectors of the

/ommunal revenue, or as hawkers, to' Sell tobacco, to be publioans, grocers, or bakers. Their children are *^ deprived of free education, and excluded from all secondary, professional, or agricultural schools. Tho professions are closed to Jews, and now, under a law passed this very year, they are forbidden to labor as artisans. Thus e\ery avenue of a livelihood is closed to them. lit is to be hoped that European public opinion will force tho Roumanian Government to act justly towards its Jewish subiects. Tho Jews have had a long mid a sorrowful history, yet, iv spito of fierce persecution and fanatical hatred, they have produced men whoso names adorn the records of excellence in literature and) art. Their claims on mankind are many. Let them live, while they obey tho laws ; and if special legislation is enacted against them, let) us, as Catholics, recall the past ■when it was enacted against us.