Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

The suppression of the riots in England by

military force, still continues deeply to agitate

the public mind.

It is painful to see in this day of illumination,

the persecutions endured by the Jews

on the continent; the popular fury against

this oppressed people, by the latest accounts

has suffered no abatement. They have been

the victims of unsparing and indiscriminate

fury amongst the oldest nations, and where

they have not been made objects of violence

they have been made objects of scorn. It is

not pretended that they do not preserve all

the relations of life with fidelity and honor-

it is not stated that they have offended a-

gainst any human law-it is not urged that

they are incapable of holding with christians

all the sacred ties of friendship, and all the

tender connections; but it is urged against

them that they are Jews-that they worship

our Creator, according to the traditions of

their fathers : to the God of their fathers, then

let them be responsible for their actions.-

But for Christians to persecute--are they to

carry fire and sword under the banners of the

cross ! No, if they do not worship as we do,

let us adopt the language of our Divine Mas-

ter, who, while expiring under the tortures

they inflicted, lifted up his eyes to Heaven,

and exclaimed, " Father forgive them, for

they know not what they do.'

We hope, nay we trust, that it is reserv-

ed for this young republic, around whose head

new constellations are continually breaking

out. to shew to the older governments of Eu-

rope an example worthy of their imitation.-

A Jew, may here worship according to the

traditions of his fathers. and be revered and

respected, where the government is adminis-

tering by the hands of Christians-he is in

almost every other state than this, eligible to


office, capable of rising to the highest digni-

ty, without renouncing the religion of his an-

cestors--if he does renounce it from such a

motive, he is a base and detestable hypocrite.

and would make a worse christian than a

Jew. He is required to prostrate his ho-

nour, before he can become a candidate for

public office. Power and popularity, the

great incentives, the great stimulants to hu-

man action, are held out as bribes, as tempta-

tions to induce him, not from honest con-

viction, but from the most grovelling mo-

tives to abandon his religion. What is the

value of a renunciation so obtained? You

have gained only a detestable hypocrite. We

do indeed believe the time to be approach-

ing, when all this oppressed family will be

gathered under the banners of the cross ;

but we are very clear, that this great event,

this accomplishment of Divine prophecy, will

never be brought about by persecution, ei-

the civil or religious.

Our missionary societies may on this point,

teach a most salutary and important lesson

to modern politicians--their journey is, that

of the sun, and for the same benignant pur-

pose. they visit to enlighten, all nations of

the earth. They explore the darkest re-

cesses of superstition and of ignorance-they

frequent hordes of Barbarians. who offer up

human victims for sacrifice, armed with no

other weapon, than their prayers for the con-

version of these savages. Protecting angels

hover over their heads--an Almighty. al-

though invisible shield. is their defence :--

the heathen beholds and he trembles at such

intrepidity---he dashes his idols to the

ground, and kneeling down by the side of

these apostles, stammers and pronounces

for the first time the name of Jehovah Here

is the might, the influence, the majesty. the

strength and power of the Christian Gospel

unto salvation. Benevolence--true, christian

benevolence marches to the field and con-

quers, where persecution, although her stan-

dard was followed by all the confederated

powers of Europe, with all their mighty ar-

mies could not.