Judge — June 1938 — page 25: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE JUDGE ON THE BENCH ‘OR seven tormented centuries, sometimes ina wel- ter of blood, sometimes with the terror of famine, and always under the oppressive weight of poverty, the Irish have fought oppression. Within this year a Cath- olic Premier of Ireland and a high churchman of Eng- land have sat down together and chosen the son of a Protestant minister to be the President of Ireland. Peace reigns within the isle and within the hearts of its people. This writer, whose ancestors walked with Brian Boru, and early learned the cry of “Faughaballagh,” looks gratefully back that long vista of years and gives deep thanks for such a heritage; looks back, and, turn- ing, fccis sorrow for another race oppressed and perse- cuted and stoned and humiliated. A race, he is afraid, receiving the kicks and jeers of a mad paper-hanger and his satellites with what they conceive to be hu- mility, and fighting the persecutions of the murderous Hitler with the same old blunt weapons which they should have proved to themselves, ere this, were use- less to end the awful pogroms of other years. The logical, clear-thinking, great-hearted, and un- questionably courageous Jews who set an example for all mankind with their charities, their love of family, their-ability to overcome hardship, struggle into a blind spot of reason which will not let them see the necessity for aggressive offensive tactics against their oppressors. Too often disagreeing among themselves as to meth- ods, while pouring money willingly and freely from their purses for the relief of their people, they have a crying need for a great Jewish leader who will turn his face to the enemies of Jews, and mass behind him the great emotionalism of his race. Jews, you face today the turning point in your long and honorable history. You face the necessity of clear- ly understanding that sanctuary does not lie in Pales- tine, but within your hearts and minds. Peace cannot come within the walls of buildings thrown up upon an arid desert. Safety and the right to rear your chil- dren can never be secured to you until you have beaten down, once and for all, in one great final at- tack, the insane thinking which threatens to destroy you. What do you think Hitler is doing and has done? Here is a man who has been a failure all his life, at every decent thing he ever attempted, gathering up the June, 1938 loose threads of all the resentments against Jews that have ‘ever existed, and weaving them into one cloth, making what may be the last assault upon an honor- able people, because, whether timorous or not, you give the appearance of timidity. Meetings for and of your own, in small groups or large, for the discussion of purely defensive tactics, will not do enough. Turn that magnificent fire of speech of Jewish scholars out upon the world at large, and who has ever listened to a great Jewish orator who did not feel his blood run faster? There never was a Parnell who could speak with greater eloquence. The Gentile, no less, needs the emotional stir of a Jewish offensive to bring him quickly to your side. All hate and cowardice is symbolized in Hitler. He has stolen from the German people themselves their traditions, and is even changing the physical appear- ance of old Germany, ridiculous as that may seem, and he has been able to do it because the true German people, down in their hearts, did not believe it could be done. Some day they themselves will end this farce, but they will end it as it applies to Germans, and it may be too late for the Jews to benefit. Learn, before it is too late, that there is no safety inside any Jewish home in the world until you have led a vigorous, out- in-the-open fight against the thing which would de- stroy you. yN the world respects your sincerity in everything else you do, do not be satisfied with universal ad- miration for your ability to suffer. “Fight?” you say, and then you ask “How?” Ahead of the “How?” must come your united determination to fight. There must be a leader who can arouse you to that determina- tion and be willing to lead a fight, not a defense. He must be a great Jewish figure, admired and respected by the whole world for the position he occupies, not only among Jews, but among all peoples, and then— the same patience to study that has been evidenced by your Talmudic scholars, devoted to planning the fight, will make the Jew a virile force and create in you the priceless feeling that comes from the sure knowledge that you possess the respect of all peoples because you are willing to fight for the things you so rightfully cherish. And let the non-Jew take solemn admonition that this is his fight as well. 23 comicbooks.com