What George Washington said about the Jews?
wis...@usa.net
George Washington
( in Maxims of George Washington by A. A. Appleton & Co.)
"They (the Jews) work more effectively against us, than the enemy's
armies. They are a hundred times more dangerous to our liberties and the great
cause we are engaged in... It is much to be lamented that each state, long
ago, has not hunted them down as pest to society and the greatest enemies we
have to the happiness of America."
George Washington
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E. Barry Bruyea
On Mon, 06 Apr 1998 13:07:45 -0600, wis...@usa.net wrote:
> George Washington
>
> ( in Maxims of George Washington by A. A. Appleton & Co.)
>
> "They (the Jews) work more effectively against us, than the enemy's
>armies. They are a hundred times more dangerous to our liberties and the great
>cause we are engaged in... It is much to be lamented that each state, long
>ago, has not hunted them down as pest to society and the greatest enemies we
>have to the happiness of America."
>
> George Washington
>
Who the hell would pay any attention to a guy with wooden teeth?
Susan Umpleby
wis...@usa.net wrote in article <6gb5lh$qv4$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
> George Washington
>
> ( in Maxims of George Washington by A. A. Appleton & Co.)
>
> "They (the Jews) work more effectively against us, than the
enemy's
> armies. They are a hundred times more dangerous to our liberties
and the great
> cause we are engaged in... It is much to be lamented that each
state, long
> ago, has not hunted them down as pest to society and the greatest
enemies we
> have to the happiness of America."
>
> George
Washington
How odd, I can find this *attitude* towards Jews in no reference
book! My library has the complete (6 volume) diaries of George
Washington & while his views on Indians, slaves & catholics are
noted, there is no mention of Jews. We also have a six volume
biography of Washington that contains no information on anti-Jewish
sentiment. It does contain, though, a letter to a Jewish
congregation in Newport in which Washington states:
"It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as it were by
indulgence of one class of people that another exercised their
inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United
States, which gives bigotry no sanction, to persecution no
assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection
should demean themselves as good citizens...may the children of
Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit & enjoy the good
will of the other inhabitants...."
I found similar letters and addresses to other Jewish congregations
in other reference sources. And in addition, I can hardly believe
that Washington would think that Jews were *dangerous to the great
cause we are engaged in* when it is a fact that many Jews not only
fought bravely & died for the cause but also gave substantial amounts
of money to that cause.
The only "Maxims of George Washington" that is in print is published
by the Mt. Vernon Ladies Assn. & edited by Frederick John Scroeder.
My library doesn't own it, but I have put in for an inter-library
loan & look forward to reading it. I have also put in a search for
one published by A.A. Appleton & Co.--it should prove "interesting".
Susan Umpleby
> wis...@usa.net, a nasty slug, crawled out from under a rock & wrote
in article <6gb5lh$qv4$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
> > George Washington
> >
> > ( in Maxims of George Washington by A. A. Appleton &
Co.)
> >
> > "They (the Jews) work more effectively against us, than the
> and the great cause we are engaged in... It is much to be lamented
that each
> state, long ago, has not hunted them down as pest to society and
the greatest
> enemies we have to the happiness of America."
> >
> >
George Washington
-------------------------------
Well, I got the *Maxims of George Washington* (actually published by
D. Appleton & Co., 1894) through interlibrary loan yesterday, thanks
to U.C. San Diego being willing to allow a 104 yr. old volume to
travel. It makes interesting reading. I found that the above quote
is almost entirely accurate--EXCEPT that the original has no mention
of the Jews. Why am I not surprised?
When Washington made this statement he was, according to *Maxims*
speaking of speculators in the currency, not Jews. I did a teensy
bit of research & discovered that one of the great problems of our
Revolution was that speculators cornered supplies of shoes, clothes &
vital supplies & sold them at huge profits, while privateers would
slip out of port & trade in other nations making individuals rich to
the detriment of the national treasury. In a letter to John
Augustine Washington (10/26/1778) Washington wrote:
"I would to God that one of the most atrocious of each State was hung
in gibbets upon a gallows five times as high as the one prepared for
Haman." (Haman~In the Old Testament, a Persian minister who was
hanged for plotting the destruction of the Jews.)
As to what Washington really felt about the Jews, I have found no
negative statements--although I _did_ find addresses to Jewish
congregations congratulating them on the freedom from persecution
that America offered them! As a matter of fact, Jews played a great
part in our Revolution. They took part in our rebellion from the very
first: 9 Jews signed the Non-Importation Resolutions of 1765 (on
display in Philadelphia at Carpenter's Hall). One, Haym Salomon,
was a rich man who unstintingly gave money to help our leaders when
in need (including Jefferson & Madison and other members of congress)
& refused to be paid back & in addition gave many thousands of
dollars to the Treaury & the army. Many other Jews gave money to our
early government, including one Manuel Mordecai Noah who served as an
officer on Washington's staff & who, upon enlistment, gave his entire
fortune of 20,000 pounds to the cause. Many fought as soldiers.
Since Washington spoke out on his feelings about Indians and slaves,
especially in his diaries & letters, I can't help but think that if
he had any low opinions of Jews they would have surfaced long ago.
The original poster tried to use the words of Washington to spread
his foul lies & prejudices. Hey Buryea, try _this_ quote from *The
Maxims of Washington*:
"I am sure, the mass of citizens in these United States mean well; &
I firmly believe they will always act well, whenever they can obtain
_a right understanding of matters_. But, in some parts of the Union,
where the sentiments of their delegates & leaders are adverse to
government, and great pains are taken to inculcate a belief, that
their rights are assailed & their liberties endangered, it is not
easy to accomplish this; ESPECIALLY, as is the case invariably, when
INVENTORS & ABETTORS OF PERNICIOUS MEASURES use infinitely more
industry, in DISSEMINATING POISON, than the well-disposed part of the
community, in furnishing the antidote. TO THIS ALL OUR DISCONTENTS
MAY BE TRACED; and from it all our embarrassments proceed." (p.76,
Maxims).