2004-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004
Writes famous American Jurist, diplomat, merchant and philanthropist OSCAR STRAUS (1850-1926) in this very significant 4 page (two sheets, both sides) boldly and neatly penned letter entirely in his hand with full autograph signature to famous America Judge Mayer Sulzberger in Philadelphia. On fancy printed stationary of "The Homestead Hotel…Hot Springs, Virginia (with large steel engraved illustration on each sheet of the famous resort) Dec. 22, 1905. Discusses at length, and with some emotion, the dissention between American and British methods to handle the Russian refugee problem caused by the terrible massacres in that country. Opens regarding his receipt of Sulzberger's "counter-blast." Straus writes: "I have long ago written [Israel] Zangwill [noted Jewish author] that I could not be aught but a 'high private in the rear ranks' and suggested Cyrus Adler. But as Cyrus objects…I suggested the other Cyrus and I think Zangwill has written [him] who will act as chairman. …[Just] had occasion to write to [Barons] Montague and Rothschild and spoke out very plainly disapproving of their anti-territorial manifesto and expressed my inability to follow their reasoning…which I unhappily agreed that the Russian Jewish question had to be settled in Russia. Must we continue to be blinded to the logic of history and cowardly massacres. …Some of my distinguished colleagues have not only believed Zangwill's plan of refuge…we are considering a suitable place or country of refuge on this continent, but which is not sufficiently progressed for us to refer to yet. …I perhaps should have sent Zangwill a copy of that part of my letter, but I hesitated and still am adverse to enter into a controversy which could only do harm. …Let us go ahead and do something. Our distinguished English friends seem to fear they will extinguish their distinction by standing out bravely and boldly for their suffering coreligionists…those they can't condemn to live under Russian horrors, they patriotically pass on to us. Let them come. We will stand by them and fight for them and at the same time uphold the spirit of the history and development of American institutions which owe their greatest debt to the refugees from political oppression and religious persecution in the Old World. I have faith in the bravery and grit of the Russian Jews and therefore wish to save them." Exc. +. Not only a remarkable, but an exceptionally historical and important, integral piece of American Jewish history. Oscar Straus had the unique experience of serving in high offices under five successive American presidents, from Cleveland to Taft, attributable to the fact that his patriotism transcended mere party considerations. His leadership in the American Jewish community was unequaled. This example of his writing and thoughts is of inestimable historic significance.
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