FOOTNOTES:
[116] ... "It is a gratifying proof of progress that the President of the Magyars (Kossuth) has promised freedom to those who equally with himself are struggling for the independence of their country, since it is said that there are no less than 35,000 Israelites in the Hungarian army." Extract from a French newspaper reprinted in "The Occident," August, 1849. Phila.; Edited by Isaac Leeser.
... "It cannot be denied that already at that time the majority of the Magyar Jews were patriotically inclined towards the country which they called their home. As by magic, they felt themselves drawn towards the man who preached liberty and equality, and at whose hands they were expecting redemption from the Ghetto and from civil and political degradation. As a matter of fact, thousands of Jews, among them a general, fought in the Magyar army.... The contribution which the notorious Haynau levied upon the Jewish congregations was but a consequence of the loyalty to the man of the New Era, attributed to the Jews." Dr. Adolph Kohut on "The Relations of Kossuth to the Jews," in the American Hebrew, N. Y., March, 1894.
To the above may be added the following testimony of General Julius Stahel, one of the active participants in the Hungarian Revolution, and who subsequently made a distinguished military record in our civil war.
New York, May 22d, 1895,
Hon. Simon Wolf, Washington, D. C.,
Dear Sir:
I know from personal knowledge that many Jews fought in the battles for the independence of Hungary in 1848, with as much bravery and gallantry as the American Jew fought here during the late strife between the North and the South, and I also know that the late humane and illustrious apostle of liberty, Louis Kossuth, always fully appreciated the patriotism, loyalty and devotion of the Jews to the cause of Hungary during that great struggle for freedom.
Patriotism and bravery are not the birthright of one nation or race, but of all mankind.
Very sincerely yours,
J. Stahel.
[117] Referring to a newspaper item regarding the rumors of a duel between Capt. Cremieux Foa, a French cavalry officer, and a certain anti-Semite editor of a Paris newspaper, General Franz Sigel wrote as follows:
The part played by the Jews of Europe in all the various avenues of progress need not detain us here. The recurrent ebullitions of unreasoning prejudice against them which become manifest from time to time, are ultimately traceable as but distorted expressions of the unrest which the European social organism is suffering under its abnormal political and economic conditions. What there is left of this spirit on American soil is but a reflex of that of Europe, but there, as here, the record made by the Jewish people in politics and in war, in commerce and in industry, in science, art and literature, has placed beyond question their position as patriots, soldiers and citizens.
New York, May 31st, 1892.
Hon. Simon Wolf, Washington, D. C.,
Dear Sir:
Not knowing whether you have seen or will see the inclosed item, I send it to you. It shows at least that there are no less than 300 Jewish officers serving in the French army, probably the highest number in any of the great European armies, which speaks well for France and her republican government.
Hoping that you are well, I am,
Truly yours,
Franz Sigel.