Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1854-06-10
PALESTINE M0RTGAGED TO THE
RNTHSCHIInS

q loan advanced to the Sultan. The rumor
further asserts that, among the possibilities Of
the future, is the erection Of Palestine, on
the conclusion Of peace, into Jewish King.
dom, under the dynasty Of the Rothschilds.
That serious territorial alterations will grow
out Of the pending war, is inconlestible; and
this suggestion regarding Palestine, however
visionary it may seem, is, therefore, not
quite absurd. t ia .p.d-af1ltaw
s' That Palestine should fall into the posses
sion Of some other people than the Turks is
desirable, on many accounts. Situated, as II
is, at distance from the central government,
and liable continually to the exactons OF
Pachas, or the indifference Of Governors, II
Offers no sufficient inducements for capital
to settle there, or industry TO remain. 1t is
consequently in state of progressive decay.
Agriculture is neglected, trade finds little 10
support it, and ignorance, superstition and
vice domineer over the land. From The iur-
ahes, shores of Nazareth TO the southern wa
tiers of the Dead Sea- a curse seems TO hang
over the country, blghting il like pesii'
lence, or flight Of Egyptian locus's.
There was a Time, however, when Pales-
tine was the most 1ourishing region, perhaps,
on the face of the globe. Its vaies were
filled with the low of caille-ts terraced
hilt.sides glowed with golden crops; the vine
dotted the landscape with purple grapes;
and an almost continuous line of villages
crowned The activities, in sight OF each
other, from the Deset, of ldumea OIL the south
10 Mount Libauus on the north. There Is
reason TO believe that at the beginning OF the
Christian era, the whole land was like vast
suburb The four gospels are full OF ailu-
sions which warrant this conclusion. But
now desolation broods over the entire pros
pect The footprints Of successive invaders
have deeply dented the surface OF the coun-
try. The round, batlement towers OF the
Crusaders rise amid the ruins of old Roman
works, while modern Turkish forlresses lit
themselves above the blackened walls OF
Roman castles. The axe and fire have gone
over this once fair region, in repeated surses
OF blood and confasralion. Centuries of war
and oppression have exhausted the spirit of
Inc people, nave ilC oiu bplO'O-
nenls have turned what was once coniin-
uous garden and vineyard into comparative
desert. No man can remember what Pales-
tine once was, and recall what it is at pres
en,, wi,hou, wishing that equal laws and
liberal institutions might restore it 10 lis for
mer spleudor.
The creation of Jewish Kingdom promi-
ses the speediest method of arriving al this.
There are millions of Hebrews scattered over
Europe who would avail themselves of such
a restoration, 70 return 10 the land of their
fathers Poland and Russia, especially,
swarm with them. The oppression under
which they suffer, wherever the Car holds
sway, would be an additional inducemen
for them 10 emgrate to Palestine. Jew
in Russia cannot wear beard as he wishes
cannot appear in certain garments, canno
import even the Hebrew Scriptures, canno
enjoy the common rights of citizen. WheI
we consider the adventurous character of tht
race, and recall the great Jewish Exodus
which is even now going oil, we cannot SCI
any difficulty in the way OF Jewish emigra
ton, such as would re-popula,e Palestine il
very few years
There are difficulties in the way, however
and serious ones. A small kingdom, lk
Palestine proper would be, would hardl
sustain itself against its mishler neighbor:
But if, as appearances begin 10 indicate, III
present war will end in the re. construction
Tnrkey and If Thai re.construction shonl
be based Oil federal union, under the SullaI
of various independent, provinces, then W
see no reason why Hebrew principalit
might moi take its place in such union, sid
by side with Servian, Russian, or a
Albanian one.-Public Ledger.