The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-06-16
From the Philadelphia Ledger.

! From the Philadelphia Ledger
Palestine MOrts2ged d the EcOt2lsciliids
1t is said, abroad thai Palentne has been mort
gagged TO the Rothschilds as security for loa
advanced TO the Sultan. The rumor further as
serts that, among the possibilities OF the future,
the erection of Palestine, on the conclusion OF
peace, into Z Jewish king dom, under the dynas,,
OF the Rothschilds That serious territorial aIrera
tions will grow out of the pending war; is incon
testIbie; and this suggestion regarding Palestine
{ however visionary il may seem, is, therefore, no
quite absurd.
That Palestine should fall into the possession o
some other people than The Turks is desirable, OF
! many accounts. Situated, as it is, at distance
! from the central government, and liable conin
ualiy 10 the exaclions of Pachas, the indifference
Of Governors, it offers sufficient inducements
| for capital TO settle there. or industry to reman
1t is consequently in state Of progressive decay
agriculture is neglected, trade finds little to support
1t, and ignorance, superstition and vice donueer
over the land From the arthest shores oi
Nazareth to the Southern waters Of the Dead Sea,
curse seems TO nang over the country, bllghtlng
it like a pesence, or High: Of Egyptian locusts.
There was time, however, when Palestine was
the most hourishng region, perhaps, on the face
Of the globe. Its valIies were filled with the low
of cattle-s terraced hill. 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 desert Of Idumea on the south to Mount
Libanus on The north There is reason to believe
that at the beginning Of the Christian era the
whole land like a vast suburb. The four
Gospels are full Of illusions which warrant this
conclusion. But now, desolation broods the
entire prospect. The footprints Of successive in-
vaders have deeply dented the surface Of the
country. The round, battlement towers Of the
Crusaders, rise amid the ruins Of old Roman works,
while modern Turkish fortresses lift themselves
above the bIackened walls Of Roman castles. The
axe and fire have gone over this fair region
in repeated surges of blood and conlagratlon
Centuries of war and oppression have exhausted
the spirit Of the people, have destroyed the old i'm.
provemen!s, have turned what once a contn
uous garden and vineyard into a comparative
desert No man can remember what Palestine
once was, and recall what it is at present, without
wishing that equal laws and liberal institutions
might restore It to It's former splendor.
The creation of Jewish kingdom promises the
speedest method of arriving at this. There are
millions of Hebrews scattered over Europe who
would avail themselves of such a restoration, to
return 20 the land Of their fathers. Poland and
Russia, especially swarm with them. The op- !
preston under which they suffer wherever the
Car holds sway, would be an additional induce
ment for them TO emigrae to Palestine. A Jew
III Russia cannot wear beard as he wishes, can.
not appear in certain garments, cannot import |
even the Hebrew Scriptures, cannot enjoy the |!
common rights OF a citizen. When we consider |
he adventurous character of the race, and recall
he great Jewish exodus which is even now going
on, we cannat see any difficulty in the way OF a
Jewish emigration, such as would repopuIate
'alestine in a very few years.
There are difficulties in the way, however, and
erous ones. small kingdom, like Palestine
proper would be, would hardly sustain itself against
IS mgh'ier neighbors. But if, as appearances
egln to indicate, the present war will end in TIE
e-construction OF Turkey; and if that econstruc.
ION should be based on federal union, under the
uItan, OF various independent Provinces then we
ee no reason Why Hebrew prircpaIity might
OF take lis place in such union, side by side
nth Servian, Russian, an Albanian one