The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-04-20
Looking Towards Palestine.

But, as by common instinct, the
thoughts of all nations turn to Pales-
tine as the ultimate refuge of the perse-
cuted Jews. In Russian town last
year they were driven from their homes
to the refrain: s'Go to Palestine! Go to
Palestiner' The heart of the faithful
jew responds to this even when the
''red cock crows" and he sees the ter
rified faces of his beloved ones by the
lurid glare of his burning possessions.
1.-THE dominant idea of the Eastern Jew
whatever may be that of his co-religion-
ist in Western countries, is to return to
Palestine" This is the observation OF
Mr.. Laurence Oliphant, who is occupy
ing himself in a colonization scheme for
their relief. Not only the poor, who
might desire the return in order to
share in the charity which is dispensed
in Jerusalem, but the wealthy Jew also
thinks of inhabiting once more the land
of his forefathers. This is no longer a
dream of visionary Bible readers, but
an actual reality. The desert already
begins to rejoice and blossom as the
rose. More than one wealthy Jew is
farming in Palestine, and about five
years ago a colony was formed near
LYDIA. This colony possesses a terri
tory five miles long and one and quar-
ter wide, owned by eighty families.
In Moldayia there is an emigration So
ciety of ], 900 persons, who have decided
to colonize Palestne; similar
society exists at Galatz, where many
families have subscribed the funds nee
essary to buy ground and implements
in the Holy Land. There are also col
onization societies in Cucu and Bu-
charest of Rumania, and the movement
is constantly extending in Russia. Many
Jewish capitalists of Russia have re-
solved to erect factories at ,Jaffa, where
there is already an agricultural colony.
Old rabbis of the strictest orthodoxy
have recently said that ''whoeyer puts his
hand to the working of the soil of the Holy
Land acts more meritoriOusly than he
who passes his time, day and night, in
the study of the Beth Hamedrash." The
English sYmpathizers with the emf
grants will appoint an agent at Jerusa-
lem to protect them from the local au
thorities and select places for them.
There is an old law in Turkey by which
great privileges are afforded to col
onists, and the general laws affecting
the tenure of land are remarkably just.
There are large tracts of rich waste
land in certain parts of the country to
which three years occupation gives a
prescriptive title. The Turkish Gov
ernment is not unwilling to receive
Jewish emigrants provided they viii
consider themselves subjects of the
existing Government. Two years age
Mr. Oliphant proposed a scheme
of Jewish emigration to the Porte
which political complications prevented
from being accomplished. Another eff
fort recently made has resulted in the
purchase of land near Palestine These
capitalists have fund of two million
pounds sterling, and already have
agents in all the provinces of Turkey.
The Israelite Alliance is sending BOYS
from nine to fifteen years of age from
the prosecuted districts of Russia to
Jaffa- Companies of these children
will be sent frequently from Odessa,
Kew and Elisavetgrad to learn agTi-
culture in the Holy Land, and grow up
with the thoughts and habits of the
country. The emigration Of Jews to the
East begins to engage the attention OF
the local press there. The principal
Greek journal publishes long article
on the ineonveniences and dangers
which would result from the settling Of
large numbers of Jews i'll the provinces
of Turkey. The writer. after having
explained the habits of the Jews and
their peculiar tendencies. calls the at
tention Of the Government to the sub
ject and exhoTts it to prevent their emi-
grafton. But, as the Ottoman Govern
ment Is no longer supreme in Turkey,
this warning viii have little influence on
the question: which now seems to be
one that interests all natioUs.-RnHl
(LtGlyl Cor. n. !. Post