The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-06-04

DcfS toward Palestine is invested with Pc
culiar interest by reason Of their belief that
the Holy Land is to be restored to them at
| some future day as n national possession.
Those who are known as the Liberal or Re
form Jews are said no longer TO retain the
doctrine Of the future coming Of Messiah
| and the establishment of the Hebrew ma
ton. They have removed from their prayer
books and synagogue service all passages
containing any reference to such an event,
OF implying n desire or belief that it will
come to pass. Their clergy, it is said, con-
strue the predictions of a restoration in fig
urative sense, as meaning that the race will
be restored in all lands to footing Of liberty
and equality, that its prosecutions will cease,
and an era of happiness open to it. A noted
Jewish divine is reported to have said in one
of the synagogues Of this city: America,
the land OF freedom and enlightenment, is
our Jerusalem and our Holy Land. We want
no other" This part Of the race would not
help in movement to regain Palestine, or
settle there II it were regained
With large part Of the race, however, and
especially with those who are domiciled ID
| eastern Europe, where their condition is
such as to make them cherish the idea Of a
better time to come, the belief in the literal
coming of Messiah, and the reunion of the
people of Israel in the land OF their ancient
glory is said to be as firmly held as any doc
trinein their creed. 1t is true that their ideas
as to the manner and time of the occurrence
of these events are represented to be as in
definite as those OF Christians concerning
! the Day OF Judgment They are not deferred
by their belief from investing in real
nl of hn Ito
means, and their everyday life and business
enterprises are not affected by it; but it is
thought that it might be different il this
orthodox part of the race should settle in
large numbers in Syria 1t is believed that
they would inevitably regard such move
ment as a step toward the fulfilment of the
divine promise
Whatever the consequences that might
ultimately flow from that fact, it is evident
that the question Is not overlooked by those
who are concerned in directing the current
! OF Russian emigration, and that 1t is re-
garded by some as one of importance ana
possibly as fraught with danger; and
it may be one of the causes at the
bottom Of the strong opposition offered
to extensive colonization in Palestine by
some Of the prominent Hebrews of Franco
and Germany. The Sultan and his Ministers
seem also to have given attention to the
question, since, in according permission to
settle within the Turkish dominions, the
territory comprising ancient Palestine
is reported to have been expressly
excepted. The Turkish Government seems
to hesitate about permitting Jewish popu-
latjon that may possibly swell to large dimen-
sions to settle in the territory from
which its ancestors were driven by
fire and sword. and to which it believes
with the fervor of religious faith that it Is to
be restored under divine protection. 1t is not
unnatural that the Reform Jews, who do not
| believe in q national rehabilitation, and prom
| inent Hebrews all over the world, should
| also feel some uneasiness in contemplating
| the possibilities of such a situation.
Mr.. OLIPAANT, who has long been interest
ing himself in efforts toward the restoration
Of the Hebrew nation, has started from Ga
licia for Constantinople, for the purpose OF
effecting arrangements, if possible for col
onization in Palestine as well as in other
parts of the Turkish domnions. He is OPP
posed to sending the refugees to the United
States further than may be necessary, If sat
isfactory arrangements can be made for their
sent to America, he says, soon become scat
tered and lose their national aud religious
ties. This he thinks it desirable to prevent,
and he would expect to see it prevented if
they We're settled in compact bodies in Pal
estinc. But it is doubtful whether such an
endcavor would have the approval of the
Porte, and it would doubtless be regarded
with misgiving in other quarters as well.
There is no question that the fugitives
from Russia, as well rs the greater number
of their brethren of Galicia and Roumania,
while looking toward America as a land OF
paradise, would gladly settle also in Paes-
tine, We're the way to do so open TO them.
| In a private letter dated at Bucharest shortly
before his departure for Constantinoplc, Mr.
OLIPHAET writes that he had just attended
meeting of delegates from twenty eight Pal
estine colonization societies, and that there
are altogether forty-nine such societies in
Roumania He says that the whole Jewish
population OF Roumania, with the exception
OF "a few bankers and rich merchants, is eager
to start for Palestine, and that during his
| journcying he was met at the railway sta
| tons by persons bearing lists of families
who had signed their names as ready to go.
The difficulty" he writes, is to keep the
people from crowding intoa country quite
unprcparcd to receive them in such numbers"
The direction that the Jewish, emigrants
are to take is not, however, to be determined
! by them alone, even If no obstacles are inter-
! posed by the Turkish Government The de-
ciaion of the question is largely dependent
upon the views Of those who have the dis
position of the colonization funds as well as
Of individual Hebrews of prominence and in
Nucnce, and some Of these seem to be far
from satisfied with the idea OF Palestine col
oni2ation. Mr., METER, who has long been
laborlng for the success OF Jewish agli-
cultural instruction at Jafin, has been especi-
ally earnest in his opposition, and, in letter
to one of the Jewish journals OF Europe OK
presses the fear that such colonization on an
extensive scale may lead to calamtlcs
greater than any that have befallen the
Jewish race in centuries.
Meantime the number Of refugees pouring
int Anli ,.tn IL,