The morning call., 1891-07-05
PEOPLING PALESTINE.
What Is Being Done 10 Rehabilitats the Holy
Land.

There are not wanting indications that
one result OF the enforced emigration of the
jew from Russia will be the planting in
Palestine of population of hardy Jewish
farmers whose industry may yet make that
lOng-neglectld country blossom like a rose.
says the Baltimore Sun. The notion that the
country Is poor in soil and inc apable Of sus-
tanning an agricultural population is en-
roneous. 1t only needs proper cultivation TO
be amply productive. The Investigations
set on foot by the Palestine Exploration
Fund Indicate that the climate and soil are
similar to those OF Southern Italy, and that
industry, aided at the start by little cap
ltal, VIII obtain thoroughly satisfactory
results. A large part of Judea,
Samaria, Gali'ee and Gilead is we'll
watered and capable of producing fruits.
vegetables, grain, wine, oil, cotton and silk
in great abundance. PhiIi-tia and Sharon
are fertile, needing only proper distribu-
ton OF the existing water supply for pur-
poses of irrigation 10 regain the prosperity
destroyed by centuries of ill-goVernment
and dis order.
What may be done is shown by the sue
cess OF the Jewish colony not very long
since settled at Rosh Pinals, in Galilee
This colony began operations under dis
couraging circumstances. 1t was located
among nils that appeared to be absolutely
sterile. There were no roads and no facl-
tiles for irrigation. Within a short time.
savagery, and it now teens with fruits and
grains. The once barren hillsides are now
productive vineyards and luxurious gar
deus Orchards OF figs, olives, pOmegranates,
lemons, etc, abound on every hand. The
people live in. comfortable houses, and their
surroundings indicate general prosperity
and content The colOny's prosperity has In
fact, exceeded the expectations of its foun-
ders. Other colonies are Consequently be-
ing planted near by, and considerable trade
is hrlup IHyHlnnaH in ha g
industry and thrift. All that is wanted, it
would appear, to restore the whole country
to Its ancient productiveness and splendor
Is new population imbued with modern
Ideas OF government. The Arabs aud Turks
are dead weight upon productive industry
They wont work. II they could be induced
TO buckle down" to hard work. they are
hopeleSsly ignorant and unprogressive
They need to be thrust aside by the superior
force OF large immigrant population ac-
custOmed to work. AS the Jews about to
be expelled from Russia number 1900. coo,
there is evidently ready at hand the material
required for the rehabilitation of the Holy
Land.
There are two obstacles to the settlement
OF the Russian eXies in Palestine on very
large scale. One Is the nature of the Turk
lsh government; the other. the apprehen-
sion that Palestine will one day come under
the domination OF the Gar. The Turkish
pashas in Palestine are not wise admins
traitors, even when they are honest, which
is very Seldom They lay taxes in the
oriental manner That is to say, they put
on the property owner the heaviest burden
they think he can bear, without much re-
gard to law or reason. They exact the
major portion of the product of the citizens
Industry, leaving him, as rule, bare sub
sistence. Mitigation of the pasha's exac-
tions can be assured by bribing him, but the
p.ice and the tax together make big hole
III the years savings. 1t is the Short-sighted
| and corrupt administration of the Turkish
officials, in fact, that has almost everywhere
converted the once rich province of the Sui
tan into barren wastes.
The extension of the Cars power to Pal
estne Is confessedly remote-if it is ever to
oecur-but the probability OF it has to be
considered, doubtless, by Baron Hirsch in
fixing upon destination for the stream of
emigrants he is assisting. Russia is undoubt-
eddy plotting the absorption of Asia Minor.
| and with Asia Minor once in her possession
the late OF the region further south would
be sealed. She Is moving westward, south
ward and eastward from her present posi-
ton between the Slack and Caspian seas.
1t Is the Pan-Slavic belief that tho next war
waged by the Car will result in final dis
trbutlOn of the Sultan'S effects, with Russia
as the chief inheritor. Matters NAV turn
out differently. 1t may be Russia. not Tur-
key, that Is dismembered. Be that as it NAV.
the contingency that Russia may some day
hold all Asia south OF the Black and Caspian
seas Is one that has to be weighed in de-
termining the future home of the prosecuted
race