The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-02-28
FROM JAFFA TO JERUSALEM.

1t seems almost like dream to read of
the completion of steam railroad from
Jaffa to Jerusalem. To think of the Holy
Land being part Of our modern civiliza-
ton requires g stretch of fancy covering
centuries of historic interest. But ever
since the eastern question: came into
prominence Palestine has been recognized
as part of it. Jerusalem is thu cradle of
Oh Christianity, and as all Europe is Chris
tan, with the exception of the southeast
corner of it, which is Mohammedan, the
future OF that city is the religious feature,
as the future of Constantinople is the tenn
poral feature that awaits the falling to
pieces of the Turkish empire
The holy City has never lost it's interest
Tor Christendom since it fell into the hands
Oh the Mohammedans, and that it remains
In such hands is due, not to the inability of
the Christian nations to wrest it from
them, but to their inability to deter
mine what to do with it after it shall have
been delivered. The Greek and Latin
Churches hold the sacred places in the city
by favor OF the Turkish government, but
the scandalous enmity of these churches
towards one another is so strong and active
that it requires Turkish troops standing
constantly between them to keep the peace.
Ii the troops were removed, the hostile
priests would fall to fighting and keep it up
until the last one of them was destroyed.
For many years past the Holy Land has
been allowed to remain quiet and has at
tracted little attention, but something like
the beginning of an immigration of ortho-
ooK Jews into it, together with the COM
mencement of two railroads through it from
the Mediterranean coast, has revived the
general interest, and Jerusalem will be-
come again the subject of speculation.
In the last twenty years Professionals par
ticularly the Presbyterians, have been as
sorting their claim to some interest in
the country. Then schools, publications
hospitals and missionaries are having nc
little influence among the squalid popula,
| ton that manages TO wiring scanty living
from its exhausted soil.
A new interest will be acquired by the
railroad from Jaffa in the question
whether Mohammedans shall continue tt
hold the Holy City, or whether it will pas.
into the hands of Greeks, Latins or Protes
tants. The orthodox Jews of Europe, wht
adhere to the literal Interpretation of tn,
Old Scriptures. believe that Jerusalem il
reserved, not for Greek Christians, no
Latin Christians, nor Protestant Chris
tians, but for themselves. That dream ha
been revived by the prescriptions in Rus
STA. Poland and parts of Russia swarm
with Hebrews who will soon be searchine
for resting place somewhere else, and il
this strait, the hope of repopulating jude
gains impetus. The scheme looks chimeri
cal enough in the eyes of Americans, bu
it is to be remembered that the Jews O
eastern and southeastern Europe, number
ing probably more than one-half the Who'll
race, are strictly orthodox. They devoutl
believe that the whole nation is to be re
stored to "their own land" as they persis
in calling it. The more prosperous and in
telligent English, French, German an
American Jews do not share in this belief
They are contented where they are, an
have no desire to return to Palestine
Palestine is a very uninviting country, q
present, under Turkish rule, but Russi
has become still more uninviting to Jew:
and their situation leaves them nothing bu
: choice Of evils. Who knows, indeed
that these martyrs and exiles may nj
form nucleus IN far Judea whereto th
4 Jews shall return from all the ends Of th
q earth to REL occupy Palestine, when til
City of DAVID, re built, re-populated an
beautifed, shall be ''the Joy Of the who
| earuh?n