Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-06-05
AS 10 A JEWISH STATE.

Some time ago the NEWS mentioned
a plan, the originator OF which IL au
eminent jurist, Or. Herzl. for the colo.
nization Of Jews in Palestine. A con-
ference OF Hebrews has now been
called during the summer at Munich.
Bavaria, for the purpose of discussing
the project. 1t Is stated that several
prominent Jews. both in Europe and
In this country, are Interested In the
enterprise.
AS might be expacted, there 10 also
much opposition. The Jewish Messen.
ger declares the whole scheme i'm rsc.
ticabls. The paper argues that judaism
Ia not question OF soil. 1t was made
possible only when the temple and
nationality fell. Zonism, the paper
sage, is not Judaism. II Is weird
specter OF the past, Historically allied
with the era of the Crusades. 1t re-
calls the SUGGESTION OF false Messiahs
that almost every century has pr1.
duced--,he long list OF prophets that
have deiuded the people and led them
to their destruction. Judaism In
America will have none of 1t.
The Hebrew Standard dennounces
the plan because of the expenditure It
involves anu cxclaims: "Look around
you; help your starving brethren at
your own door"
The New York Independent objects
to tie gathering of the Hebrews Oh
the ground that 1t weuld bs imprac-
ticable for them to rebuild the temple
and restore the sacrifices. The revived
Mosaic state, that conservative Jour.
nal thinks, would be controlled by the
most uneb Heightened Russian anu
Polish Jews and would be an object OF
contempt and ridicule. Only the riff.
raft would consent to live under such
control.
Whether the plan of DR.. Herzl Ia
practical or not, or whether the time
has come for the carrying out OF some
tuch plan, we need not discuss at this
time, but 1t may be we'll to point out
that all these arguments against il
might with equal force have been al.
vanced against the return OF the
remnant from Babylonia at the tins
Of Ezra. They probably were urged,
too, at that time, and considered SOUND
reasoning by thousands who re.
maihei when their brethren start.
ed out on the perilous journey
across the wiids that separated them
from the land OF their fathers. In
act, the conditions now are In many
respects similar to those then prevail
ing. Many OF the Hebrews in exile
had allied themselves with their cap
tors and made their fortunes. They
held positions Of trust aud were
shielded by a spirit of liberation.
Palestine wac, as 1t is today. one vast
ruin, In the hands OF the "rih.raff,' y
dow n-troiden and forsakon. But
these facts did Lot prevent
the faithful remnant by the
rivers in Bsbylonia nom fol-
lowing the divine decree and at
the appointed time rebuild the city
OF David and the temple OF the Mos.
High.
The very discussion at this time o.
the possibility of establishing Jewish
state In Palestine proves that thore is
IN awakening desire 10 the ranks of
the people to see the iulflment OF the
promises given to the fathers, and who
eau dnubt that when the people are
willing to turn to the ancient paths,
the Almighty is ready to make good
His everlasting covenant? II is In
perfect accord with the epirit and the
letter OF the Mosaic dispensatloD, and
It 10 also In accord with reason,
10 look for time when the law
shall 60 forth from z on and the word
OF she Lord from Jerusalem.