The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-25

PH |
DIR. MAX NoRDAu
from . photograph taken during the In
terview. |
temporary sociologists and writers Of fction-
DIR. Max Nordau, author of Conventional Lies"
Degeneration and many other works of
reputation. had called upon him in
his cosy apartment on the Avenue de yiliers to
obtain from his lips some expression OF opinion re-
garding the antagonism which DR.. Hersrs scheme
for q restoration of the ancient jewish common
wealth has encountered among o large class OF
Hebrews In tho United States and elsewhere.
While the idea itself originated with Dr.. Theo-
dore Herzl Of Vienna, author Of the now famous
pamphlet, der Judenstaat." 1t 10 regarded as
doubtful by many whether It would have taken
root a. thoroughly % it has had 1t not beer
for the Endorsement Of such men az Nordau and
zanRvtll. more particularly Of Nordau-
Dr. Nordau's influence among his fellows In
easily explicable. 1t IL already felt at o personal
meeting with him. irrespective of any previous
ncouaintance with his writings. His tntellectu-
atty stands out from all his features. which are
handsome, regular, and finely chiseled. his ID
what might DO termed q young old face, tho
creamy complexion OF q child coupled with tho
unow-white hair and beard Of . patriarch. A
pair Of well arched. jet black eyebrows accentu-
ate this peculiar facial combination, and add to
the general beauty Of this most remarkable
head. he II below tho average In stature,
however, with o tendency to embonpoint. due
doubtless to sedentary occupations. In manner
Dr. Nordau IN decidedly vivacious and given to
eesticulation. He speaks French with the ut
most flu ,ncy and with barely . trace of foreign
accent, 30 that ono entirely forgets when con-
yersinr with him that his birthplace is beyond
the Rhine. As the following conversation VIII
show. he goes straight to the point under dis
cussion without any attempt ct tergtversation.
And on the subject Of Zionism he Is just at
present speaking his mind very freely. especially
since attacks have been directeo AGAINST LII" Ia
Germany and America.
"There are two types Of Hebrews opposed TO
our movement" he remarked. FIRST, the more
respectable kind. those who fear that 1t VIII
eerve to Justify the anti-Semitic accusation that
we are Jews fret, last, and all the time, and NOT
patriotic citizens Of tho countries to which we
belong, and that as a result the Jew VIII DC
generally considered an alien more than ever
before; secondly. we are opposed by those he
brews who. while adhering to their religious Do
liefs and racial prejudices. prefer to continue en-
Toying their material advantages on the quiet,
without being singled out or Disseminated
aRainst-the selfish class of Hebrews TO whom
the possession of wealth and the indulgence in
luxury is the Alpha and Omega of all earthly
existence. I do not pretend to say to which
class my critics in the United States belong. Al
regards Rabbi Kohler's disgraceful attack, In
particular, I have already expressed my opinion
IN a latter which I believe has appeared in TIL
Nrw yoRx sum.
1T ia this same ignoble spirit that animatei
tho LEWIS of Munich and the members of tn,
D,,tsch. Robbfner Verband. OF course yor
know that the manifestations of the former hay,
had the effect of causing us to abandon tho plaI
of holding our convention In Munich, and tina
We sball meet instead at Basic, Switzerland, OF
Ano 90 We might have ignored the Municl
lava II Ia true. We might have told them II
Main words To 20 to the devil, but we though
Il heat not to inauRurate our work with 80 pitia
bo a anectacle of sectarian intolerance a
wopld have been an interference with our pre-
oeedinps therefore wa decided to select Basic a
the meeting place.
1.-THE De,ttsehe Rabbfnsr Verband, on tn
other hand which. as the name indicates, Is a
association NJ German .JeWish members of tn
cloth. has endeavored To hamper our work b
the distribution of a circular among the Germa
neUsnaners ranudiatine the Zionist movement
But 40 much the better. 40 much the better, So
we all Of ma. In bis last letter TO me. received
few davs ago Dr. Hsrzl expresses his satifactio
Mt this very thing We desire to divorce OH
moyement entirely from the Messianic or an
other theolooical idaa- and the opposition OF III
rabbis ia n welcome siop. We do not seek til
connsrstion n, tbis sIsmont nor Of the boursisr
the speculators. the money Qrabbers. Our NOV
mani "a torndaa nm otber ideas than theirs"
Asked IN define the aims and aspirations
Zionism Dr Nordsu ernressed himself in Il
to,,o,yinn oh,racter,s,ic ,ono,aaa.