The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-18
JEWISH DREAMS OF ZION.
other Hopes Cherished Besides DIR.
Herzrs Project.
New York Sun.

New YORK sun.
The idea of re-establishing a Jewish state
in Palestine by no means originated with
DIR. Herzl, and the Zionist Congress over
which he presided at Basic switzerland,
forms only one chapter in the history or
an old and interesting movement which
has spread in Russia and Austria and has
some ardent followers among tie jewish
immigrants of this country The origin OF
Zionism is traceable to the ant1-J eWlsh
riots which broke out in southern Russia
in 1881 and were followed by policy OF in
creased discrimination against the unhappy
people on the part of the Cars govern
ment. Young Hebrews, previously proud or
Russia as their native country and dis
regardful of the traditions of their fathers,
were suddenly awakened by atrocities and
prosecutions to the fact that they We're
children of Israel. The assimilation craze
was in some instances abruptly submerged
by a wave of Israelitic nationalism. Dis
tresS is a great unifer, and the oppressed
Russian Jews of those days found them
selves brought together by their common
misfortunes. College students and profess
sional men who had not attended divine
service since childhood rushed into the
Synagogues with giistening eyes to prove
that the spark of Judaism was not extinct
in their hearts, and mingling their sobs
with those of their less educated brethren,
spoke to them of shaking the dust of the
"stepmother country" from their feet.
TWO. parties then came into existence
the Americans" who advocated emigra-
ton to the United States, and the 'Pales-
tinians, who urged the plan of colonizing
the Holy Land. The point at issue be-
tween them became the subject of heated
discussions and the all-absorbing topic i'll
every Russo-Jewlsh home, and for many
months almost monopoized the editorial
space in the three Russian weeklies devoted
to Jewish interests. Then it was that the
influx OF Jews to this country suddenly as
sumed great dimensions and that the first
Jewish agricultural colonies We're estab-
lished in the promised land In point Of
practical results, the Americans" have
been by lar the more successful of the two
factions for while shipload after shipload
or Hebrew passengers has been carried
across the Atlantic, the number of those
who have responded to the call Of the
Pedestrians has thus far been COM
paratively insignificant. And vet emigra-
ton to America, as a solution of the Jewish
question, as an idea has little by little
fallen into oblivion, while the cause Of Zion
as moral force, as an inspiring ISM
among certain Jews, has been growing
AS to Austria, the Zionist movement was
first set on foot in that country some ten
years ago, and as its chief raison d'etre then
was to serve as counterpoise to the organ
lied activity of the anti-Semitic party its
original phase naturally was of a purely
political character, the name of Zion being
invoked to band Austrian citizens of the
Mosaic faith together into Semitic party,
Gradually, however. this purpose was aban-
doned, and the ZiOnistS became Interested
in the settlement of Palestine whereuDon
in Austria. as in Russia many a former
'assimilant" who had plumed himself upon
his ignorance of Hebrew stuck a shield of
David in the lapel of his coat and took up
the study of the holy tongue
In Russia the Zionist movement has long
the organization, which has branches in
every city with q cons.d erable Jewish poDu-
lation, collects dues and transacts its other
business openly. 1t is also allowed to hold
meetings, but as each meeting REQUIRES a
special police permit secret GATHERINGS are
often found more convenient Odessa has
for many years been the capital of Russian
ZioniSm. It is the seat of the sOciptv's CEN
trail committee and the home Of the leading
spirits of the movement, although HameftZ
(the Advocated daily paper which is
printed in the pure Hebrew of the Old Tes-
lament and Is the Off1cial organ of the party
is published in st. Petersburg. All the money
collected is forwarded by The local agents
to the chief treasurer al Odessa. the fund
being devoted to the gradual establishment
of new colonies in Palestine as well to
the Improvement of the old ones. Alto
gether there are in the Holy Land at pres
ent twenty-five agricultural colonies of Eu-
ropean Jews, all of which have sprung un
within the last fifteen years. The majority
of them have been founded and supported
by Baron Edmund De Rothschild Only one
colony IS made ny of Rouman an Jews the re-
The Austrian Zionists, whose activity was
until recently confined to theoretical propa-
ganda have now also started a fund for
a colony of Galician Jews.
A characteristic feature of the movement
is the tendency of its adherents to use He
brew in place of Russian. German or even
Yiddish. Thus the st. Petersburg Hameltz
and the Cracow Hamegid fthe Messenger
of the books and pamphlets of the party
are printed in the holy tongue as are also
the records Of the various local branches
All the colonies bear Hebrew names, and
the children of the settlers speak as their
native tongue not the Yiddish OF their
parents, but q species OF Hebrew Jargon
OF good Hebrew and of modern languages.
The present revival of interest in the
tongue of the prophets among the Jews of
Russia and Galicia, which is due to the