The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-29
TWO VIEWS OF ZIONISM
MOVEMENT TO RE-ESTABLISH JEWS
IN PALESTINE HAS OPPONENTS.
DIR. Max Nordau Argues in Its Favor
Are Oppressed by Unjust Laws.
" Gribayedoff. in Leslie's weekly.

V. Gribayedoff. in Leslies Weekly.
On the 29th of August the great Zionist
congress, over which such bitter cOntro-
versies have ragged, will begin it's sessions
at Basic, Switzerland. Upon it's decisions
hangs the fate of several millions of Israel
ties scattered all over the face of the earth
the majority of whom appear to consider
the re-establishment of the ancient Jewish
commonwealth in Palestine to be the only
practical solution of problem that has
occupied the minds of men for centuries
Although DR.. Theodore Herzl. of Vienna
has given his name to this interesting
movement and deserves full credit for hav-
ing initiated it by the publication of his
pamphlet, Der Judenstaat," it is generally
believed that his efforts would have met
with little encouragement had they not
been SO enthusiastically seconded by Dr.
Max Nordau, author Of conventional Lies
and Degeneration" not to mention many
other works which have placed him in the
front rank of modern thinkers. DR. Nordau
has fearlessly entered the arena on behalf
of what he believes to be just and noble
cause, and has braved the assaults of the
sectarians, the conservatives and the ultra
montanes among his own people, on whom
the very mention of Palestine as a haven of
refuge for the children of Israel seems to
produce the effect of a red rag waved in
front of a bull
This smile is not mine, but Nordau's.
And no one who has enjoyed the pleasure
of an interview with the man, ash did re-
Gently. can carry away any other convic-
ton than that he is wrapped up, heart and
soul, in the desire to regenerate his ancient
race, and to save it from the anti-Semitic
wrath to come. Even those Aryans who
disagree with some of his conclusions are
bound to pay him the tribute of their re-
spect for the sincerity of mis- convictions
and the courage with which he displays
them DR.. Nordau might be called a Jewish
lingo in one sense of the word. He makes
no bones about expressing the opinion that
the Jewish race is, intellectually, morally,
and, under certain conditions, physically SUI
perior to all the Aryan peoples, with the
possible exception of the English. The lat
ter he thinks show their superiority over
the continental races in that they do not
fear, hence do not detest, the Jew. Their
predominant position in the commercial
world is one reason for this, but it must
not be forgotten that their love for out
door sports has also bred in them a spirit
Of fair play, which, of itself, would prevent
the "disgraceful and narrow minded out
breaks that occur elsewhere. The English,
Furthermore, are a biblical people, and APP
preciate the relationship of Judaism tow
ards the religious ideals that guide their
own lives.
ANTI-sEMITIC MOVEMENT
In France, Germany and Austria the anti
Semitic movement is nothing more than an
expression of malice, born of jealousy and
envy over the comparative progress and
advancement of the Jews in every walk of
life. due says DR.. Nordau. to their inherent
intellectual superiority. He scouts the idea
that the solidarity of the race, as
charged by the anti-Semites, has anything
whatever to do with their success in secur-
ing control of the money markets, the chan
.nels of trade and the marts CT industry. He
is absolutely uncompromising in his theo-
ries on this subject.
But it must be admitted that the Zionist
movement itself the primary object of
which is to found place of refuge for the
members of the, race Who are suffering
from the hostility of their Aryan neigh
bors in central and eastern Europe is not
meeting with nearly as much opposition
from these anti-Semites as from a certain
element among the Jews themselves, and
this feature it is which is causing the Zion
list leaders the most embarrassment and
tribulation. DR.. Nordau's handsome,
thoughtful face becomes Overshadowed
with an expression Of pain not unmiXed
violent attacks which have been directed
against the movement by prominent Jewish
clergymen and citizens in Europe and the
United States.
Because these men are themselves pros
porous, Well-fed and undistlTbed in the pos
session of their belongings, he asks is
it a reason why they should cast unde-
served slurs upon DR.. Herzl and his sup
porters, who are seeking no personal profit
or advantage whatever, but are giving their
time and labor to the realization of a
scheme intended to better the lot of hum
dreds of thousands of their felloW-crea-
lures? Speaking for myself, as L wrote to
my friend DIR. Michael Singer, in New
York I do not live on Judaism, like some
of my ascerb critics over the water but l
am willing to live for Judaism. There is the
whole difference"
DR.. Nordau is exceedingly hopeful of the
success of the Zionist movement Many of
it's leading advocates. including Isaac Fang
will the well-known Anglo-JeW1sh story
writer, have visited Palestine, and describe
the conditions of climate, soil and physical
formation as favorable to the establishment
of a new state 1t is computed that under
proper management the country could sup
port O. population of six million souls, in
addition to the inhabitants now there, but
the Zionsts scarcely believe that they Will
succeed in, mastering over three millions
all told. The majority of these will come
from Russia, Poland and certain sections
of Germany and Austria where an1-Semit-
ism is steadily gaining ground and render
ing life unbearable to the Jewish citizens.
EDOUARD DAUMONT'S VIEWS.
If DIR, Max Nordau may be considered one
of the foremost Jews of the day, both as a
writer and an exponent of the highest form
of Judaism to EdOuard Drumont, author
of LA France Juive," and editor of La
Iibr+e Parole, of Paris, belongs the main
creditor discredit according to the views
one happens to hold on the subject-of hav-
ing made the anti-Semitic question live
issue in central Europe. His numerous
writings have been translated into every
European language, and have exercised
widespread influence even in North Ger
many; and this, Notwithstanding his I'M
compromising Chauvinsm and his advocacy
of a return to France, by re-conquest, if
necessary of the annexed provinces, AL
SAGE and Lorraine. Although his argument
is based on entirely different premises, Dru-
mont it is curious to note arrives at SINH
lar conclusions with Nordau and Herzl.
Not alone does he deny the alleged intel
lectual and moral superiority OF the Jew,
but ne goes further and endeaVors to prove
OF Abraham are individually much inferior
to the Aryans. The superiority, II this
word is to be used at all. appheS to the
Jews collectively; it assumes the form of
an unfair advantage which they enjoy over
the rest of mankind by reason of their
clannishness, their close adherence TO racial
tfes-in one word their solidarity. DrumOnt
has reached the conclusion that nothing viii
ever change the Jew in this particular, and
that as his encrOachments on the rights,
privileges and general welfare of the Ar
vans are on the increase, the time must in
eVitably come when the community viii
arise in its might and wipe him of the face
of the earth. As this means a bloody reVO-