Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-06-15
THE PROBLEM OF THE JEW
Max Nordau Contributes His Ideas to Its
Solution.

From the North American Review,
At the close of the century there is in
every land of the civilized world the
"problem of the Jew" 1t is question
which presents itself in various phases. 1t
is best known in its most brutal form as
anti Semitism.
The enemies of the Jew have one state
ment in instant readiness: The Jews are
ha ted because of their evil qualities. But
the statement will not bear criticism. The
Jews are not hated because they have evil
qualities. Evil qualities are sought for in
them because they are hated. Statistics
handled, not by Jews, but by their oppo.
nents, demonstrate facts in all countries
that favor the Jew.
Let it be assumed, though 1 do not adj
nit it, that the Jewish parvenu is more
importunate and offensive than those of
other races. That would be an indication
of lack of culture such as might possibly
justify rejection by an exclusive club, but
could never justify the deprivation of es-
sential human and civic rights, vitupera-
lion and cruel persecution.
An argument frequently used by the op-
ponents of the Jews is that anti-Semitism
is as old as the Jewish nation. 1t is, in
deed, true that hatred of the Jew has been
his constant and tragic companion during
the entire continuance of the Diaspora,
But the fact proves nothing against the
Jew, since every people in every epoch
has produced different reason, rather
pretext, for its anti-Semitism.
The smaller number of wealthy Jews
who come into no personal contact with
the sentiment are ready to say "anti-Sem-
itism is an unpleasant fad, and will pass
away rapidly as do all fads." The mass
of Jews, however, feel that this is false.
In order to suffer hatred and persecution
no longer in order to attain the normal
condition of life, the Jews must either
cease being minority or they must
cease being distinguishable. This alterna-
tive includes the two solutions of Judaism
for which the Jews themselves are striy-
ing.
Those who desire to have the Jews con-
stitute the popular majority in some one
place wish to make Palestine, the land Of
their fathers, that place. These are the
Zionists.
Other Jews prefer the second solution.
They are the Assimilationists, who con.
slider the salvation of the Jew coincident
with his disappearance among the ma.
tions.
Few of these have the moral courage to
follow the thought to its logical conclu-
sion.
He who wishes to be thoroughly assimi.
lated cannot stop half way. He must
suppress all differences that lie between
himself and the popular majority. First
and chief among these is religion. He
must be baptized and join one Of the
Christian denominations. He must min
gle his blood with that of the people by
marriage outside of tribal affinity. If he
does less, it will not suffice.
Incomplete assimilation does not change
the psychological origin of anti-Semitism,
the antipathy of every majority toward
any minority dwelling in its midst differ
tiated and readily recognizable.
The Jews who do not possess equal
rights-and these comprise four-fifth Of
the race-have preserved the conscious
ness that they are a distinctive people.
They realize that they can escape the
hatred that pursues them only by ceasing
to be recognizable minority in the midst
of other peoples. They refuse to sink their
identity. Lost identity is no solution OF
the Jewish problem. They look for their
salvation in reunion in land which
shall be the majority, and where they can
develop in temperature of sympathy
along their own organic lines.
MAX NoRDAU.