The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-24
70 BRING BACK ZION
Is Still the Sustaining Hope
of Orthodox Jewry.
ORTHODOX AND REFORMED
As Far Apart as the Poles on
the Proposition.
ORTHODOX AND REFORMEC

to an end in serene Switzerland just at
the time that the seething neighbarhood,
France, was in greatest agitation over the
cause in which the prejudice against the
Jews is expressed In concrete form, the
affair of Dreyfus. The men of this con-
gress conducted their debate IN calm at
tention to the subject that brought them
| together, not because OF reconsideration OF
events Of current happenings, but because
of the star-lIke eingleness Of purpose that
keeps them ever looking 70 Jerusalem.
Once only was there a passionate out
burst. That came when two American
delegates suggested that the modern Zion
be the Island Cyprus insteod Of the holy
city of Palestine. Yet. notwithstanding
this peaceful conduct of its proceedings,
the congress is constituted Of men who
run ever in the same path.
For instance the congress has pracuc-
ally pledged Zionism TO the Orthodox wing
of Judaism, though the reformed faction
has some prominent men among Its lead
ers.
This was really an extraordinary gather
ing with an extraordinary purpose. The
idealists OF race came together sooeriy
to plan its rejuvenescence and to make
practical arrangements for the reuniting
into a strong, cohesive whole OF the APP
parently unassinilative parts.
For 1900 years this race has been dis
rupted Its individuals scattered over all
the globe. Today thre Is no wider diff
ference between the white men Of differ
ent nations than exists between the var
ious kinds Of Jews. The antipathies exist
ing between the French and the Germans
are mild compared with the prejudices
which separate the Spanish and the Ger
man Jews from their bretheren OF Russia,
Poland and Lfthuania. There Is hardly
a bond of sympathy, either between the
cultured Jews Of America and the down.
ttrodden jewellers in the Roumanian Ghet-
tos, and certainly the PHYSICAL resemblance
can hardly be traced between the pale
faced, STOPPING dwarfs of the Carpathian
seclusions and the healthy, vigorous men,
bers of Temple Emanuel.
fthe eJws of England, France Germany
and America still take interest in the lot
of the Jews of anti-Semitic Russia, Rou-
mania and Algeria. 1t is not because they
feel that they are members Of one race
so much as that they are of one religion,
and theattitudeo fithe former toward the
later Is that of the benevolent philanthro-
pist toward the unfortunate. Yet the lead
ers Of the movement to make the jews
again into a natlen are most emphatic In
their declaration that their aims are polit-
zeal only and that the religion or nom
religion Of their Supporters does not con-
Germ them in the success Of their I'M
dertaking. * "a .ts5
Notwithstanding the declaration the
orthodox Jews made this congress give
pledge of it's adherents to ancient forms
and the faith OF prophets. Herein seems
a contradiction. The congress ran away
from Herzl and Nordau. Ats fathers. Meth
er of whom follows the religion of Israel.
A strange lot II was that the frey en-
thusiasm Of Herzl and the dextrous logic
Of Nordau had drawn together, and 1t
will be more than a marvel IL the extra
ordinary project contemplated by them 10
brought Is a success through these agen-
cies.
Every kind Of Jew was seen here, from
the Lithvak with gaberdine and curls, to
the f1igh-hatted, frock-coated, smooth
shaven Eng1ishman. All alike. however,
present only the imaginative side Of Jew
tsh nature-the poetic quality that en-
abled Israel to forget in ideal dreams OF
the future the miseries of centuries Of
persecution.
So whether a Jewish nation Is born
again or not the congress at Basic Of 1899
like its predecessor Of 1895 was full OF in
terest and color and pathos. for these
strange, pale-faced delegates from the
east Of Europe, whose eye glance bespeak
timidity and fear. have a feverish hope
that Zionuists will achieve some practical
good in relieving them Of the oppression
and suffering which are gradually solving
the Jewish problem. so Ear as they are
concerned, by determination.
The conclusions of the leaders now an
nounce that 1t will take at least ten years
to- reach the point aimed at-the revival Of
the Jewish nation-are bitter food for
these unfortunates. relieved only slightly
by the assurance that colonization upon
q large scale can begin soon
One result OF the Zionistic agitation can
be plainly foreseen. The opposition Of the
RO;hchilHs the Simons. the Reformed
Rabbits, and those who are supposed TO
represent the Jews of Europe ofiacially has
developed an intense bitterness upon the
part fthe Zionists. which will emphasize
the gradually widening chasm which sep
arates the poor and orthodox Jews of the
world from the wealthy and reformed.
The action at this congress shows the pur-
pose OF the orthodox to stand firmly to-
gether.
Nordau says the reformed are anxious TO
leave Jewdom and win not grieve II they
are rid of the worshipers Of the Talmud.
The RothchIlds and others reply through
their inspired organs that Nordau the sg-
nostic, is not fitted to Judge Of their de-
votion 20 Jewish principles. The bit;erest