The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-16
THE ZIONIST MovEMENr
The gloomy Views of DIR. Max Nor.
dau


From the Independently
have given the last three years of my
life largely to the great work of estah-
fishing In Palestine country where Jew
may be safesuarded. II is work tina,
must succeed. for otherwise we shall die
The sentiment against the Jews Is
growing steadily and rapidly. This il not
a superstition or new opoinion. but fact
that can be demonstrated. The States
mans Year Books show that in countries
where thirty or forty years ago the Jew
had no civil disqualifcations, the laws
granting his civil rights are being re
pealed.
DO we find him among the judges. the
lawmakers, and the other State function
aries? No. Is it because the Jews are
less in numbers? The handbooks show
tina; their numbers are increasing Is II
because we have done anything to deserve
exclusion? II So it is for our accusers
to prove 1t. There are no statistics to
show it.
These things are true in every European
country where the Jew has even the pre-
tence Of civil liberties Their situation
today is worse than at any time within
our memory. A Jew has actually been
condemned to death In Austria under the
Ffedievaf accusation of blood murder
yust as he might have been 400 years ago.
In Germany only the high ideals Of the
Emperor and military force have pro-
tected the race, but military protection
serves to anger the civilian population,
and whenever it is withdrawn the situa-
ton of the protected will be more dan
gerous than before.
The Jew in Roumania was oppressed
until he had to leave his country, penni-
less, with nowhere to go and nothing to
depend on hnt the charity 81 his brethren.
Many Of them have had to return because
there was nothing else to do.
In Galicia there are 100000 Jews who
have not even the semblance Of political
rights. and In Russia there are millions
who must move sooner or later.
England is the only country In Europe
where the race can be said TO have full
political liberty. Even in the United
States am not sure that the Jew can be
said to have fair treatment. He has no
legal disability it is true, but the feeling
toward him is something like that toward
the negro. At some of the hotels he Is
asked: What is your religious belief
your persuasion?" II he is a Jew he Is
told: "Ah, / am sorry, we take none
but Christians.
There Is a definite reason for this
growing feeling against the Jews. 1t is
founded on the laws OF human nature,
and it is nothing more or less than the
deep-rooted dislike of minorities. II the
minority is aristocratic, or composed Of
beings especially distinguished, the ma
jority may fawn upon them and ape
them. But the Jews are a minority who
are distinguished simply by difference in
opinions and customs. They are unlike
anyone else, and II is for that reason
alone that the majority opposes them
TIE case is the same in China. The
white man is a distinguishable minority.
His beliefs and customs are different, and
therefore, being in the minority. he is
credited with child murder, sedition. all
manner of vile practices, and every crime
imaginable. Every charge that the Chi
nese have made against the white men
among them the European peoples have
made against the Jews, and for exactly
the same reason, and with as little foun-
dation.
II is a notorious fact in human nature
that no man ever did wrong himself. It
was always the other man. Is there
crime committed, and no criminal found?
Very we'll, there is the Jew He did 1t.
These are days of revolutionary senti-
ment and the Governments of Europe
are uneasy Great changes are threat
ened To remain In power a show of
can the demonstration be made when the
discomfort is universal? All, there are
the Jews, the scapegoats ready at hand.
Stay them, then, and the man who Stays
most shall be the national hero. Is ic
wicked to rob? Yes, 1t is wicked. But
there ARE the Jews. Cypress and steal
from hem and reap honors from the
hands Of an approving multitude.
In the early years of a nation, when
economic functions are undeveloped and
national self-eonhdence is weak, the Jews
find civil liberty and encouragement.
After contributing to the establishment
of the nation on sound economic basis,
then the Jew is no longer needed, and is
told that he is not wanted.
The situation reminds me of the story
| told at one Of the meetings of the Zion
list Congress. A Yankee who sailed from
Seattle for the gold fields of Alaska when
the steamers were so overcrowded, went
to the captain on the fourth day out and
said:
Captain, you must give me another
berth to sleep In. tonight.
Certainly not" said the captain. I'm
possible Why can't you sleep In the
same place you have had for the last
three nights?
We'll, you see, I've slept on sick
man for three nights, but he's got we'll
now and won't let me any longer.
What must be the outcome of these
tendencies? Unless the Zionist movement
succeeds and a country is provided where
the Jews who have not assimilated with
other nations may go and be, at peace
and find complete liberty, the race VIII
die, Judging by the present rate OF in
creasing oppression But the Zionist plan
is going to succeed 1t must. 1t will not
be done quickly, however. Though the
framework of the structure may be put
up in our day, it will take generations
to supply the walls and the internal ar
engagements
Paris, France.