The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-27
WHAT ZIONISM is DOING
TRYING To R%EPEOPLE PALESTINE
WITH CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.
interesting Talk with Prof.
Gottheil on the Meaning and
Aims of the Movement.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

readers have not begun 10 appreciate the
size of the Zionism plan. We have been
thinking of II as the scheme of a few
Jewish philanthropists. none too practical
to find a home in which a few Russian out
casts may dwell. keeping a few shops as a
matter of course. TIL fact is, the plan
ought 10 mean a tremendous industrial.
commercial and agricultural development
OF western Asia. Palestine was once the
seat of a vast population. 1t is capable Of
supporting such population again. There
is round about 1t many parts of Turkey.
Mesopotamia, Arabia. etc, that migh;i II
properly treated. become the homes of
modern nations. On the Pacific shores of
Asia there is a teeming population. With
the downfall of Chinese exclusiveness this
population is TO be civilized and brought
into commercial touch with the rest of the
world. In western Asia there are not these
numbers of people. Why not take some
there. especially since there are milIions
who are looking for homes? As most read
ers know, there is a Federation of Ameri-
can Zionists. 1t is composed of a few far
sighted American Jews who are in sympa-
thy with equally progressive men in Eu-
rope. Together they feel the burden Of
privation that falls upon fellow-Jews in
Russia and. in only a little less degree. in
many other parts Of Europe. The president
of the American Federation is Prof. Rich
ard Gottheil, of Columbia University, and
son of the Rev. DR.. Gustav Gottheil, long
rabbi of Temple Emmanuel, New York.
perhaps the greatest temple of Jewish
worship I'm the world. Speaking of Zionism,
its meaning and it's aims. Professor Gott-
he'll talks in this interesting fashion:
The central thought OF Zionism is not
to get but to give. Its aim not TO induce
American Jews 10 make great sacrifices In
a doubtful undertaking, or the Sultan or
Turkey, into whose political dominions We
seek TO enter, TO forego some of his power
or surrender a part Of his territory. It's
aim, an altruistic one, is to provide a
home for men. women and children who
have no home, and to make a part of Tur-
key that is now productive of little. the
seat of q population that will be rich for
itself, rich for Turkish revenues. and rich
as customers for the products OF every
where. There are railroads in great num-
hers In Europe and America. Why may
there not be railroads in great numbers
In Western Asia? Why not a trunk line
connecting Palestine and Egypt? A trans
continental line across Asia, through such
- SIS. III III dalu III ~ llut-
waters OF the Pacific, has as favorable an
outlook for. profit as a trenscontinental
line from New York through Chicago or
st. Louis TO the Pacific tidewater. A great
aim for a few poor Jews? Not long before
his death there visited Lord Beaconsield,
the great British premier. a Jewish lad
tEoughtfully. Disraeli said: You and /
but fail
ut goes without saying that there are
Jews in America who think Zionism un-
necessary, even impracticable and vision
airy. But LAYING prejudice aside, look with
fairness upon the situation. Never mind ex-
act numbers, but they run into millions of
jews who. never mind why. are not wanted
as residents OF various European countries.
Palestine is the traditional home of the
Jew. 1t is sparsely peopled and millions Of
square miles Of territory are supporting
a few where they might support many
Jews expelled from Europe have focked
to America and have settled I'm New York
until now 1t is the greatest center of He
prev population in the world. Closely hud-
died together there. little room exists for
them, and less chance for their develop
ment In any direction, except perhaps in
than to COLOMBO Palestine?
Having stated so much. let me answer
a lew questions. Yes, Jews are an agrlcul-
tradesmen exclusively, and that along a
few lines only. But Jews have been driven
out of other lines. Were not Jews of Bible
tvate the vine, and tend their iocks? To
say they cannot do so now. IL Afforded the
opportunity. is to fly in the face of the
whoIe history OF perhaps the most remark
able race in the world. And Jews can
become manufacturers They can do any
thing that anybody else can. To say so is
put to state a truism. Who doubts II?
Any agreement which Jews might make
with the Sultan of Turkey would have 10
be ratified by the European powers. A
authority of the Porte. AS i nave so often
said, Zionism offers something 10 the Sui
tan and 10 the world. In giving what 1t
has TO give, what may it not get for itself?
In other words. what may not the Jew
accomplish, having a home of his own
IL he had done so much as a wanderer,
10 what development may he not attain
as a fixture? Jews do not understand their
own powers. Our difficulty is to get them
to have ambition.
"Zionism Is growing steadily In wealth
and in Jewish estimation. There are settle
nlents in Palestine already and they are
successful. All that is now required TO dc
colonization will not do. We must have
Jewish sentiment with US. We must also
have legal guarantees, granted by the Sui
tan, the political sovereign. and under
written by the powers of Europe, perhaps
of the world. We do not hold that all Jews
must return to Palestine, if Zionis,n is tc
succeed. All Germans do not live in Ger
many, but there is a German nation. Some
times We feel that rishmen live every
where but in Ireland. but there is an Ire
land. Jews, we know, live everywhere in
some places where they are wanted and IN
some places where They are not. but there
* no Israel. There ought to be. There car
| If it be in Palestine IL can exist under
some such charter as the South Africa
Company, or the old East India Company
Under proper direction. and assisted, as ii
Is intended to be. by the Jewish Colonial
Trust or other agencies. II can be the home
of the Jew and the center Of trade with the
rest of the world. the England of the com.
mercial Fnglishman. the France OF the ar.
tistic Frenchman. the Italy OF the laborine
padrone.
I'VE believe that the Jews are something
more than a purely religious body: thai
though a nation without. as yet, two i'm.
portant requisites common home and
a common language. We believe that. IL ar
end is to be made to Jewish misery ano
TO the exceptional position which the Jews
o~ccupy-which is the primary cause ol
Jewish misery-thc Jewish nation must bs
placed once again in a home OF its own
We believe that such d national regenera.
ton is the fulhllnent of the hope which
has been present TO the Jew throughou
his long and painful history. We believe
that only by the means Of such a nationa.
regeneration can the religious regeneration
Of the Jews take place. and they be put i'm 2
position to do that work in the religion;
world which Providence has appointed 70,
them. We believe that such a home car
only naturally, and without violence T.
their fathers-in Palestine. We believe tina
such a return must have the guarantee al
the great powers of the world I'm order Il
secure for the Jews a stable future. Ans
We hold that this does not mean that al
Jews must return to Palestine"
Old md New Commercialism.