New-York tribune., 1901-08-25

considerable significance TO the Jews of Russia
The Jewish Colonization Society. founded oy
him and endowed with his millions has since
the eighties succeeded in transferring about ten
thousand Russian Jews to the agricultural settle
ments in Argentina under a special contract
with the government. The great difficulties OF
importing large numbers of radically foreign
an element into the sparsey settled country
appear to have been overcome at last and. IL
recent reports are to be trusted. the Russian
Jewish farmers are becoming rapidly acclimated
In Argentina and are doing good work in de-
veloping their homeland
The status and economic position of the Jews
in the United States peculiarly reflect the feat
of the westward march of progress OF
the million Jews in the United States one
third inhabit New-York State: Pennsylvania and
Illinois have about 10000: Ohio. $4,000; Mary
land. $4,000; California, $4,000: New-Jersey.
and the rest distributed in the other South
and Western States and Territories, in pro-
portions closely following the historical develop
ment and cultural advance of the various sec
tions Of the country.
On the ladder Of political distinction too Jews
in the United States are rising quite out Of
proportion to their numerical strength. They
are holding municipal offices. have been State
Governors. are congressman and United States
higher or lower seats the judiciary bench.
THE ZIoNIsTIC MOVEMENT.
And lastly. word on zionism.
Intoxicated by their sudden political emanci-
patton and rapid material and social advance
ment. goodly number of Jews lost their
moral moorings, cast their national and re-
gous history to the winds. and played the re-
pusive part OF upstarts. SIumbering religious
nd al opir
their expression in antf-Semitism. II is TO this
cause chiefly that modern Zionism it's
origin, though more profound and ingenious
Jewish thinkers. like Samuel David Luzatto. OF
Padua; Moses Hess of Frankfort, and Dr. Ed
ward Pinsker. OF Odessa, had already. in the
sixties and seventies before modern anti-Semit
ism came to the foreground boldly anticipated
the new Zionist programme by declaring the
practical realization of Jewish national aspira-
tions. so long and intimately bound up with
Jewish religious faith. to be the only historically
consistent aim that politically emancipated
Judaism should pursue in the Diaspora-
Modern Zionism. however in it's present phase
will hardly solve the difficult problem presented
by the universal Jewish question. Conducted,
as the new movement actually is, by emotional
enthusiasts rather than by men OF action and
practical insight. and counting now among it's
chief leaders such had long been out OF touch
with the Jewish masses, religiously and socially.
Zionism for time to come cannot be
pected 10 make any considerable headway tow
ard thu contamination of Jewish national hopes
and dreams Religious and even racial Judaism
has never been dependent for it's existence upon
Jewish nationalisn. but vice versa. History
shows that religious revivals were strongest
among Jews while in exile or when their
tional unity nearing It's dissolution.
COsMoPOLITANISM OR NATIONALISM?
The Jews Of to-day are lacking many OF the
advantages necessary for their national regen-
Grafton. Their very cosmOpolitanism stands in
the way OF their nationalism. Instead OF having
given centre. a solid geographical and polti-
cal foothold. whence the movement could draw
it's vital powers and where it's efforts II unifca-
tion could converge. there is given a large num-
Der of politically and geographically dsconnect-
ed sections OF a circle held together only by an
historical and spiritual central force. The ever
potent issue OF To be or not 10 be-" 1t would
SEEM resolves itself for Jewish natonalism into
the alternative Of either narrow uncompromis-
ing and self absorbed spirit. Indifferent to other
and larger world interests. the assumption OF an
attitude OF selfish national egotism on the one
hand or. on the other the final and irrevocable
adoption OF a policy shaped by the iron logic OF
its history a broad all harmonizng ideal cOsmo
politanisrn ready even to suffer national ami
hilation II necessary for a worlds redemption.
Mem -1ersep ADVERTISEMENTS.