The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-27
/IONISN.
\ Reply to DIR. Sil,erman.

To THE EDITOR OF THT SUN-Sir: The
writer was present IN Temple Emanu-El on
sunday morning when tie Rev. pr Joseph
Silverman delivered his discourse upon
Zionism; this discourse las been lengthy
and accurately reported
Il would indeed be difficult TO point out the
utter weakness OF the arguments presented
by nr Silvcrman vitlout going into an
analysis OF these arguments which would
take up more space than the matter deserves
suffice that II hc asserted, as il done now
that not one statement OF fact on which rr
SHERMAN bases his views can boar scrutiny
in the light OF history. pas, and cortcn-
porpncouS Or Silvorman las nisstatcd tho
fundamental principles of Xionsm: he tas
niSstated the history of the movement u p
causes which lave brought il into existence
the object for which it is striving ard tre
ends which it las ALREADY acconris' ed
Or Silvcrman not only denied that Zioni,n
presented a solution of the Jew ism question ;
he Went as far as 10 de,y that there was
Jewish question to be solved snyinc that the
Jews to-day were, satisfied with the condi-
tons under which they live This state
mcrt. witch the writer heard made would
BE- ludicrous were II not that the conditions
which 1t ignores present to those who know
them spectacle at once poignant and ira gle
The Jews coutented with their lot: What
Jews? DR.. Silverman. perhaps but not the
s% ep wTtGhr Of now iSs pfnhrd ~ tG sSGn
barred from the universities tho profess ions
from land ownership, from almost every sort
them now destitute in Galicia 90 per cent OF
whom have been reduced to palpcrism as
statistics show; not the Jews of Roumania
Secretary Hays now famous note NUMBERING
300. 600 after all who could leave have gone
bounded from re schools. the trades, the
subject to foreign protection" despite the
fact that their fathers haye dwelt in Rou.
Yet they form two-thiris of the total Jevisb
population OF the world and their condition
is daily growing worse.
DR.. Silyermnn = discourse betrays an icno-
rance of Jewish conditions which, whether
wilful or not. Is in a rabbi little short of
Dr. Silverman defines Zionism as purely
a political movement, designed to rehabiltate
the ancient jewish kingdom or common
wealth that. existed 1000 years ago" While
the Official definition Of Iionsm is "A move
mcnt to create In Palestine a legally assured
home for the oppressed Jews OF the world,
the Itonists are entitled to the privilege OF
defining their own objects: theirs is abovexll
an economical programme meant to do sWNv
with misery and dis"as" among their brefh-
rem and thus arrest the progress of the awful
degeneration which to-day undermines the
Jew race. bringing about, for instance.
rived lavish girls into houses of III fame in
New York and elsewhere.
g.. lastly. Dr, .silyerman ridicules the Zion
titious or imaginary love of Zion, as "a
t'rory of d"luded enthusiasts And who.
pray are mos" Wnon ne nus rlnr1cterizesr
Here are some Of them; United States
stephen s Wise and Fslsonthal, Prof r.
Gottheil and J.. Napoleon Levy. r. gland
Sir Francis Montefore, Col Goldschrnidt.
Herbert Bontwitch and Israel Zsnewill.
France Bernard La zare, Or, Alexander Mar
morcck tor the Pastcur lnsti,ute,, and Max
Nordau. ..Ausiria--Dr Thcodor Heral Rus
sh- Or NJ, Mnndestomm Ialy-Dr Cesare
Lombroso. Denmark .Geory Braudcs.
The question now before the Jews is: Shall
they accept the views held on the Jewish
problem by men OF DR. SilvorrHn's tyne or
shall they side with the "deluded enthusiasts"
named above? Jvp.icrs
NEW York, Nov 25