The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-28
THE NEW JERUSALEM In AFRICA
Engands Offer to Zionist Congress Territory for Jewish Col
onizationA Committee Sent to East Africa to Investigate The
Suitability Of the Land for the Purpose.

quired with less difficulty and more re-
mote chances OF a. new crusade; for the
"holy places Of Jerusalem, despite DR.. |
HerzPs willingness to make them extra
territorial, like the vatican In Rome, offer
a standing casus belli. But these want
the leavening power OF sentiment, and
sentiment has made the lew q pariah
these 1000 years
!, am never likely to forget the scene
which ushered in the first congress IN
1897. It was Friday, the Sabbath eve,
and the Stad casino at Basic was filled
with delegates and sympathizers.- when
suddenly, at the mention of Palestine in
an oratorical period the entire audience
rose to its feet and.with right hand ups
lifted cried as with one voice, heavy with
emotion, IF forget thee, o, Jerusalem,
may my right hand forget its cunning"
Help from the GentiIes.
Now, at the opening session Of this the
sixth congress, the sensational announce
ment has been made that the British
government has offered to the Zionists
the concession of a large extent OF terri
tory in East Africa, as an autonomous
Jewish settlement; the Jewish officials,
however, being under British control and
sovereignty. The announcement was re-
ceived with great enthusiasm. cheers be-
ing given for Great Britain, headed by
Dr. Max Nordau; but it was inspired by
feelings Of gratitude to Great Britain for
its official sympathy, and not by the
thought that at last the Jewish question
was within reach Of solution. The offer
of the British government has divided
the members of the congress like riven*
tree. Every one Of the Russian delegates
has refused to give his sanction to the
scheme. The majority have accepted but
on the clear understanding among them
selves that the proffered settlement does
not extinguish the ideal of the Zionists
of ultimately obtaining Palestine as the
Jewish fatherland. Palestine Is writ large
on the mental horizon Of the Zionist. But
Palestine as 1.-THE Jewish State, will not
be. possible till some phase Of harmony
shall arise from the clang Of contradic-
| lions called Israel; for Jewry has no
greater disintegrating force than-the,
Jew. In the meantime the propaganda
proceeds with unabated energy. Its rami-
| fications are constantly growing.
The BattaIlons Of Zion.
In the press, Zionsm is represented by
the Jewish World" and the 'Hajehudi'
the latter printed in Hebrew-in Eng
! land, by die Welt" in Germany, the
| :.'Hanalitz" In Russia, and the "Macca-
beam, a monthly magazne. IN America
I The leaders. Of the Zionist movement are,
first gsand foremost, DR.. Herzel in Vienna,
Sir Francis Montedore, DR.. Moses Gas
ter, chief rabbi of the Sephardi COM
munity Of England, and Israel ZangWill
\ in London. Dr. Max Nordan and DR.. Mar
morek, chief Of the famous Pasteur insti-
| tute, head the movement in France. Pro-
fessor Richard Gottheil in America; and in
Russia the leadership has fallen to Pro-
lessor Mandelstamn, the eminent ocu-
! lift of I<ief. The number Of adherents
| to the Zionist idea Is estimated at some
thing over one million. whilst the annual
| shekel-payment, Or capitation fees Of Is,
has been made by $4,000 persons. There
! are. scattered, thruout the world, some
| $500 societies vowed to Zionisnl.
And. among the more material instru-
l ments OF the propaganda must bereck-
oned the Jewish Colonial trust, limited,
which is the financial weapon of the
movement. It started its career in 1902
and as an Indication Of its success, Herr
lHeinrfch Steiner. its manager. informed
the swritefgthat a dividend would be de-
clared this year. The Anglo-Palestine
1 company, limited, was formed for 1.-The
purpose Of trading in Palestine, Syria and
the east; it already possesses establish
ments In Jaffa. ~
It was launched with a view to acquiring
j land in Palestine to be held in trust fol-
! the Jewish people. 1t has appealed tc
j the sentiment Of the people, and already
over 100000 has been paid in the pence
!, of the poor; while demonstrations, oper
air meetings and professions in aid of the
! national fund are of frequent occurrence
Only few Sundays ago some 10000 per-
4 sons, decked with Zionist enblenas, made
the East End gay, and the streets vocal
with bands and collection boxes.
Thus a new light, born of new hope
glints thru the chirks Of the sombre ghet-
to- clothes the Wfirling mass of anxieties
nd hot 70
the sum of humanity, as with garment
iridescent. How soon it will be Tanned
into an abiding flame or as a vapor dissi.
pated who shall say? - --Elsley Zeitlyn.