The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-20

| lent attempts to provide for the Jewish
exiles, and TO restore Palestine to the
Jews by bringing them back to agri-
culture and manual labor. Probably the
best-known and the most nearly pros
/ porous OF them is Zikron-Jacob at Sam
marin, in the foothills of Mount Carmel.
This is a foundation of Baron Roth
schild, who established in memory of
his father, Jacob. AS in these colonies
in general, the law is rigidly observed
at Zikron-Jacob could obtain no
cooked food on the Sabbath, and the
people did not even smoke cigarettes on
that day, since the kindling OF fire is
contrary to the law" In contrast with
the scualid towns and treeless land
scapes of Palestine in general, Zikron-
Jacob seemed prosperous. and the sur
| eucalyptus, were singularly attractive;
but these results have been attained only
| by heavy Subsidies Such manual work
as is done in the settlement seems TO be
done rather by natives of the country.
who are hired by money furnished from
without. than by the Jews themselves
and, while the colony looks prosperous
in comparison with the miserable native
villages, il falls far below the standard
of the German settlements at Halfa,
Jaffa, and Jerusalem, and such prosperity
as it possesses repends upon the mainten-
anee of the subsidy.
The Germans of the Temple Colony,
Wurtembergers, without a subsidy, and
in the face of great obstacles, have not
only built up the prosperous settlements
just named. but are extending their ac-
tiyities and have just made further
purchase Of a large tract of land on the
plain of Sharon, north Of LYDIA 4 COM
parison of these successful German colo
MES, dependent upon their own exertions
and their own resources, with the sUbsi-
died Jewish colonies, makes the latter
look axe failures Indeed, those who are
best informed doubt whether il is posi-
Bile to establish successful agricultural
Jewish colonies in Palestine. OF course,
the natural conditions are difficult; the
climate is unlike that TO which the Jews
of the north have been accustomed, the
soil is by no means so fertile as that
which may be obtained in some other
countries, and the government is hope
lessly corrupt and incompetent One is
inclined to ask; Would it not have been
better TO establish these colonies in South
America. Canada, or the United States
rather than in Palestineg
An enthusiastic Jewish nationalist. Of
whom 1 saw much in Jerusalem, and who
publishes there a paper written in the
Jewish language, answered this question
somewhat after this fashion: IF the
Jews are ever to be brought back to
Palestine and their national existence
restored-and only by being brought back
to Palestine can the national existence
be restoTed-then they must become agri-
culturists. They must become dependent
upon themselves. 1t is a task of the
greatest difficulty to bring back to the
soil people which has not been engaged
in agricultural pursuits for centuries.
and il can be accomplished only through
the inspiration of some great motive.
That great motive is to be found for the
Jew in the love of his nation and the be-
lief that in Palestine his nation is to be
restored TO its former glory" 1t seemed
to me that what is needed, even more
than the money 10 found and sustain
colonies, is men of light and leading. II
Alonism would restore the Jews to Jeru-
salem, it must first of all brinb back to
that country some men of high standing
and character who can lead and direct
the movement on the ground like Nehe-
miah and Ezra of old One can scarcely
expect very much from Jews Of the class
now settled or settling in Palestine.
AS already said, the greater part of the
recent Jewish immigrants are subjects of
European Powers, especially of Russia
There are said to be from one to three
thousand American Jews in Jerusalem,
but of these almost all are originally
Russian Jews who came to this country
merely to secure American citizenship
Many of them seem to have procured
1t fraudulentiy by a residence OF few
months in the United States. These can
not easily be distinguished from the Jews
who have come directly from Russia.
Others have actually acquired the Eng
lish language TO a greater or lesser ex-
tent. 1t is well known that while Russia
persecutes the Jews at home, she is, for
political reasons. their stanch protector
in Palestine; so that even Russian en-
ployes at the post Office are often Jews
This divided nationality, with the con-
slant appeal TO foreign consuls and the
opportunity which IL affords the foreign
Powers, especially Russia, for interfer-
ence in Turkish affairs, is naturally a
source OF irritation and of danger to the
Turk. Consequently Jewish immigration
is forbidden, but this prohibition. like
many other things in Turkey Is a dead
letter in the face of pecupiary induce
ment or political pressure.
Russia is using her Jews as she uses
her schools; to make Palestine a Russian
province. But it Is doubtful whether she
herself would wish TO encourage Jewish
immigration to Palestine to point which
would make the population Jewish, for 10
Russian Christians Palestine is very Pc
culiarly a holy land. and the Russian pill
grims 10 the sacred places of Palestine
outnumber largely the pilgrims of all
other creeds and nationalities combined.
As many as twelve thousand Russian
pilgrims are sad to have been in Jeru-
salem at once. and the Russian hospices
are not infrequently called upon TO shell
ter five OF six thousand at one time. In
and about Jerusalem there are enormous
Russian buildings for the housing and
general care OF these pilgrims. The first
object which one sees on approaching
Jerusalem is the great Russian tower on
the Mount OF Olives. and long after one
has lost sight of every other indication
Of Jerusalem, from points forty or fifty
miles away. one sees in the distance the
structure. the most prominent monument
in all Palestine Besides the numerous
Russian churches and other buildings in
Jerusalem itself, there are also hospices
and churches at other points. Nazareth.
Bethlehem the fords OF the Jordan etc