The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-07-17
The ZIONIST MOVEMENT
Why Dayitt Advocates It For
the Repatriation Of Jews.
A REMEDY FOB PROSECUTIONS.

A REMEDY FOR PROSECUTIONS.
Well known Writer Says Plan of
Zionistm Boldly G Terrible
Problem Of Russian Jews with q
Rational and Courageous Solution.
Hebrews More Feared, He Claims,
Than Hated by Average Russians.
l have returned from Russia Il con
WINGED supporter of the Zionist move
ment for the repatriation of those Jews
of Russia and other countries who r
willing to return to the parent land Of
their race. says Michael Davitt in the
New York American. 1t is absolutely
hopeless ever to expect the Russian
people or government to admit the
Jews to the rights of nationality or
citizenship. The negro of the south
will be welcomed much sooner on a
level of equal social equality to the
dining rooms of the ex-slave states.
The average Russian fears the Jew
uOkC "a LAG lOJCo ALI q" - 40 LII
finitely more resourceful in all the bust
ness and civil walks of life than the
landowning or land working Russian,
while in intellectual equipment he pos
sesses a decided advantage over men
of the ruling ace. These facts will not
be denied even by educated Russians.
One of these, a noble of distinction and
a man of broad views. said to me when
discussing the problem of the Russian
Jew: "What can we do with these peo-
pie? l am opposed to their persecution
and feel the shame which the Kishineff
horrors have brought upon the name of
Russia. But If we do what you urge.
If we allow them to spread over the
country and open up to them access to
the offices of municipal and imperial
administration. why, my dear sir. their
racial ability and capacity would ena-
BILE them to control all our departments
within ten years."
This is the reflex of the Russian of.
fetal mind. The same view pervades
ment-policemen, customs officers, post
Office and telegraph services. and so on.
And when to this feeling is added the
conviction which was expressed in ev-
cry conversation l had with representa-
tive Russians from Odessa to Warsaw
that socialism was Il Jewish impOrta-
ton. that young Jews are it's most dan
gerous If not it's only effective propa-
gandists within the empire. it can at
once be seen how futile will be the
efforts which will seek to obtain equal
rights or free citizenship removed from
oppression for the Russian Jew ever
within the. pale of legal domicile.
The Zionist movement is a necessity
Of the situation. 1t boldly faces the
terrible problem of the Russian Jew
with a rational and courageous solu-
ton. He cannot hope v to live safe
ly and in peace in Russia without
rights and protection which he will not
in our day receive.
Other European countries or America
cannot reasonably be expected to open
wide the gates of immigration to 1000
900 or 100000 poor Hebrew workers.
Where. then. are they to go if their
persecution is ever to cease?
The parent land of. Palestine offers
them a shelter and perhaps a limited
autonomy under Turkish suzerainty
provided the combined influence OF
sympathetic public opinion and the in
terccssion of the great powers could
enable the plan of the Zionist move
ment to be put in operation. 1t ought
to be with the present ruler OF the
Turkish empire Il question of money
only. along with a concerted agreement
between the leading European govern
ments and. it is to be hoped. that OF
the United States. And as the recent
savage recrudeScence of anti-Semitit
feeling must necessarily awaken inter
est and sympathy for the victims OF
this barbarous spirit the remedy advo
Gated by the Zionist leaders must re
ceive q wider attention than has vel
been given to it in either Europe o.
America.
The press Of the United States cal
render powerful help in this direction
and l most earnestly press the cause Of
the repatriation of the Russian Jew.