The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-01-27
TnE ZIONIST MOVEMENT.

Isaiah 81, 1.-t:For Zion's sake I will
not hold my peace, x y until
the Righteousness thereof 60 forth as
brightness -
In order to follow the inspired words
of the Prophet Isaiah [ find myself
under obligation for the sake Of Zion
to defend the Zionist movement, Of
late. from an offensive attack made
recently, On. January 18, in Jewish
Lecture Hall by Rev George Solomon,
of Savannah, Ca, who continued in
his sermon to approach the Zion move
ment with adherence, and warning
his listeners to keep away from Zion
ism. Taking for granted one of zang-
willis sayings that Zion is the only
salvation for Judaism, and that with
out national Zionist movement Juda-
ism is about to cease it's existence, i. e.,
therefore, according to his understand
ing Zionism means for all the Jews all
over the world to return to Palestine
as means to save their Faith, their
distinct Religion. from getting absorb
ed among other religions. So it is
merely fantastic idea, and it is that
we here liz America are to deplore
what he calls Zionisna, because no
matter what our business occupation
is or amongst whom our sociability
happens to be-, nevertheless we can
remain loyal to our Jewish faith. In
his passionate hatred to Zionism he
had to limit his definition of Zionism
as based on pretence for the better
serment for American Judaism
which late Zionism never thought Of
it, In order to creste hatred for
Zionism overlooking or ignoring the
fact that Jewish misery abroad in
those half civilized countries, who are
deprived Of most human rights and
are becoming more oppressed from
time to time. Is in such horrible
state as to demand some means of
help which would bring on a perma-
nent amelioration of Jewish misery in
those countries. It certainly appeals
to the human race throughout the
world, apart from religious considera-
tion, and further more so, it is a holy
duty on those Hebrews in most en-
lightened countries who enjoy the
blessings OF God as being admitted to
all privileges, to cooperate In some
general scheme to render assistance
for lions cause which would greatly
redeem those people from their op-
pressors.
Emigration to America or England,
which was regarded by our Benevolent
societies as a means of salvation can
ro longer be considered as such since
certain restrictions are already put on
here on the immigration laws and are
about to be restricted to 8 greater ex-
tentllere as well as in England.
Now to find home for millions of
people when the old method of dis
persiug them here and there is not
only failure in the end, but it has
become now an impossibility, so the
only scheme in solving the question
now to save the oppressed is to be di-
rected- to the Zionist pro-
gram-in Palestine and Syria, coun-
try without people, which has been
desolated for eighteen centuries, since
the destruction of the Holy Temple,
to be returned to those oppressed peo-
pIe without a country for the same
period who are gifted with divine
power to stand innumerable persecu-
tions and to outlive their prosecutors.
And to renew their old home on a
national basis, i. g., 1st, to proceed
with negotiations with his majesty,
the Sultan, as well as any of those
governments who are interested in
Palestine, until We will finally succeed
in getting Palestine as a legally au-
thorized home for the oppressed Jews
with their own municipal government
under the suzerainty of the Turkish
then to settle those op-
pressed people on Palestine soil as
farmers and agriculturists. This is
the only means according to the pro-
gram of Zionists, to settle the Jewish
question all over the world forever.
If only success would follow on this
road, as we hope it will, as God helps
those who help themselves. and SO do
the people, and as we were promised
in Psalm 53:7, "Oh that the saliva
tion of Israel were come out of Zion
x Jacob shall rejoice and Israel
shall be glad
A Zion Defender.