The Minneapolis journal., 1904-12-31

New York BeSlde-NO Abatement In
the Jewish Tide Of Immigration
Why Mr.. zangwill,s East African
Paradise Is Likely to Fail.
Kellogg Durland, in Boston Transcript.
The last time MIR. Zangwill visited
America it was in the interest Of his
8 Children Of the Ghetto,,,,' then being
staged in New York. This time he
comes as the apostle Of a cause-a-
hopeless cause; as the emissary Of a
mission-a futile mission. ~..>-.. !. -.
Mr.. sZangwill comes avowedly in the
interest OF Zionism. Not the Zionism
of Palestine, but the Zionism Of British
East Africa .~5 @-.....,.. i 49,. . u.
: Sir Henry Johnston, former. special
! commissioner for Uganda, is the inspir-
er Of the movement. 1t was his in
Huence that brought the British gov.
Gwas' Ngishn with its 100000 square
miles Of territory. It is healthful
district, and fertile It is said to pos
sess many natural features desirable in
any East Africa colony. The draw
haek is that it sst ineGitably be
Jewish governor. An influential jew
ish organ points out the weak spot in
the plan when it reminds Jews that the
aim Of Zionism has. never been merely
to possess legally assured home. If
this were the case, "East Africa offers
prospect Of an early, realization of
their fondest dreams; but but if at the
ton, intellectual and moral thru the
influence: of the spiritual glories and
/ memories, of Zion, East Africa will be
as impotent as. New Jersey or Winni-
peg. Badly as the Jews need place
to rest in peace, they need an indu-
ence that will make for culture and for
the awakening Of the instincts that we
are SO ready to believe lie at the basis
of Jewish character
have talked with some influential
Jews about Mr.. Zangwill' 8 mission and
not one of them has expressed favor
with the plan. ''The Jews of the Ghetto
refuse to be even interested. HN'
York's the place" for. them. After
generations Of persecution and oppres-
sion the Jews of central and eastern
Europe have found a haven where they
to adhere to the religion of their faith
ers,. to speak their own Yiddish, and to
mingle or not with the outside world
: as they may be inclined. That is: why
SeMs t9 in
vious year, more than $4,000. Sixty
nine thousand Jewish immigrants came
into the port Of New York. And COM
ing here, they feel that they are coming
home; more SO than # they were enter
ing Palestine; far more so than if they
In coming to New York they become
denizens of the Largest Jewish city in
56e s%s TSTso in He HeeFe %S5s taaa
than 100000 Of them are in the Ghetto
that wonderful section Of the city
east Of the Bowery to the East river,
come and i've eut r1 lis life hs without 6 ae
quiring one word Of English. Nor is
this. in any way detrimental to Amer
lean life, or the sg:ealled process Of
fhg HsbaeM the PuRf sGeoe
like the Educational Alliance, and the
settlement exercise: powerful inAu.
ence upon the children. Indeed, one of
the gravest dangers in this part OF
American. life today, lies in the too
grants of the second generation. 1t
Creates too wide a breach between pa
rents and children; The New York
/ Ghetto has more obscure scholars, poets
! and dramatists than any other alien
colony in the world. They are obscure,
not because Of the tinferior quality, Of
WOCh, DuU +DGCduS0 Guc1l SCAO11A
ship is in dead Languages, their poems
ne known Tnst5 outside ae Of TT The jewish world:
! zYiddish is a strange :jargon. More
nearly than anything else it resembles
sixties sixteenth century GsrTqaHa, with 18th .dag frg:
). ern. German, and English. There are
!; pushcart peddlers on the East Side Of
i New York who are versed: in ancient
Hebraic lore to an extent that would
put to blush some Of our most dlstln-
guished academician There are men
as naturally expressed in poetic forms
as birds sing. There is Eliakim Zunser
How many people in Boston could tell
one thing about Zunser9 There are six
ty-fve known collections of Zunser e
songs in existence, and today his name
is a household word in millions Of homes
s7Wedding Bard,'5 who was as neces
sary at the wedding as the rabbi.
The Ghetto knows him. The Ghetto
knows many and many name that tht
, fEn glish- speaking world would not4recog
nize. The Ghetto world is as full Of light
? and shadow as the world we most Of Ut
| were born to-, and the. black spots are
not darker than the bright spots are
: all chaTa cteristie Of the Ghetto, but not
more SO than the heart and soul poetry
!, and the classic drama of the Yiddish
, speaking people, One thorofare from
the Boweryto the East iver--Rivingtor
street in the world. It teens with hu
.. manity day and night. The density o1
its population is nearly 1000. to the
acre, while London g most crowded area
is less than 4oo..s Three blocks south i.
p a. parallel thorofare-Grand street
!, with it's Yiddish stage, where during {
!, year there is probably more Shakspere
more Schiller, lbsen, sudermann ant
Of New York together. The jewish Kins
Lear, Shylock and Faust are as popular
on the East Side is in Boston. The
Yiddish stage has reached an extraordi
nary plane of development in New York
This would not be possible in East AZ
RIGA for generations to come, and it il
: doubtful if it could ever attain the EN-
8 inence there that it has reached here
Ghetto life tends to conserve all that il
best and beautiful in the lives of tn.
r Jews; at the same time it brings then
, into contact with our world, which i
: a broadening and enlightening influence
Americanization should always be
mutual matter. American standards ant
customs are the ultimate standards ant
, customs. AS an instrument of TRANSITION
: the Ghetto is incompatible. There is NJ
call for hurry. The Jewish immigrants
= unlike the vast proportion of any othe
sg our the peoples @d bring their fan
3 tinns with them Thew q ra= ha INV h orc