The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-22
BIRMINGHAM INDUSTRIES
The Right of JelDish RenationaHzatiOn

] 7 is matter well recognized that politi-
cal zfonism aims at the establishment
= of the Jewish people In a home and
country of their own legal possession; but
1t is not generally known as to whether
| or not the act of Jewish standardization
might be justified IN the sight of present
conditions. The point or argument on the
| part of many Is this: At a time when old
| Chauvinism is passing out of existence;
when the Wanted pride of nations is
gradually giving way to broader IDEAL
Ism. and humanity is said to take the
place of nationalism-just at this time an
idea of standardization should strike a
people that Is dispersed and scattered all
over the world, and which is known to
have been politically dead for nearly 20
centuries in succession. Is this not rather
too paradoxical a problem7
Ere we shall attempt to offer an ex-
PLANTATION TO this seemingly curious mani
festaion anent the Jewish people we shall
briefly revert the attention of the reader
to the remarkable fact that at this new
epoch many another nation, great and
fury thus witnessed the birth of several
regularly established kingdoms, such as
Belgium, Greece, Italy and bulgaria. Out
of the revolution of 1S4S there have
emerged quite a number of new states
and autonomies In Europe, while toward
the close of this nineteenth century new
~ esta bllshed states we're formed even
in distant isles and the remotest corners
of the globe.
1t is perchance most curious sight to
behold at this time when commercial in
tereourse between the nations and mod
ern means of communication are tending
TO bring about a consolidation of the vary
ing elements in the human species, to
break the barriers between the classes and
the masses, and TO make the whole world
akin; at this time when the newer inven-
tons, the railway facilities, the swift
running steamboats,, the telegraphs and
telephones, the wireless, the aeroplanes,
and whatever else that might lead civil
lied nations to form a closer union with
one another and TO place themselves upon
one equal plane, with one common under
standing of mutual responsibihty-that at
this time the spirit of nationalism should
rise from its Anticipated lair to create a
new sort of "elannishness" or "separat-
ism" in the midst OF the community. Is
this not the same wondrous manifesto
ton all over2
The key to this mystery however, ap-
pears to be concealed in the fact that it is
through the very means of newer utili-
ties and conyeniences that such mani
fest awakening is in progress today,
whereby man is become fully conscious of
his equal right and opportunity.
The slave lacks nothing, while the
master is in constant search for means
of advancement. When the working man
wages, and looked up to the grace of the
master IN whose hand was thought to
be his life and destiny-then the poor
working man did not strike for better
wages and shorter hours. But so soon a S
| 1t was discovered that aside from God
| Almighty there is no such thing as mas
/ ter in the sense OF absolute ruler;
that there Is none else but employer
and employe" to be reckoned with. and
just as soon as it was learned that the
one who engages and keeps another man
in service Is equally dependent upon what
he can get out of this other man-then
the clamor began on the part of the work.
man for advancement and equality.
In this same manner we behold the
smaller nationalities, the dependent col
onies,' as they are usually termed. So
long as they felt that their lack of physi-
cal strength had branded them inferior
and they patiently bore their yoke of OPP
preston. But just as soon as they be-
came aware of that progressive principle
which entitled each man and nation to
the inalenable rights on life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness, there came to
them peculiar longing for emancipation,
for self-help and self-dependence. The
Jewish people, for instance, seemed to
have felt lat home when they were
locked in the ghettos, and the pale of
settlement in Russia for a time appealed
to them as their natural habitation. But
once the gates of their narrow Enclosure
were broken open; once they were freed
from the constant gatherings of enemies
and were given their breathing spell"
In the long run of captivity, they will
not, and must not, let go until they have
gained their fullest freedom and indie
pendence. Nothing short of a Jewish
state" will avail; nothing else will sat
isfy their demands. Despite of the I'M
willing and Indifferent in their midst (as
there have always been such among lib
Grated slaves; even among those who
went forth from Egyptian bondage), the
idea of a Jewish state must sooner or
later be carried into effect
During the time of the middle ages
when darkness covered the earth, and ig-
norance blunted the facilities of reasoning
beings; when brutal force was rampant
and might was construed to be right
those standing lower In the order of the
human spheres could hardly hope for
equalization. They dare not raise their
eyes toward the quality of manhood, ma
tionalism or social advancement, which
ever the case might be, as they knew they
must yield to their Inevitable lot But
the newer renaissance has lifted the
peoples of the earth out OF mental stag
nation, and has at the same time re-.
deemed them from social oppression and
opened up a pathway for their freedom
and happiness. For as soon as the spirit
of progressiveness has entered the worlds
scene and man began to realize the
truth that he is the arbiter of his own
fate; that 1t all depends upon his own
labors and a personal effort on his part
Will raise him up to a level with the rest
just as soon as the world began to recog-
nize the fact that "all are equal before
nature and natures God'-each one of
the human species naturally felt it hiS
right and his duty to seek for advance
ment and strive to become as good as the
other man.
Together with the imbued ideals of
freedom and equality there comes to man
a feeling of circumstances, an awak-
ening of individual worth and personal
dignity. And this same rousins up of
the inner self-consciousness is manifest
within the race or nationality, which
finds itself justly entitled to be on o
level with the rest of the families Of
the earth, each of whom is calling for
individual right each craving for an