The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-04


sentiment of all good citizens when he
added: II feel that I am sincere in my
loyalty to the stars and stripes and my
devotion to this countrys cause as any
man living. But the very spirit of Amer
icanism 1t is that prompts me to be
Zionist: to aid in the liberation of an
ever martyred race and the removal of
an endless source of trouble with the
whoe world
The fact of the matter is that the
Zionist Is necessarily the best patriot of
his adopted home: the heart which Is
broad enough to entertain love for fam
lily and kindred race, Is naturally broad
enough to comprise loyalty and love for
the land of ones sojourning. There are
none more ready than the Zionist IN this
country to defend the American flag and
cherish the American principles of lib
erty and right. Zionists were quickest
to respond to the call of this country In
its conflict with Spain. The Zionist reg
iment formed in Great Britain carried
off the highest honors and concentrations
from military officials on Its return from
the Englsh-Boer war. The well known
Col A E. W. Goldsmid was a leader
In the Zionist ranks Sir Moses Monte
fore, unquestionably the best Jew of the
18th century and the most peculiarly
loyal subject of the British queen, he
too, was a Zionist: for he also sought
to establish a Jewish state in the land
of Israel In this manner also L1ordecai
Noah that famous American patriot,
suggested a similar plan, even though
in more visionary form.
If 1t were useless to enlarge on this
subject, since even as great and good
statesman as the late Secretary John
Hay had officially disproven the accusa-
ton; while Ex-secretary Root had ex-
pressed himself to be in perfect sym
pathy with the Zionist movement, and
Hon Richard Barthold, member of
Congress and President Interparlimen-
tary Peace Conference had himself sug
gested to present the matter to the
Hague Peace Conference. (Happily
such course is today no longer necess-
ary IN view of the newer developments
in Turkey)
1t was quite a pleasing surprise for
Z;onists on May 10th of last year to
learn that a Verein of aristocratic
Zionists was organized In New York
City, with Mr.. Samuel Stratus, proprie-
tor and editor of the New York Globe.
at the head. Among the members of
that verein are Mr.. Louis Marshall, Mr.
Daniei Guggenheim. the American silver
king, and others of Americas wealthiest
and most influential Jews. The renowned
philanthropist Jacob H. Schiff Is un-
officially represented in this same So
phia, and Ex-secretary Oscar Straus,
present ambassador to Turkey, are like
wise identified with the movement. Mr..
Stratus recently went to london for the
purpose of effecting a reconciliation be-
tween the two great factions in Zionism,
the one known as Zion Zionists, who in
sist upon the acquisition Of Palestine
proper; the other-the Territoraist
Zionists, headed by zangwil and the
Jewish Colonization Association, who un-
til recently had sought for a Jewish
colony in various ways and distant
lands. but by reason of the later de-
velopments in Turkey fell upon the
scheme of settling Jews In Mesopotamia;
a territory which is identified with the
earliest history of the Jewish people,
and is also incorporated in the BASEL
programme" as part of the Zion terri
tory.
Now If man like Mr.. Oscar straus,
who was justly styled the practical man
of business country" if he ses the fit
ness and feasibility of the Zionist scheme
there is really no reason why anyone else
should pretend to be more practical"
and more matter of fact"
The world today is filled with the ac-
complishment of what might ordinarily
be termed the impossible. Things have
come into being, which both science and
the view of the practical man had brand
ed "impossibility: and nationalties, old
and new. have been aided to rise to
self-dependence and dignity, why not
help the most ancient of peoples to a
resting place In its ancient land? Why
not grant the possibility, and aid in
the establishment of Jewish state?
If you WILT is not a dream" said
the late DR.. THEODORE Herzel, the noble
architect of lions practical restoration
And he pointed to zionism as the fore
runner of a worldwide peace. In his
"oldnewland" DIR. Herzel laid out prac-
teal plans for the conduct of the ideal
commonwealth, which the Jewish peo-
pie, as people that is free from all po-
litical complications and untrammeled
by monopolies, might we'll form and set
up to all the civilized nations of the
earth.
But here again the critic may cry OUT
too Uptopian;" yet we must not forget
that Twenty Thousand Leagues I'm
der the Sea" is really the design upon
which the subterranean boat invention
of today Is modelled, and that the many
things in existence at this age of dis
oovery are the products of master minds
first presented in just such form as the
"oldnewIand." Let us know that the
world after all is moving forward
moving not only in its physical system.
but its moral development as we'll
Sentiment Is after all the governing DOW
er of the community; and thus the
sense of justice exhibited in public
opinion wiz lead mankind to still loftier
heights of development broader IDEAL
ism and nobler conception of lifes du-
ties SO the dream of a herzel, or a
Bellami and such. may yet call into be-
ing the naturalization of that old vision
Of Israel's inspired prophets, Isaih and
Michah, pointing to the time when they
shall beat their swords into plough
shares and their spears into pruning
forks; 'nation shall lift no sword against
nation, and they shall learn of war no
more
AS most laudable addition to the
wonderful inventions of the present age
it came to the lot of the Holy Land to
bring before the eyes of the world an
entirely new system of revolution; de-
parture from the old ways of bloody
design and terrorism, hitherto looked up
on as the only means of securing free
government, and the introduction, in
| their stead, of a particular line of pub
| lie education--a cultivation of the people
| and the army to correct appreciation
| of the principles of universal liberty and
| of Israeps inspired prophets, Isaiah and
| right AL lof which was so nobly effected
! by the moral force and idealism of the
| Young Turk organization as Charles
| Beclxton, an English gentleman, points
| out in his newly published work entitled.
Turkey In Revolution"