The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-29
DR.. COTTF1EIL EXPL AIMS REAL
AIM OF ZIONIST MOVEMENT
Hopes hat Large Numbers of Jews Palestine
1t Best hat Bulk of Corelgonsts Be Scattered Throughout
WorldWokng for Great Future for Judaism

tive force. Ii Is in this way that the
world must look upon Zionism," said DIR.
Richard Gottheil one day last week
pr Gottheil was for some time presi-
dent Of the Federation OF American
Xionists. and is to-day professor of
Semitic languages in Columbia Univer-
s.ty He is the author of an exceed
ingly thoughtful book. "zonism," lately
published.
There is a widespread misconception
~ the aim of the Zionist movement"
ho continued. Most Of our Christian
fellow citizens imagine that the object
i to stimulate a wholesale return Of the
Jews TO Palestine. True, we hope that
large numbers of our Corcligionlsts will
return thither in the course of time. hut
Palestine with its total area Of but - 900
square kllometers would not begin to
hold the present 100000 and more of
our race
Indeed, for our own material welfare
and for the benefit Of such uf our people
Hs shall make homes for themselves IN
the ancient Holy Land. II were unde-
niably best that the bulk of the Jews
Ire scattered throughout the world. the
dispersion. or Diaspora, as we call It.
serving its own natural end in the way
~ providing fields of activity for
PEOPLE too numerous for their racial
place of0birth.
'Zionisrn. as understood by the Jews
Of to-day, il Of recent inception. dating
Rack to the latter sos and actually
having it's official beginning IN August
Of 1897. when the first congress Vas
held IN Basel under tie leadership of
that truly remarkable man the late
mr.. Theodor HcrZl Perhaps YOU do not
know ii. but DR. Herzl's pamphlet The
Jewish state was tho promoting cause
~ the present day Zionist movement.
This pamphlet was really Il sort Of self
commun.nC, not even destined for Il
large circle of friends. hut the very
nature of his treatment OF the Jewish
problem awakened wide and unusual
interest.
His predecessor. Leo Pinskrr was
equally intent upon helping his people,
especially those OF eastern Europe out
ot their ConStraint, ana his brochure,
'Autocmancipation.' had this end in
view. However, Pinsker. though am
Iitious IN the b, ginning. was obliged to
content himself with modest
programme OF performance that re-
suited in the establishment Of some
small colonies of Jews in Palestine.
her very nature. lacked coordination
and unity Of purpose. The prime DIFF
ference between tho two leaders ard
their grasp Of their subject can he gath
tred from tn character OF their writ
ings
"Herzl's Jewish State - the cool rea-
sonng Of tho philosopher; Pinsker's
'Autoemancipation,' on the other hand,
the cry Of the hunted stag tha< pants
after some haven of refuge. The one
is the expression Of noble sentiments
touched by poetic fancy and OF keen
sense OF injustice done to others: the
second, the prescription OF the physi-
IAN who has studied his own disease
and is ready to plunge the scalpel into
his own flesh.
THE Judenstaat' was written in
Paris In the year 1898. and some OF
IIerzls friends did not hesitate 10 de-
clare that the author was making
straight for The madhouse. From Paris
fierzl returned To Vienna. and here II
was that the first just appreciation OF
the whole scope of the scheme pro-
pounded in the 'Judenstaat' was by an
English Jew Israel Zangwill, who hap
pened to be in Vienna shortly after
lIerz.'s return.
IdileNlll was II IHfUbtT OF tne Mac
,ahgans Of London, a Jewish club
which entertained visiting Jews and
others having something to tell OF in
ierest 10 Jews. Zangwill wrote TO the
president that the club should invite
lierzl to London. Herz went. and the
Increasing discussion following brought
about the First Congress at Basel which
cave official expression to a common
az IA
Jews and the announcement OF def
mite policy. II meant organization and,
what is more, organization upon a dem
ocratic basis.
The chief import Of that first Con-
rress lay in the fact that it drew up a
declaration which in its opening para
Sraph has become the watchword OF the
whole movement and which Is univer-
sally known as the Basel programme.
This paragraph affirms that the object
~ Nionism is to establish for the Jewish
heonle n publicly and legally assured
nome in PALESTINE In a negative way
This declaration suggested that the root
~ the whole business lay in the fact
mat the Jews as people had no home,
ana such being the case, they became
~islv the play ball OF contending fac
'.ons and OF warning interests Herzl
set himself diligently TO work to obtain
mis- very home through the coopera-
ION Of the Turkish Government, and
hls efforts were tireless in this direction.
Alas the closing years OF Abdul
tamids regime were marked by fail
? power and a downward course and
''"rI was unable TO obtain those assur-
in'"S which alone would make n pub
.'y and legally assured home In Pales-
2" possible, True, tho Jewish subjects
~ the ottoman Empire had even
7rough those concluding years OF Alb
~. iamld's rule received goodly
h'9surc Of consideration. The Turk Is
effectively a gentleman, his religion
coral in It's sstitude toward other
I''1s, and his Government, provided
"rl2'n taxes Ne paid. an easy one for
alien dwcller. so to speak, within
o" 'pld, but IIcrZls aim was for per-
.hAneEcy and Zionism could not hope
t@ ms IN the establishment OF phys
" and spiritual home In the Holy
N'd unless the Turkish Government
0"d -puarely and unequivocally back
o. movement n 20 IA: ~ the grant
OF territorial rights and sclf-admn-
h. a