New-York tribune., 1916-07-21
Calls for Congress Which
Will Relieve Sufferers
Abroad.
SAYS SHOUTS WILL
NEVER SAVE NATION
Race Playing Politics, Editor
Writes-Wants Resolutions
Swept Aside.

Herman Bernstein, editor OF The
American Hebrew" in to-day's issue
Of that weekly will call on the Jews Of
the country to put an end TO hysteria,
shouting and quarrelling and adopt
an immediate policy Of unity Of pur-
pose and action in calling together q
congress to aid their suffering breth-
rem abroad.
"For almost two years" says Mr..
Bernstein's statement, "the Jews OF
America have talked and talked and
talked about organizing themselves for
united action. They have barga.ned
among themselves as TO what kind OF
rights they should ask for our starving,
bleeding, humiliated, prosecuted breth~
ren abroad. We have held mass meet
ings and conferences; we have adopted
resolutions.
"Now that the Jews Of the various
factions have finally agreed upon the
holding OF an American Jewish con-
gress, they are still divided by the
resolutions they have adopted. They
cannot agree upon methods Of pro-
cedure, while the Jews abroad, as Judge
Mayer Sulzberger said last week when
he left the conference in anger, are
bleeding TO death.
Equal Rights Desired.
"As the strongest portion Of Israel,
as American Jewry, we want 10 ask for
something which belongs to the Jewish
people-for equal rights with the rest
OF the world where they have no such
rights. and national rights where other
nationalities have national rights-we
DzV, a
want the question OF Palestine taken
up at the time of the readjustment, at
the close Of the war.
1T may be that we are taking our
selves too seriously. Il may be that
the peace conference will be in Spain
or in Switzerland, and that few dip
lomats like Luzzati, or such a great
Jew as Dr. Max Nordau, may be able
TO exert greater influence at a peace
conference than the combined forces
of American Jewry. But II can also
happen that the United States will
play an important role in the peace
negotiations, and then, We are sure,
our plea for justice 10 the jew could
be made effectively, backed by the SYM
pathy of the public opinion of fair
minded and lberty-loving America.
Though our task is clear, our hands
are tied with resolutions which We
ourselves are adopting. We are play
ing politics. IL is not necessary any
longer 20 dwell upon the horrors that
the universal tragedy has heaped upon
the Jewish people 10 make the Jews
of America realize what their duty is.
We have a case with which 70 come
before the tribunal of nations at the
peace conference.
"Must Have Unity"
"But nation cannot be saved
through hysteria, and shouting and
quarreling have never solved world
problems. We must have unity of ac-
ton. unity of purpose. All of US must
participate and make sacrifices, il
necessary; all of Us must DO our full
duty TO our brethren in this black hour
of Jewish history.
"If resolutions are in the way, sweep
them aside. II personal rivalries or
petty jealousies are in the way OF Jew
ish emancipation, let American Israel
sweep away such rivalries and jeal-
ousLes. Those who fear the holding Of
a congress for Jewish rights during
the war may be interested in this let
ter 10 the writer from the great Italian
Jewish statesman. Luigi LuzZati:
"I hope that the Jews OF America
will hold a congress for Jewish rights
as soon as possible. II | were not so
old, would be happy 10 come to
America to be present at such con-
gress.'"