Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-06

- ~ Sss Hu6 . u w
doings Of the American Jews have
been coming in for a good deal Of
public attention lately. For eighteen
months now something OF an atmos-
I rherc OF suspense and tension has sur
! rounded the series Of conferences and
meetings at which prominent Jews
from all walks Of life have met and
deliberately Dramatic, incident has not
been lacking as when Mr.. Schirr. the
Jewish !~rancicr and philanthropist,
announced his withdrawal from Jewish
public affairs; or when MIR. Justice
RrauGeis saw his policies temporarily
overridden at the s,orvy meeting In
the Hotel Astor "A few days ago.
Hard on the heels OF the latter in
cidcnt the news was given out that
the two chief opposing parties among
the Jews had come to an agreement,
and q national Jewish congress was
scheduled To meet in the fail Of his
year. The general public realizes tina
the matter is one Of Importance, not
only 10 tho Jews, but to the nation
and TO the world nj large, standing. az
/; does, for tho prospect Of concerted
action by 3,000,ooo American citizens
HNo represent a Eoodly share OF talent
and power In various fields; but the
general public is admittedly a little
hazy as TO just what has been going
on and IA 1t is all about.
The purpose OF the Who'll move
inent OF tho American Jews is to bet
ter the lot Of their coreliEionists in
Europe. They hope TO ~orpor into
the final peace treaties. no matter who
the victor or victors may be. provisions
which viii grant full civil and re-
lig!ous liberties to all the Jews Of
Europe.
This Is a large contract. In several
or the most powerful European ma
tons. the Jew is not on a footing OF
equality, and until the war broke out
in 1914 there was not much prospect
that he ever would he. In the present
conflict, however, the Jews see their
opportunity: because the European
Jews have had a chance to demon
stratc that they are loyal subjects
Of whatever flag they happen to be
born under: because In the general
reorganization that will come with
peace, one radical change more or less
will he much more practicable tina It
would coming alone: and because they
belieNe that the European powers at
the conclusion Of the conflict Will be
In a mood to listen to them.
SItuntion IL Significant.
The large Significance OF the situa-
ton should not be overlooked. 1t is
the first time that any such number
or Jews have gotten together to pull
for a common end. They have yet to
prove that the national Jewish con-
gress will get through its sittings
without splitting on the rocks of fac
tionalism that almost prevented it's
meeting. bat. IL II does, ii will mark
a new epoch in the history OF a people
5000 years old. and It may foreshadow
the rise OF n new influence to be reck-
oned with in world affairs.
a good many years age a prominent
Jew wrote to Mark Twain and asked
him Some questions on the Jewish
Problem. In his reply Mark Twain in
dicated that he thought the Jews would
OccllDy a larger n1arn I'm nnhlis md
political life IL they worke together
more smoothly. with a vote like the
Jewish vote in New York" said Mark
Twain, or words to that effect, "the
Irish would control the kingdom of
heaven"
The Jewish racial bent does not lie
toward politics, however, and 1t is
probably just as well that the Jews
do not organize and vote as a body.
But it is also true that Mark Twain
laid his finger on one OF the funda-
mental weaknesses Of the Jews as a
race In their dealings with different
nations.
The position Of the Jews has been
one OF the curious anomalies of his
tory. They have always held a good
measure of power, IL only financial
power; yet they are the Illustration
of n prosecuted people. and in many
places they are still prosecuted to-day.
Their power apparently does them no
good as a weapon of defense; and the
reason seems to lie as Mark Twain
implied. largely in the fact that they do
not work together. The power Of one
Jew is limited to his individual
strength, instead of being rooted I'm
the strength OF his section of the body
polite.
Have Not Won Freedom.
Thus. the emancipation of the Jews
in progressive lands has come ALWAYS
from without rather than from with
in. In England to-day the Lord Chief
Justice is a Jew; in the United States
a Justice of the Supreme Court is a
Jew; they enjoy. OF course, in these
countries every right and privilege
that everybody else does. But their
status reflects the degree OF enlighten-
ment of the nation they live In, rather
than any struggle towards freedom of
their own. They have equality in Eng
and because England gives them
equality. They have not got equality
IN Russia because Russia has not given
them equality. They serve thus as the
barometer of national conscience; but