Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-20
BY Israel Zangwill
The Noted Playwright and Advocate Of
Jewish Rights.

jewish Rights.
1-HE Jews do not exist as a politicsl
entity. An intelligent Icelander or
Somali. studying atlas Of the world
would never discover from 1t that there were
such folk as Jews in the world On no map
would he discover any trace OF territory be.
longing to them, while even from the maps
colored according to religion their existence
would be equally unsupported. Indeed, the
only religious division in which they could
possibly find place would be the lishtorange
departments allotted TO the heathen."
am well aware of the legend that they not
only exist but are federation of milhonaires
darkly bent subdung the world or at least
on pulling It's strings in the Jewish interest
But as happen to have been engaged for some
ntteen years In trying to focus Jewish forces,
II only for seltdefence, In position to
ASSURE you that this legend Is funnier than
anything IN Thackeray's burlesque Of Disraeli.
The Jews are frightened people: six
teen centuries OF Christian love have broken
down their nerves. For the persecution which
began with Constantine. the founder OF State
Christianity, has known scarcely lull. II
there is any object that could federate the
Jewish m'llionares, 1t would be that Of do
stroying such political Jewish power as thsy
still apprehend may survive or be brought
into existence. And the war has como to co.
operate with them, grinding the broken atom.
OF Jewry still smaller dashing them one
AGAINST another. It's forces cross and cancel
ono another. and their resultant is not Zion.
but zero.
You will now be able 10 appraise at n. trus
value the iusdnuation at present faint, but fated
to gather force and frequency as all the swa,h
bucklers who started the war become IN
oreaeinsly sick OF it, that the Jewish factor in
the war Is nothing less than the whole "a.
sponsloii,ty Tor IT; that it was affair OF
jewish iinancers or wire-pullers, or perhaps
as one OF my anonymous correspondents
plains 10 me. consequence of the vermin- like
multiplication Of the Jews In Germany which
unhappy land having thus no room for its own
race was compelled to look for "a place in the
sun. (The Jews Of Germany, ! may remark
are less than l per cent or the population)
Cruel Position of the
Jews in Warning Countries.
You Will now be also in position to appre-
oiate the suggestion OF the London Times that
the Jews are the instigators Of the Armenian
massacres, and although the Journalists harp
on Tsar Ferdfnands nose las though It were a
Jews harp and writer in the Fortnightly
Review dwells with JUNCTION on THAT some what
Judaic nose OF the Kaiser. through which no
speaks with distinctly Judalc snuffle." you
Will not, CINE, deduce that jewish JesuItry
has ket its scions the thrones OF Bulgaria
and Germany in order to destroy Britain
The proposition that the Jews do not exist
requires, however, a slight notification
Though the race has cohesion as q peopl.
yet where It exists In large numbers 1t forms
sub'uationaities. and these do constitute
political entities, sometimes exercising as in
Austria. that hotch-potch OF races a certain
autonomy. BY far the chief OF these sub
nationaties is the Jewry Of Russia, recently
calculated at six millions population larger
than that OF Palestine in the days of Solomon
There Russian Jews half the Jews OF the
world and almost the whole Jewish problem
The Jews of England are TOO few 10 he re.
sarded rs a sub.nationality, they are merely
small dissenting sect not inoeed reaching half
million IN the wnoie British Empire, includ-
Ing South Africa, where a Mark Twain might
DE forgiven for saying he personally knew two
millions. Between all these hyphenated sub
nationaties and localized sec,s there is nor.
may rs much repulsion AS attraction but the
latent knship flames UP under the persecution
OF any fraction and the million Jews O, New
York who are said TO he capable OF swinging
Presidential election and whose attitude
toward Russia resembles the Amerlcan-rish
role in the Home Rule struggle may be re-
sarded distinct factor IN the war, indeed
the only Jewish factor; not antiBritiah but
certainly not pro-ally.
Mr.. Jacob schiff. the most powerful Jew
in the States, refused to touch the war.lonn
unless with guarantee-which WAS refused
that part OF the money should 60 10 Rus.
sla. Though Germanborn he was quite will
ing to help England. but As the fnancier OF
the Japanese war against Russia, he refused to
stultify himself The Jewish Ideal is OF course
the antithesis of the prussian. and It also
happens that the Jews In the field, beginning
With some half a million Russian Jews arc
overwhelmingly on the side OF the allies
Yet II would be false to claim them IA
pro.ally force, for they have merely obeyed
local patriotism, elaying another at it's
bidding. and in Germany they are the brain
power behind the Throne One body, indeed
OF Jewish soldiers. the Zion Mule Tran sport
Corps-recTIited for the British army out OF
the refugees from Palestine, and constituting
the first Jewish regiment since the year 1873
doea represent an independent choice Of sides
for It was inspired BY faith in England and