Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-05-25
NEW ERA OPENING.
FOR JEWS As OLD.
FEELING vAN|sHEs.

the past few weeks, both from Russia
y and from Palestine, points to the OPP
ening of a new era for the Jewish
race" declared Sir Alfred Mond in an
interview. Sir Alfred, who holds the
post of First Commissioner for Works
in the Lloyd-George cabinet, is the only
Jewish member of the present minis
try.
In Russia he explained. the rev.
olution brings the promise Of complete
political emancipation; in Palestine,
the British advance indicates in the
rear future the realization of some
modified form of a national ideal which
most Jews have held dear for cen
turtles.
"Of the two events, the revolution in
Russia is much the more important
development SO far as Jews are con-
cerned, for it applies to 100000 of my
race. Nothing like this number could
possibly be affected by the maturing of
the Palestinian ideal.
with the the advent of a liberal
regime in Russia the sentiment OF
America has changed, and Jewish in
fluence, which was exerted on the side
of anti Russian feeling in America, is
now pro-Russian-a very remarkable
tut quite natural transformation.
Jewish emigration from Russia to
tie United States will now diminish,
for the conditions that made fer this
emigration no longer operate. Under
the new era the Russian Jews should
shed the characteristics which are
largely due to repression, to exclusion
from the life of the nation. Embraced
in the nation, they will be moulded BY
the national genius of the Russian peo-
Lle while retaining their own individ-
uality.
Russia will find now that her new
born Jews are tremendous asset.
Wherever the Jew has received full
liberty. as in England and the United
States, he has proved himself an en-
ergetic, enterprising and loyal citizen.
In MANY branches of industry, finance,
law and medicine, he has excelled.
when l was in New York the ire
nendous zest for educational progress
even the most illiterate of the Jews
who had migrated there. was one OF
the many things that impressed me.
I visited an extremely fine technical
school. built by the municipality of
New York, one of the finest institutions
of IFS kind | have ever seen, and there
was told that very large proper
ton of the pupils were children OF
the poorest Jewish parents who had
come from Russia.
Jews in Russia have never been hos
tile to the people of Russia, but only TO
the despotic form of government there.
and this hostility undoubtedly played
a great part in feeding the repugnance
which democratic America discovered
Turning to the opportunity opened
up for the Jewish race in Palestine by
the entrance of the British armies, Sir
Alfred said: Are the Jews suitable
for the agricultural life which musf
be the basis of the development OF
this sun-enriched soil? Reference TO
the Jewish agricultural colonies es7
tablished in Palestine in recent years
gives an affirmative answer. THESE
colonies have achieved remarkable re-
suits and seem to point to the survival
of the old pastoral instinct OF the
Jews.
"T consider that the Jew has pc
cbliar aptitude for farming. II jews
are found today mostly in non-agrlcul-
tural pursuits, it is because they nave
Neen prevented for centuries from
owning land, so of necessity they have
congregated in the cities. I should ike
to see a much larger agricultural ele-
ment among my people, for the phy-
steal results to the race would be very
appreciate.
81 have yet to be convinced that the
foundation of an independent Jewish
state in Palestine comes within the
domain of practical politics, but see
no reason why guarantees should not
be given to the Jews there of the full
est liberty to manage their own local
Maffairs and for the protection OF the re-
suits of their labor"