New-York tribune., 1917-12-11
Jews New Liberty May Thwart
Fulfilment Of Zionist Hopes
Fall of jerusalem Brings Realization Near but Ambition
Which Thrived During Persecution May Lose
Force Now Russia Is Free

not consider il in that light. They
expected the Jews TO come 70 them on
their knees and beg 70 be received IN
their midst. where they would hnd a
much higher civilization than their
own. The jew would not bow or cringe
and persecution followed TO break ms
stiffneckedness.
But as soon as such treatment began
the Jews naturally hated their per
sccutors and retired more TO their own
srbcre. where they found comfort and
solace in their religious and national
hopes.
Oppression Intcnsifies Zionism
/, is considering this trend Of events
that leads one to understand better the
great modern Zionist leader. DR.. Iheo-
dore Uerzl. who asserted that 1T wss
NOT the fault of the Jews that they
b did not become part and parcel OF the
nations among whom they were driven
but il was the fault OF the nations who
did not open their arms TO receive them
when the Jews were willing to come
And so the Jewish national hope,
Zionism. was kept alive during all
those centuries.
Studying Jewish history with open
eyes. we perceive how Iionlsm was
ductuating in times Of liberal treat
monts on the part of the nations, and
how again il became intensified when
persccutions against the Jews ensued.
Zionism. the desire to return to the old
home. is thus rather the result OF the
actions Of the nations among whom the
Jews sojourned.
In the latter part Of the nineteenth
century and even in the first decade OF
the present century. very few Lionlsts
were found among the native Jews IN
the United States, England, France
and even Germany. Zionism came to
the front only as a result OF the
noqroms in Russia, Of the bsrbaric
treatment i'm Runania and of the
pressure against the Jews in Galicia.
Jews in liberal countries came to the
conclusion that their prosecuted breth-
rem must have a haven Of rest some
where on the face Of the globe, and
that Palestine would, under the cir
cumstances. be the best place for them
Ia have a home Of their own, where
they might come and 20 whenever they
Dleased. Hence. modern Lionlsm was
born with defined policy to have a
Jewish home legally guaranteed by the
nations.
We thus come TO the conclusion that
Zionism is not spontaneous senti-
ment or desire, but something that was
forcibly kept alive by the nations
among whom Israel was driven. How
ever. Zionism is fact 10 be seriously
considered The movement lately be-
came deep-rocted almost throughout
Jewrv, and even the most powerful an
tagonists. If not convinced. were at
least Silenced and vanquished By the
clamoring of the overwhelming ma
jority.
Persecution Strengthens Jews Resolve
We will now approach the second
question:
Will the Jews rebuild their old moth
crland If il is given 10 them? The his
tory OF modern Greece is somewhat
akin to the history of the Jews. The
Greeks under Turkish subjugation suf-
fcred keenly under Moslem persecution.
Their national sentiments, however.
rose and fell according to the treat
ment they received at the hands Of
their tormentors.
Greek historians admit that were
it not for the barbarities the Turks
inflicted on their countrymen the
Greek people would have abandoned
their ancient Church and actually
embraced Mahometanism. The Greek