The Denver Jewish news., 1919-04-02

Times, says: There is the practical
bjectiOn-a,ainst the budding to-
sethcr in II confined nrrtory of en-
ormous numbers of the Jewish peo-
pie. As every one ksows. Palestine
is small it could never support the
millions of Jews who live in countries
where Jewish persecution is a matter
of common occurrence. That huddlng
together has had n baneful effect in
Russia. Rumania. Galicia, and Poland.
The result would he continuance OF
these disadvantages in the proposed
new homc.''
No Zionist of spark of intelligence
any forcing of Jews to Palsetine. or
any appeal to any except such as are
led by race-idcalism on the one hand.
or by the need of getting away from
an unsuitable environment. on the
ether.
Mr.. Kahn's prominence and infIu-
cnce perhaps make il desirable that
should correct some of his other mis-
takes, for the benefit of others who
may NOT understand the real nature
and probable effects of Zionism.
| Mr. Kahn says: "Thc Jews of Pal
estine are a small minority of the pop
ulation. Will the other people who
live there consent to domination by
this minOrity?"
! Nobody intends to ask such consent.
Palestine will be autonomous. with
equal opportunity for all. The Jews
believe their energy and aspira ations
and culture will give them the leader
tShip. I have seen no request TO the
Powers for special favors 10 the Jew
ish population. l take it that If any
other race wishes to found II Univers-
ity in any other language it will he
free to do so. or in any other way
to gain intellectual or political leader
, ship. Numbers alone do not give the
last word in region like Palestine,
where the component parts of the pop
| iilation are in such different states
Of development. but the Jews would
certainly not try to force Jewish cul-
tire on other peoples. even if the
whole matter were not under the
supervision of the League of Nations.
| This IL characteristic of the critic
| isms Ieyeled at Zi0nism, in that 1t
taxes a purely imaginary view of the
| facts.
The objection that Mr. Kahn puts
first is perhaps the one that has the
easiest popular appeal. He says: 1T
creates a divided allegiance. AS he
tween our country and its Stars and
Stripes and Zion with its white flag
| with the blue star. The Zionists. even
in this country. are bent upon fol-
lowing their flag. The real American
lew knows hut one flag. the Stars
and Stripes. The American jew sings
the Star-Spangled Hammer as his ma
tiOnal anthem. The Zionist sings The
Hatikvah'' as his" Now aS matter
/ Of fact the citizenship of the Jews Is
constantly, altho almost always un-
| fairly, criticized today. Iinnisni
promises to decrease this criticism.
not to increase it, Who questions the
| Americanism of our friend Patrick he
cause of his warm sentiment for Ire
land? Was ii wrong for Col. Roose-
welt to be proud of his Dutch blood.
| Is ii wrong for mt to he interested
| IN my English tradition? Does Mr..
| Coutiert's French culture hurt his
| Americanism? No. Such backgrounds
do not lessen patriotism. They enrich
ii. Between two Jews, one of whom
takes no interest in the notable ana
exceptional qualities of his race. and
| the other of whom is alive with the
beauties of Isaiah and with the vision
of further services rendered to man
by Jewish spiritual thought, do not
tell me that the former will make
finer, more elevated. more contribu-
! tive American than the latter. III
three million idealists live in Palcs-
tine they will hold up a torch. need
ed in n world tending toward uni.
! formity. They cannot possibly by the
vision they portray tempt the Ameri-
can Jew away from devotion to the
best in American civilization: the,
suggestion of such II danger is ridi-
culous enough to carry its refutatioh
on its face.
Mr.. Kahn's remaining argument is
that persecution. in those countries
where Jews are now prosecuted, would
lie excused and increased by Lionisn
In my opinion the exact opposite
would happen. We hope to bring about
/ a great spiritual broadening thru the
Covenant of the nations. VIII the
Poles or Czekhs because there are now