The Zionist Movement

ZIONIST MOVEMENT. BY DR. J. M. TANNER, PRESIDENT OF THE STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, LOGAN.

Within the past three years, annual conferences have been held at Basle by eminent Jews throughout the world, who have had in view the restoration of the Jewish race to national life. These conferences are creating yearly more interest in the question of the return of the Jews to the home of their ancestors. More than forty years ago the movement toward Palestine began. Among the first to return to the home of their fathers were the Asiatic Jews, chiefly those speaking the Arabic language. They came from as far East as China, but mostly from Persia and the valley of the Mesopotamia. These early home-comers had little or no thought of colonization when they entered Palestine, but had been enthused with the idea that somehow or other it was a sacred duty to return to Jerusalem to die. On the western slope of the Mount of Olives they purchased burial places, some at fabulous prices. They were zealous to be buried within the shades of the walls which enclosed Mount Moriah, the spot where their sacred temple once stood. As early as fifteen years ago, this slope was

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fairly well covered by modest slabs of rock that simply marked the final resting places of home-wandering Jews. Little by little the population of Jerusalem was thus increased and other places, sacred to the memory of the Jews, were sought out, and Jews went there to live and die. The places next to Jerusalem most favored in Jewish thought were Tiberias, on the seashore, and Safed, a small town in the

hills of northern Galilee. Some of these Jews had limited incomes, barely sufficient to maintain a scanty existence, while others were in a destitute condition. Thus located in the land of their ances- tors and afflicted by various degrees of poverty, they made strong appeals to their wealthy brethren in Europe and America. Some- times these appeals fell unheeded, but stories of their sufferings and devotion soon awakened interest in the wealthier Jews whose alms ameliorated the sufferings of members of their race who apparently preferred to die of starvation, in the land of sacred and cherished memory, than to live in ease and comfort on any other spot of the earth. The restrictions of the Turkish government had been partially removed, and thus one by one the Jews wandered back either as pilgrims to Jerusalem, or with the avowed intention of spending their remaining days about this sacred city. The pilgrims left their alms, bought souvenirs, rendered what aid they could, and carried the story of their suffering brethren to their homes. And thus began the awakening of modern Israel. In that awakening, too, the idea that the country might be reclaimed, also began to take root. There were rich valleys and broad plains that offered a reward for honest labor. ,

In the meantime, the condition of the Jews in Russia and Roumania became a matter of deep concern to their more fortunate brethren of western Europe, and Baron Hirsch, who always had the interest of his unfortunate race at heart, began the establish- ment of a fund looking to the colonization of the Jews in foreign countries. The new colonization was intended as an escape from the arbitrary decrees of the czar, and Baron Hirsch began now to look about the world for some suitable place where his brethren could secure a livelihood by engaging in agricultural pursuits. Investigations were made both in the western and eastern hemis- pheres, and the spot which commended itself at that time most

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favorably to the consideration of those who were about to This establish these new colonies was the Argentine Republic. new land was a long way distant from the center of Jewish life. Many of the orthodox Jews, who had been accustomed to make of the pilgrimages to the Holy Land, felt that the establishment of Jewish nation in the Argentine Republic meant the deportation The the race farther and farther from the land they loved best.

effort met with strong opposition. It created an opposing faction, coloniza- who, although they did not offer Palestine as a place for tion, felt that the Argentine Republic was too far from home. It

civilization was 'away from the busy marts, from those centers of progressive Jews the best opportunities, and the which offered then often offered against the colonization of that coun- argument agricultural try was that it committed the Jews to an exclusively merchants, and not merchants, peddlers. life. They had been if

business of one kind or another in a large They had carried on a They were willing to abandon that life in part, or a small way. but they had stronger inclinations for mechanical and industrial

pursuits, for manufacturing of various kinds, than they had for

agriculture. The efforts met with less and less encouragement. The Jews were unwilling to go there, even though the most encouraging promises were held out. Finally the efforts of Baron Hirsch created a rivalry among his Baron Rothschild rich brethren, and

began the establishment of Jewish colonies in Palestine. For each family the latter built a small brick house, consisting of two or

three rooms. Each member of the family received the use of the house and the land for a specified number of years, and a stipend of so much per month for each member of the family. Jews were invited thither from Roumania and southern Russia. A half dozen

colonies thus began in the valley of the Esdrselon, but the most of them were located in the large plains of Sharon which skirt the

shores of the Mediterranean. In the beginning these efforts

seemed almost hopeless. The writer remembers visiting the colo- nies in the year 1886-7. The colonists had but little idea of pioneer

or agricultural life. They would sometimes leave the farm in the middle of the day, go into their homes, clear aside the little furni- ture that afforded them small conveniences, start up the fiddle and

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begin the dance. There was a lack of thrift and a spirit of idle- ness all around, and it really appeared as if the efforts of coloniz- ing the Holy Land must be entirely futile. But these discouraging features of colonial life were not regarded as insurmountable obstacles. Little by little the Jews

found wealth in the soil. Men took courage from neighbors' suc- cesses; splendid vineyards were planted, and it was found that the land was possessed of latent wealth. Other colonies were estab- lished. But the Turkish government afforded little opportunity for trade with the outside world. It was difficult to transport the products of the soil. There were no markets abroad. These economical problems soon began to attract the attention of the more thoughtful and business-like Jews throughout Europe. They felt that if commercial schools could be established, if factories could be built, and some suitable relationship established between the Jew in the Holy Land and the Jew abroad, business might thrive in Palestine as it had thrived centuries ago. At bottom, then, this recent Zionist movement is largely one of an economic character. It is also one that has forced itself upon the minds of thoughtful Jews by reason of the development that is now going on throughout Asia. Those who have followed the march of events in Asia Minor, who have witnessed the building of new railroads, who have seen what is likely to occur when the trans-Siberian railroad shall be finished, who look upon the partition of China as a foregone conclusion, who marvel at the wonderful developments of the Japanese race, need not be surprised that the Jews thought that Asia was to be redeemed, that the ancient seat of religion and civilization was again to come into prominence, that its rich soils, with the treasures of its mountains, were all to offer their abundance in response to the efforts and ingenuity of man. The Mediterranean, which had become almost as much deserted as the great Sahara, is now increasing its commerce and ships are traversing it in all directions, and it is clearly seen that Palestine must be, in some measure, in modern times what she was in the past —the great highway between the East and the West. The idea, therefore, of a return to the Holy Land has its historic justification. It has found its gradual development in the movements of the past forty years. It is also an economic one, for

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it offers great inducements for the future. And there is still another reason for this idea which is now taking growth in the Zionist movement. During the last centuiy there has been a gradual development of liberty for the Jews throughout all

Europe — Russia and Roumania excepted —and even in Russia there has been a growth of power, and in Europe there has been among the Jews an intellectual development that has created feelings of national pride. The Jew begins to feel his power, his place, and

his influence in the world as he has not felt them for more than two centuries. He is an important factor in politics as well as in commerce. The Jewish schools, within the last thirty years, have turned out some of the most brilliant and promising scholars of the world; and with the feeling of this power comes the thought of its exercise. I speak chiefly of the orthodox Jew who has no idea that his race can ever become assimilated with other races, or that his habits and religion will ever so change that he can take on The Jews have never so united the characteristics of other races. as to become a partisan factor in national politics. In America there is no Jewish vote. They do not consolidate in Europe to achieve any race advantages or national purpose. They are constantly overshadowed by the fear of anti-semitism. They prefer to surrender their privileges or forego their political rights rather than to venture upon a career which they feel sure must result in the strongest race prejudice, prejudice that may be as direful to the Jew as it has been calamitous in the past. They have the power, they feel it; how and where shall it be exercised? Not in a Jewish faction in other countries; that is really impossible. It must be exercised where the Jew himself constitutes the great majority, where the Jewish idea is the prevailing one; and there is no coun- try in the world, which the Jew can look upon, that affords as excel- lent an opportunity for working out the manifest destiny of his race, as he now sees it, as Palestine. So that within the last ten years new ambitions, new eco- nomic questions, religious rivalry, and race communion, have all conspired to create a feeling in favor of the Holy Land. Dr. Hertzl, an eminent journalist of Vienna, was one of the first to fully grasp the situation. He wrote a pamphlet on the subject. However, at first the appeal was little noticed, but it soon created

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an intense interest among the Jews. In 1897, a conference of those in favor of this movement was called to meet in Basle, Switzerland. It faced strong opposition, especially among the leading Rabbis of England and America. The commercial classes, as a rule, did not support it, but still it appealed strongly to the racial side of Jewish life. Zionism had its economic aspect, and Jewish economists were attracted by that. It had its religious aspect, and the orthodox Jews were attracted by that. It had its national aspect, and the young scholars from the universities were attracted by that. It offered an asylum for those of Roumania and Russia, who still feel the heavy hand of their oppressors, and they were attracted by that. Thus we see how it appeals to every phase of Jewish charac- ter and nationality. In the beginning, the movement was radically opposed. It was called Hertzl's folly. By some it was looked upon as something more serious than folly. It was thought that

it would arouse old antagonisms, that the Turkish government would oppress the Jew, there being more than 60,000 of them already in Palestine. It was believed that Russia, which has so much interest in some of the sacred places of Palestine, would strongly oppose any concerted movement, and that by these oppo- sitions new dangers would come to the unfortunate race. However, the Zionists were not daunted. Another conference met in 1898. It manifested greater life, and showed that there was a spirit of conciliation among the orthodox Jews of every land. The German Jew, the Spanish Jew, the Arabic Jew were there from both hemispheres, and in the sjmagogue at Basle offered a prayer in theHebrew tongue with an unanimity which betokened an enhtusiasm that the critics of this movement felt was entirely wanting. While the movement may have had its origin largely in a religious feeling, economic questions soon began to develop, and the third conference which was held in Basle, August 16th of this year, developed political aspects. The Chris- tian powers were to be sounded; the Sultan of Turkey was to be approached; a colonial trust company was to be formed, and alto- gether the movement has now so grown as to give assurance of permanent life. A corporation has been organized in London under English law. A trust company is now to be established

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carrying a capital of ten million dollars. Since June last more than a million of this sum has been contributed, not by the wealthy

Jews but by the proletariat of America and Europe. Thousands and tens of thousands of Jews are taking stock in this company, which has a final object in the purchase of land in Palestine and the aid of those who are already there, and it will further under- of take the establishment of factories as well as the development intention to acknowledge the the soil. The leaders assert their suzerainty of the Sultan. They want autonomy for local govern- ment. They will ask for commercial freedom, but are willing to pay a royalty to the Sultan of Turkey. national So imbued have these Jews become with the idea of life that they have already selected a national flag. It is to be the

six-pointed shield of David, in blue, on a ground of white. The new tenfold within societies aiding the Zionist movement have increased the universality the last two years, and whatever may be said about received strength of this movement, it is certain that it has already its activities along lines sufficient to make itself felt and to direct

of practical value. The number of Jews in Palestine at the present thousand. It is said time is estimated all the way from sixty to eighty inhabitants, but it may also that in that country there are 600,000 be doubted whether there is so large a number. A railroad has from Jaffa to Jerusalem, and one must sooner or already been built from Haifa to the interior, and beyond the Jordan. later be built Technical schools are established, and at the present time there is enthusiasm manifested among the Jewish race that an energy and is behind all this have never been felt since its dispersion. There movement, likewise, a moral force. The idea prevails among the the advancement of learning and Jews that they can promote that their sacred morality by adherence to their ancient religion; of Christians, and that a rejuve- records have been the inspiration fundamental principles which made nated life and a return to those the same blessings and advan- them great as a nation, will produce written word has furnished for the tages to the future that the past. It may be said in concluding, however, that there is no imme- Holy Land. The idea prevails diate intention of purchasing the that those who are there at the present time may be strengthened

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in their position, that new land may be purchased, and that step by step, agriculture and manufacturing may go on, and that in the meantime, the Jews are sufficiently strong in the world to afford a market for the products of their brethren in the Holy Land. But it is doubtful if this gradual process can be carried on. If it is, it

will be because of the difficulties which the Turkish government puts in the way of the movement. Many Jews will not wait for the action of the Turkish government. They will go there; they will make efforts on their own account, and if the progress of this Zionist movement is as vigorous in the next ten years as it has been in the past three, it is only a question of a few years before the transformation of the Holy Land shall begin, when its hillsides will be replanted by forests, when the streams will gush forth and pour their life-giving substance into the valleys below; and it is not beyond the possibilities of human reckoning to calculate that within the next two decades, five or six million Jews will find themselves established again in the land of their forefathers. We are at the close of the nineteenth century. It is an age of

electricity. It is an age of great financial schemes. Plans are barely made before they are carried into execution, and the new movement has an idea as well as an ideal, and in the long run, ideas shape themselves into history, and history is made so rapidly that we scarcely contemplate the possibilities before we are faced by the reality of great movements of this character. The Jew is in earnest. He has the energy, the wealth, and the intellect, and will soon attain the results of the present effort, and the conquest will be his. From this time on, the Zionist movement may be classed among the great problems of the world's history.