David Baron

“ Any student of politics must perceive, quick as lightning, that here is presented a valuable opportunity for providing an easy approach to Asia. On this post of civilisation, which will be speedily set up by the powerless Jewish people, under the suzerainty of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, no Power need look with apprehension. The Jews would be helped, others also, and at the same time ; but the greatest gainer of all would be the Turkish Empire. England, great England, free England, England commanding all the seas, will understand our aims. ”

“ But those who are in doubt overlook the fact that in all representative bodies nothing is done except to make speeches. And who
at every gathering, our first business is to clear away, with a few sharp axe-strokes, the fungus that has attached itself to the tree of Zionism. Notwithstanding all, we are happy to note that our tree is sound, is healthy, and is flourishing. Zionism seeks to find for the Jewish people a public, legally secured home in Palestine. This programme we established three years ago for ever. ”

“ In vain are we loyal patriots, in some places our loyalty running to extremes ; in vain do we make the same sacrifices of life and pro- perty as our fellow-citizens ; in vain do we strive to increase the fame of our native land in science and art, or her wealth by trade and commerce. In countries where we have lived for centuries we are still cried down as strangers ; and often by those- whose ancestors were not yet domiciled in the land where Jews had already made experience of suffering. ”

“ Gaster's answer to his question, but proceeded to observe that if a particular phase of the Jewish " religion " is meant, then he is determined that it shall be excluded from the dis- cussions of the Congress, "because we Zionists respect every form of religious belief. Our movement is a national one, and religious discussions would only divide us."
In justice to Dr. Herzl, and the other Zionist leaders, I must say that this does not necessarily imply that they are anti-religious, but that they have no regard for the strife between the various religious factions in modern Judaism. ”

“ Through- out the wide world there is but one spot left in which God's ancient people is not detested and persecuted. But, from the fact that Jews in this glorious land enjoy full freedom and com- plete human rights, we must not allow ourselves to draw false conclusions.
" He would be a poor friend of the Jews in England, as well as of the Jews who reside in other countries, who should advise the persecuted to flee hither. Our brethren here would tremble in their joy, if their position meant the attraction to these shores of our desperate brethren in other lands. ”

“ For the present, Zionism, like all Israel, is religiously a heterogeneous mass, embracing in its following all shades of belief and unbelief, held together only by the " National Idea." One can understand, therefore, the anxiety of the responsible leaders to keep questions of cult out of its programme. ”

“ As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched-out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you ; and I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched-out arm, and with fury poured out. ”

“ Asia is the diplomatic problem of the next decade.'
"These words of 1898 to-day sound banal, so amply have they been confirmed by the events of the last few months. The Asiatic problem grows from day to day more serious, and will, I fear, for some time be deeply tinged with blood.
" It is thus of increasing importance to the nations of civilisation that on the road to Asia the shortest road to Asia there should be set up a post of civilisation which would be at the service of civilised mankind. ”

“ There is no doubt that masses of Jews all over the world sympathise with this Zionist movement who are not yet formally enrolled members or shekel -payers, but I am informed that the delegates
ZIONISM AND THE ZIONIST CONGRESS 233
already in Basle this time represent 2,200 x mandates, of as many different constituencies. The minimum of the shekel is is. in England, 25 cents in America, and the equivalent sum in other countries. Some of the more popular Zionist leaders represent quite a number of different constituencies, but their vote only counts as one. ”

“ The answer is very simple : they are angry because the Zionists have unmasked the hollowness of their pretensions, and have shown them up to the world as strutting about with a lie in their right hand. These modern " reformed " Rabbis have tried to deceive them- selves and their followers into the belief, that their dispersion among the nations, instead of being a punish- ment for apostasy from their God, was, on the contrary, a blessing in fact the realisation of the Messianic ideal, for only as a Diaspora can they fulfil their mission of bearing witness to the nations. ”

“ To-day he makes himself ridiculous who denies the existence of the Jewish nation.
" One glance at this great hall, filled with delegates from all parts of the world, is sufficient, were there nothing else, to prove it. This fact means, not alone much for us, it also means some- thing for others. It not only opens up to every country a prospect of the settlement of the Jewish Question in a manner worthy of mankind, but it also contains at the same time the elements of a great perspective for the Orient. ”

“ Judaism is an immense hostelry of misery, with branches through- out the world, and you not only do nothing yourselves, but hinder others, who by this national movement try to bring to them a ray of hope. ”

“ To them, in their hopelessness and dejection, an angel appears, in the shape of a graceful female figure, representing Zionism, or "the National Idea," who lays her right hand on the shoulder of the dejected man, and with her left points eastward, where the sun of hope may be seen rising on their ancient fatherland, on the other side of the Mediterranean Sea. On the other side of this medal are words in Hebrew taken from Ezek. xxxvii., " Behold I will take the children of Israel from the midst of the nations and will bring them to their own land." ”

“ It was bad enough, I say, to hear all this from Christians, but for these leaders of Zionism to come and tell them "A plague on you and your so-called mission; the nations do not want us in their midst ; your antagonism to the national movement on the ground of ' the Messianic ' idea and patriotic love to the countries which have granted you civil rights, is but veiled hypocrisy, covering your selfishness, and fear lest your comfortable nests should be stirred. Should not the shepherds feed the flocks ? ”

“ One or two incidents in the continuous excitement of the last three days are specially worth noticing. One occurred yesterday morning, when, in the midst of an agitated discussion on the question of finance, a chassidic Rabbi I am not certain whether from Roumania or Galicia ascended the tribune, pulled out a manuscript from his pocket, and after reading in Hebrew and German Isa. Ix. 1-3, " Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee," &c., began to preach a sermon, the substance of which was a glorification of Israel. ”

“ Rabbis and yqur rich worldly-minded followers, who by their wealth, and at the cost of the sacrifice of Jewish principles,, have succeeded in gaining for themselves a position" in Gentile society what have ye done for the masses of your people ? "
In the words of Dr. Herzl's opening address " You are satisfied because your powers of imagination have been weakened by your favourable circumstances, and therefore are not able to understand us Zionists. But the poor and the wretched understand us ; they have the imagination created by distress. ”

“ We are one people our enemies have made us one in our despite, as repeatedly happens in history. Dis- tress binds us together, and thus united, we suddenly discover our strength. Yes, we are strong enough to form a State, and a model State. ”

“ Turning to the mass of Zionists who keep aloof from the Basle Congress, and who think they can accomplish their ends by a process of slow colonisation, he says :
" Some people wish to plant a population in the country without having beforehand made their entire plan public. If any one enters in the night and in the mist he must not wonder if he is met with the challenge, ' Halt ! ”

“ It is from this point of view that this Jewish Parlia- ment is nothing short of a miracle, which, unknown as yet to the great actors, is brought about by the power of God. Here is a people which for two thousand years has been supposed to be dead, and whom the nations have done their utmost to bury out of sight, who have even said to themselves, " Our bones are dried and our hope is lost ”