THE MACCABAEAN
It is to be hoped that The Con- every Zionist organization vention. throughout the country will be represented at the Convention which is to be held in Philadelphia. Whilst we have no doubt but that the Zionist organization has grown in the United States during the past year, yet it is but honest to admit that the American secion of the movement has been less forcible, and less forceful than any of the European organizations. We have neither had the opportunities of our African colleagues, nor yet those of the Zionists in England. The Convention is our opportunity, and we should not lose sight of it. Certain facts should go home to the hearts of the members of every Zionist organization throughout the country, and should also guide all delegates.
As we stand to-day, far and away the poorest of the Jewish movements in the United States, ours is still the only real live Jewish organization, virile with thought, animated with ideals, and hopeful for the future. There are men who laugh at us and we cannot deprive them of their laugh, but it is the laugh of the mentally idle, who know nothing, think nothing of to-morrow. There are movements around us that count their treasury by tens of thousands of dollars, movements that are old and representative,—but the leaders of such movements are continually replacing thought by words. They are without a message for this or the next generation.
Zionism is definite, and as ideals go concrete in its formulation.
By reason of the death of Theodor Herzl this movement is believed to be on its trial. Every Zionist organization must answer that criticism by being in its place at Philadelphia in order to prove that despite Herzl's death, Jewish thought is tending towards Zionism. The first thing therefore is a first rate enthusiastic convention.
ELSEWHERE in these editorials we deal with the general policy of the movement. It would be sinning against our own theory for the movement if we were in these pages to formulate anything like a set policy for the delegates who are to assemble in convention. Dangerous as it may sometimes be, unpolitical as viewed from the machine brand of politics, we believe in the delegates going into the convention with a head full of ideas and absolute freedom of action, except for the instructions they may have received from the organizations they represent.
Without, therefore, framing a policy for the convention, we would point out what should be cardinal principles in the formation of a policy for this movement in America. During the last few years our movement has been free, open and without a "machine." Every other Jewish body has borrowed the methods of the political bodies, and is accordingly becoming ossified in itself and useless as an instrument for general good. This freedom should be maintained. It is in no danger to-day—but to-morrow must also be provided for.
For the organization as such there is ever growing need for propaganda, and every thing should be sacrificed for that.