ins and outs of the Turkish Government we can say but one thing: We shall try. If we could not obtain a charter, we will endeavor to obtain concessions. We are convinced that a time will come, and it is not far distant, when Turkey will realize that Zionism never and under no conditions can injure her as a Government; that rejuvenated Palestine, rejuvenated by capital and labor, can only strengthen the Ottoman Empire against the pretensions of the different powers. It is only necessary to prove to Turkey that we come not as a destroying, but as an upbuilding element. This can be achieved by means of concessions. By granting them to us Turkey does not submit itself to the guardianship of Europe
Universal progress compels Turkey to reformation and invites to her assistance international capital, to which it must grant concession after concession. Caeteris paribus, Turkey no doubt will prefer to deal with us than with the representatives of the great powers. Our opponents forget that the subjective will in a government life plays a considerably less important part than the objective necessity. The latter compels Turkey to go along the course of the capitalistic development; this opens the road to dicerent concessions. And, after all, we must repeat: We shall try! We have nothing to lose; on the contrary, we can only gain; everything is in our favor. As a matter of fact, colonies and industries can be established now in Palestine without concessions; the only thing that is necessary is to bring a plan into this work, and from a sporadic enterprise make it systematic. It is necessary to know and desire to know how to overcome all the difficulties.
This is the substance of the present condition of Zionism.
(The End.)
THE ARRIVAL OF MATHIAS ASCHER
Dr. Nathan Birnbaum, the prominent publicist and Austrian Jewish leader, arrived in New York the first week in January, and was met by a number of representatives of the Verband of Galician Jews and committees of the Zionist Council and the Austrian-Hungarian Zionists. Dr. Birnbaum, who has written both in German and in Yiddish, under the pen name of "Mathias Acher," was the secretary of the first Zionist Congress. In speaking of his present views, Dr. Birnbaum declared that he is a nationalist, and that he is in sympathy with every plan that may lead to the amelioration of the Jewish situation; hence his political activity in Austria. He endorses the practical work of Zionism which is striving to colonize Palestine, but at the same time Dr. Birnbaum is not opposed to the territorialist movement. Dr. Birnbaum said that the Polish chauvinists are still enraged at the Jews because of their defeat at the recent elections for the Parliament. But the Jews of Galicia were determined to continue their fight as Jewish nationalists with even more energy than before.
Dr. Birnbaum, who intends to spend a few months in this country studying the condition of the Jews in America, will deliver a series of lectures on Jewish nationalism. A lecturing tour may be arranged for him by the Federation of American Zionists.
Bridgeport, Conn.
The B'nai Zion Society, of Bridgeport, has subscribed $16 to the Yiddish press fund, which amount was collected from the following individuals: