ists have concluded to build on a solid foundation—on mother earth—and cease to be a nation of “luftmenschen.” But while agriculture must needs be the foundation and our basis for growth, commerce, manufacture and industry will be the magnifı- <ent superstructures of the House of Is- znpl
Our work in Palestine in the immediate future, therefore, should be: (1) to increase the agricultural lands under Jewish control—for we now hold only about 1 per cent. of the area of Palestine; (2) to unify the Jewish colonies, so that by collective action they may take proper steps for the commercial and industrial development of the country; and, (3) to be ever ready with all our Zionist institutions for securing commercial concessions and industrial advantages from the political masters of Palestine, to the end that
we may erect in our Motherland a Jewish community that shall be socially, morally, and economically independent. Let us but succeed in rearing a social-moral community of Judeans, free to conduct its local affairs in a Jewish environment and on Jewish soil, and we may well forego the glitter and the burden of political sovereignty. On the one hand we have a land which is eminently fitted for supporting and developing a commercial race, but which has suffered from political misrule for many centuries. On the other hand, we have a people who are recognized as leaders in commerce and industry, but who have been deprived of opportunities for healthful life and industrial development on a sound basis. Let us make one grand effort to unite the two —to bring back the landless people to their old motherland—and we may obtain results of incalculable benefit to all mankind.
FAITH
The weird wind thrilled me with a blastAs through the midnight world I passed,And past me roaming to and fro,Men moaning as the wind did grow,Men groaning high and sighing low,I heard and O their pain was vast!When in that darkness thick and foulI paused, the wind passed with a howl,I thought I heard a human soul,I thought I felt the human woe;Lo, near me in this dreary wet,A voice I can never forget,Prayed "Lord, my faith is with thee yet.
I've felt the sweetest passions surge, Breathe, sweetly at divinest urge Of love and song which thrilled my soul; But in that fetid air and foul I heard the voice which made me whole, Which from the cripple did emerge; 'Twas not the voice of human creed I heard, but one from all bonds freed, A voice of faith, a godly deed, From out that ugly, bloodless scowl; Thy voice is sweet, my love, and yet, That voice I never can forget— "Lord God my faith is with Thee yet!"