The Maccabaean

Dr. Wise on Jewish Democracy

Abstract of the address delivered at Philadelphia, Sunday evening, May 30, 1920, by Dr. Stephen S. Wise, at the meeting to consider the question of a permanent American Jewish Congress.

For two years we have presented a united front. The American Jewish Congress has made it possible for the Jewish people of America to speak with one voice. If the Jewish people have been heard with respect, it has been in no small part due to the fact that they were known to have put aside all divisiveness and factionalism and to be speaking as the democratically chosen and mandated representatives of American Jews.

I can never forget the impression made upon the British government and people by the announcement in the British press in December, 1918, while I was in London, that the Jews of America in congress assembled had with unanimity voted in favor of a resolution calling for a British trusteeship over a Jewish Palestine—an impression deepened by the circumstance that, as I put it to a member of the British government, the men and women making up the congress were not hand-picked or self-constituted, but chosen according to democratic methods by a people free to choose.

Whether the time has come for Jews to put aside the democratic direction of their own affairs is really not in question. This cannot be in question at a time in the history of the race which finds men ever increasingly impatient of those benevolent overlords ready to speak to and for the people but not with the people. Long ago the Jew decided: "No man shall speak for me who refuses to sit down and meet with me—who will not speak with me." The Jewish people will not permanently trust any man who is distrustful of the people, —their common sense, their wisdom, their capacity for discerning and willing the right course.

Only one reason might conceivably, though not really, justify the position of those who declare that there is no further need for an American Jewish Congress, namely, if the Congress had managed its affairs unwisely and blunderingly, if it could be shown to be hurtful rather than helpful to the highest interests of the Jewish people. But, in truth, not even the bitterest among the anti-Congressists makes any such claim. The truth is that, save for one or two exceptions, a congress, that is, a democratically chosen body of Jewish representatives, is opposed altogether by such as have always opposed any attempt of the Jewish people to have a voice in the direction of their affairs. And this in the face of the pathetic readiness of the Jewish people at all times to accept leadership, however dubious and mediocre, but awakened at last, thank God, to the truth that disaster must follow upon the course of a people which loves freedom and its ordered democratic processes, and yet is ready to forego this at the demand of a cautiously self-limiting benevolence by the few or an incautiously unlimited contempt of the many.

During the crowded years of war and near-peace, we have stood together and spoken as with one voice. Are we now to grow fearful of taking counsel together, lest it be alleged that we are hatching another Jewish conspiracy? Are we to be frightened from an attitude of self-respect and the purposes of self-determination because of the contumelious story or stone of the enemy? The enemy, unscrupulous and destructive, might conceivably wonder at those Jewish committees and conventions made up altogether of the well-to-do and powerful, but he can hardly bring himself to question the purpose of an assembly such as this, made up largely of the lowly and ill-circumstanced of our people, whose sole power lies in their resolution unitedly to demand justice for themselves and for all peoples.

To forbear from meeting as Jews, to protect Jews from hurt, and to guard the honor of the Jewish name, lest we be misunderstood, were moral surrender—even spiritual suicide.

If it be resolved by the democratically chosen representatives of the Jewish people that they are bound in self-respect and honor to organize a conference or congress, it will be the part of wisdom for all Jews to join in the proposed deliberations and actions. But if it be willed otherwise—and there are hereafter to be two or more voices when Israel ought to speak as with one—the fault will lie not

with the many who have the right to speak for themselves through those by them trusted and chosen, but the fault will lie with the few who usurp the right to speak in behalf of the many.

It is not too late for all Jews, whatever their voluntary service in the past, to join with all their brothers in safeguarding the rights and in serving the honor of their people. It is too late for all Jews to accept the undemocratic, un-American, un-Jewish method of dictation from above, however well-meaning in intent, however soft-spoken in manner. All Jews are greater than any one Jew or any committee or council of Jews. No Jew can save the body of Israel; but Israel can save the soul of every Jew who views Israel as the master and himself as his people's servant.

A copy of the first number of the Jewish Journal of Commerce, which is being issued in London, has been received by THE MACCABAEAN. The journal is printed in both English and Yiddish, and is unique in the respect that it is the first Jewish trade journal of its kind. The object of the journal, set forth by the publishers, is as follows: "The Jewish Journal of Commerce has for its main object the strengthening of trade relations between Palestine and the Diaspora countries. Now that San Remo has decided that the Jewish National Home should be built up in Palestine, a rapid development of the commercial and trade possibilities of Palestine may be expected. The Journal will show the Jews in Eastern countries the sources of supply from the Western countries, especially of Great Britain, and vice versa, and draw the attention of British manufacturers and exporters to the advantages of developing trade with the Eastern countries through the Jewish merchants, who play an important rôle there and who hitherto have not been appreciated to the fullest extent. The Journal has for its sole purpose commercial interest, and will take no part in political questions."

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