|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 5
The resolution was instantly adopted, amid the greatest excitement and
enthusiasm.
Little more business was done that day. The people present were so
excited with the hope of becoming a nation once more that they could
not bring their minds to consider any less important subject.
The next day, however, the Congress settled itself to a business-like
consideration of the plan. It was resolved to treat with the Sultan of
Turkey for the purchase of Palestine, and a committee was formed to
collect funds for that object, it being considered desirable to raise
fifty million dollars as speedily as possible.
The idea of recolonizing Palestine is not a new one. In 1840 the
generous Sir Moses Montefiore endeavored to start the scheme. Since his
day several other attempts have been made.
In 1878 some Jews in Jerusalem founded the first colony there, and
through the assistance of Baron Edmond de Rothschild, and of a Jewish
society in Paris, there are already five thousand Hebrews settled in
Palestine. They have a tract of land about six square miles in extent,
and have it in excellent cultivation, producing among other things an
excellent vintage of Bordeaux, which is a high grade of claret.
The present plan originated with Dr. Theodor Herzl of Vienna. He is a
literary man whose work is well known in Austria, and he is considered
well fitted to be the leader of this great movement.
Dr. Herzl says that he does not think there will be much difficulty in
making terms with the Sultan.
He visited Constantinople last year, and had two long conversations with
the Grand Vizier on the subject. While this minister did not answer Yes
or No to his project, Dr. Herzl says that he can but feel that the
Sultan was favorably impressed by it, as he sent him a decoration.
A "decoration" is a badge or emblem, such as a cross, star, flower, or
the like, which is bestowed by a sovereign as a special mark of favor or
in recognition of some great service. Medals received for bravery on the
field of battle are decorations.
Some of these decorations, or orders, as they are also called, are
extremely beautiful in workmanship and design. Each country has its own
special orders, a certain few of which are only bestowed on royalty, or
persons of very high rank.
Decorations are intended to be worn on the left breast. To attach them
to the clothing they are threaded on a ribbon which varies in color and
design for every order. In Europe, medals and orders are only worn on
full-dress occasions, but for ordinary use the proud owners of these
marks of distinction will wear a small strip of ribbon belonging to the
order.
These favors are not, as a rule, lightly bestowed, and the possessors of
the important European orders are rightfully proud of them.
The decorating of Dr. Herzl may have been nothing more than amiability
on the part of the Sultan, but it certainly showed that his Majesty was
not displeased with the doctor's mission.
The leaders of this new movement are not, however, pinning all their
faith on the Sultan.
If it becomes impossible to secure Palestine they will treat for a tract
of land in some healthy part of South America.
The land once secured, it is the intention to send a number of the
poorer Jews out to it.
These men are to be drawn from the laboring classes, and it is to be
their work to lay out streets, build bridges and railroads, etc., and
generally prepare the way for those who are to follow.
It is not intended to make any class distinctions of rich or poor, or to
send out a class of rich persons to profit by the work done for them by
their less fortunate brothers. The leaders of the movement will lay out
extensive works in the various kinds of building that we have mentioned,
and it is expected that the business these works will create will
attract settlers to the new country, who will start up foundries and
factories. It is the intention to furnish the colony with all the latest
improvements and inventions, and it is but reasonable to suppose that
the new land will soon become an important centre of industry.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|