as given the world a wonderful renaissance by means of
its technical achievements; but at the same time its miraculous
improvements have not been employed in the service of humanity.
Distance has ceased to be an obstacle, yet we complain of insufficient
space. Our great steamships carry us swiftly and surely over hitherto
unvisited seas. Our railways carry us safely into a mountain-world
hitherto tremblingly scaled on foot. Events occurring in countries
undiscovered when Europe confined the Jews in Ghettos are known to us
in the course of an hour. Hence the misery of the Jews is an
anachronism--not because there was a period of enlightenment one
hundred years ago, for that enlightenment reached in reality only the
choicest spirits.

I believe that electric light was not invented for the purpose of
illuminating the drawing-rooms of a few snobs, but rather for the
purpose of throwing light on some of the dark problems of humanity.
One of these problems, and not the least of them, is the Jewish
question. In solving it we are working not only for ourselves, but
also for many other over-burdened and oppressed beings.

The Jewish question still exists. It would be foolish to deny it. It
is a remnant of the Middle Ages, which civilized nations do not even
yet seem able to shake off, try as they will. They certainly showed a
generous desire to do so when they emancipated us. The Jewish question
exists wherever Jews live in perceptible numbers. Where it does not
exist, it is carried by Jews in the course of their migrations. We
naturally move to those places where we are not persecuted, and there
our presence produces persecution. This is the case in every country,
and will remain so, even in those highly civilized--for instance,
France--until the Jewish question finds a solution on a political
basis. The unfortunate Jews are now carrying the seeds of
Anti-Semitism into England; they have already introduced it into
America.

I believe that I understand Anti-Semitism, which is really a highly
complex movement. I consider it from a Jewish standpoint, yet without
fear or hatred. I believe that I can see what elements there are in it
of vulgar sport, of common trade jealousy, of inherited prejudice, of
religious intolerance, and also of pretended self-defence. I think the
Jewish question is no more a social than a religious one,
notwithstanding that it sometimes takes these and other forms. It is a
national question, which can o