need not be undertaken because they do
not exist, is, laying aside the scientific disputations, in one sense
begging the question. Whether the Jews are a racial unit, and whether
their preservation will result in a distinct racial culture, is
precisely what a successful consummation of the Zionist object will
prove or disprove with finality; and until such consummation, even
scientific theorizing on the subject will expose itself to the
unscientific process of working without the check of laboratory
experiment. To the scientist, Zionism offers Palestine as such a
laboratory. The religious opposition offered by Reform Judaism has
been previously discussed; however, it may be summed up in three
statements. An appeal to the implied meaning of the Scriptures can
only be authoritatively settled by the author. Granting, nevertheless,
that a suffering Israel and a missionary Israel are essentials in a
Divine plan, the establishment of a national center does not
dogmatically preclude Israel from continuing to suffer elsewhere, nor
forbid Israel from pursuing her missionary project of acting as a
model example and shining light to the nations. Quite the reverse;
inasmuch as the Dispersion is fast becoming a Destruction, which
Zionism is attempting to avert, the preservation of Reform Judaism
itself demands the success of Zionism.

Practical opposition is indeed ponderous, but not necessarily
insuperable. The majority of Palestinian obstacles, such as the
difficulties which the confusion of national tongues, culture, and
habits will impose on unification, the precarious chance of ultimately
securing legal recognition from Turkey, the possible obstructions
amounting even to conflict to be offered by the native Arabian
population, are distant bridges which the far-seeing may fear, but
which, the wise will not attempt to cross until reached. However,
three urgent perplexities and impediments are imminent in the danger
of securing only a low class of settlers, of suffering from
insufficient means, and of failing from diminution of interest. At
bottom, the three are one, and amount to the necessity of keeping up
the old heart and inspiring new hearts.

With a sufficiency of interest, the necessary money and the proper men
will find their way to Palestine; in a word, only a people can save
themselves, and, failing to do so, aside from scientific argument and
religious dogma, they remain no more a people. That this people may
not so