The greatest achievement of the new Zionism was the Jewish Congress――the supreme authority in the movement based upon democratic principles――and the creation of a world-wide organization for the resuscitation of the Jewish nationality and for the regaining of Palestine, not by brute force or political adventure, and not by any act against the government or the population of the country or any other government or nation, but by force of conviction, enthusiasm, devotion and self-sacrifice. _M._ Zadoc Kahn (1839‒1905), Grand _Rabbin_ of France, addressed a letter of congratulation to the first Zionist Congress. The Grand _Rabbin_ wrote that he would not fail to follow with much interest the deliberations of the Congress. Whatever might be thought as to the utility and opportuneness of the Congress, it could not be denied that it merited every attention. Differences of opinion were inevitable, but he prayed with all his might that God might guide and inspire all the leaders of the movement, and that the debates and the resolutions which would be arrived at would be for the benefit of Judaism throughout the world. In an interview on the subject of the Zionist movement, which took place immediately after the first Zionist Congress, _M._ Zadoc Kahn spoke in the highest terms of Dr. Herzl. “This man of faith is also a man of action. He is an apostle, but an apostle who is doctor of political economy. I know he occupies a distinguished place in the Austrian Press, and that he has excellent relations in the highest political spheres. But he appears ready to sacrifice all for the triumph of his ideas.” _M._ Zadoc Kahn then criticized in very mild terms the exaggerated “pessimism” of Herzl’s pamphlet, “The Jewish State,” and after dwelling on the religious aspects of the question, he concluded:―― “The sympathy of the French Jews, now awakened, is assured to the Zionists. To ridicule or condemn a project when this project carries with it hope, and thus consolation, to thousands of co-religionists who are molested in their quality as Jews, this the French Jews have not the right to do.” In opening the proceedings of the final day of the Congress, Herzl announced that several letters and telegrams had been received. The only one he would mention was that sent by the Rev. Dr. Moses Gaster, _Haham_ of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews in England, who wrote to express his sympathy with the objects of the Congress. CHAPTER XLIX. THE MOTIVE FORCES OF ZIONISM Modern _Hebrew_ literature――The _Chovevé Zion_――The pioneers in Palestine.