Herzl, Theodor, 1860-1904; Zionism; Zionists -- Austria -- Biography
Would any one ask whence the demand comes which creates the market? Is
it really necessary to tell them again?
I pointed out that by means of the system "Assistance par le Travail"
the return could be increased fifteenfold. One million would produce
fifteen millions; and one thousand millions, fifteen thousand
millions.
This may be the case on a small scale; is it so on a large one?
Capital surely yields a return diminishing in inverse ratio to its own
growth. Inactive and inert capital yields this diminishing return, but
active capital brings in a marvellously increasing return. Herein lies
the social question.
Am I stating a fact? I call on the richest Jews as witnesses of my
veracity. Why do they carry on so many different industries? Why do
they send men to work underground and to raise coal amid terrible
dangers for meagre pay? I cannot imagine this to be pleasant, even for
the owners of the mines. For I do not believe that capitalists are
heartless, and I do not pretend that I believe it. My desire is not to
accentuate, but to smooth differences.
Is it necessary to illustrate the phenomenon of multitudes, and their
concentration on a particular spot by references to pious pilgrimages?
I do not want to hurt anyone's religious sensibility by words which
might be wrongly interpreted.
I shall merely refer quite briefly to the Mohammedan pilgrimages to
Mecca, the Catholic pilgrimages to Lourdes, and to many other spots
whence men return comforted by their faith, and to the holy Hock at
Trier. Thus we shall also create a center for the deep religious needs
of our people. Our ministers will understand us first, and will be
with us in this.
We shall let every man find salvation "over there" in his own
particular way. Above and before all we shall make room for the
immortal band of our Freethinkers, who are continually making new
conquests for humanity.
No more force will be exercised on any one than is necessary for the
preservation of the State and order; and the requisite force will not
be arbitrarily defined by one or more shifting authorities; it will be
fixed by iron laws.
Now, if the illustrations I gave make people draw the inference that a
multitude can be only temporarily attracted to centers of faith, of
business, or of amusement, the reply to their objection is simple.
Whereas one of these objects by itself would certainly only attract
the masses, all these centers of attraction combined would be
calculated permanently to hold and satisfy them. For all these centers
together form a single, great, long-sought object, which our people
has always longed to attain, for which it has kept itself alive, for
which it has been kept alive by external pressure--a free home! When
the movement commences, we shall draw some men after us and let others
follow; others again will be swept into the current, and the last will
be thrust after us.
These last hesitating settlers will be the worst off, both here and
there.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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