Rev. Nutjob and his Blackstone Memorial

[yankeedoodle]

The Blackstone Memorial

The Blackstone Memorial stands as one of the most glaring lacuna in the history of emerging evangelical fundamentalism.

Discontented with the "resolution of sympathy" passed by the Jewish and Christian conference vis-àvis Jewish suffering in Russia, Blackstone single-handedly took the initiative to pursue other avenues for Jewish support. He decided that the involvement of the American government could be used to put pressure on Russia and other countries mistreating the Jews. Consequently, he carefully worded a document suggesting the solution to Jewish persecution. The Jews would be given the opportunity to return to Palestine, their ancient homeland, where they would be at peace.
1. Preparation.

Blackstone sent a letter to Secretary of State James G. Blaine in February 1891 to inform him of his ideas concerning Jewish restoration to Palestine. He explained his petition's popular favor, and that it did not antagonize Russia.14 According to Blackstone, "Blaine evinced personal interest and promised to do whatever he could."15 Consequently, feeling led by the Holy Spirit to help the Russian Jews, Blackstone drafted "Palestine for the Jews," which became more popularly known as "The Blackstone Memorial."

The document read;

What shall be done for the Russian Jews?

It is both unwise and useless to undertake to dictate to Russia concerning her internal affairs. The Jews have lived as foreigners in her dominions for centuries, and she fully believes that they are a burden upon her resources and prejudicial to the welfare of her peasant population, and will not allow them to remain. She is determined that they must go. Hence, like the Sephardim of Spain, these Ashkenazim must emigrate. But where shall 2,000,000 of such poor people go? Europe is crowded and has no room for more peasant population. Shall they come to America? This will be a tremendous expense, and require years.

Why not give Palestine back to them again? According to God's distribution of nations, it is their home; an inalienable possession from which they were expelled by force. Under their cultivation it was a remarkably fruitful land, sustaining millions of Israelites, who industriously tilled its hillsides and valleys.

They were agriculturists and producers as well as a nation of great commercial importance; the center of civilization and religion.

Why shall not the powers, which, under the treaty of Berlin in 1878, gave Bulgaria to Bulgarians and Servia to the Servians now give Palestine back to the Jews? These provinces, as well as Roumania, Montenegro, and Greece, were wrested from the Turks and given to their natural owners. Does not Palestine rightfully belong to the Jews? It is said that rains are increasing, and there is much evidence that the Land is recovering its ancient fertility.

If they could have autonomy in government, the Jews of the world would rally to transport and establish their suffering brethren in their time-honored habitation. For over seventeen centuries they have patiently waited for such a privileged opportunity.

They have not become agriculturists elsewhere, because they believed they were mere sojourners in the various nations, and were yet to return to Palestine and till their own land. Whatever vested rights by possession may have accrued to Turkey, can easily be compensated, possibly by the Jews assuming an equitable portion of the national debt.

We believe this is an appropriate time for all nations, and especially the Christian nations of Europe, to show kindness to Israel. A million of exiles, by
their terrible sufferings, are piteously appealing to our sympathy, justice, and humanity. Let us now restore them to the land of which they were so cruelly
despoiled by our Roman ancestors.

To this end, we respectfully petition His Excellency, Benjamin Harrison, President of the United States, and the Honorable James G. Blaine, Secretary of State, to use their good offices and influence the Governments of their Imperial Majesties;

            Alexander III, Czar of Russia;
            Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Empress of India;
            William II, Emperor of Germany;
            Francis Joseph, Emperor of Austria-Hungary;
            Abdul Hamid II, Sultan of Turkey;
            His Royal Majesty, Humbert, King of Italy;
            Her Royal Majesty Marie Christiana, Queen Regent of Spain;

The Government of the Republic of France and with the Governments of Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, Roumania, Servia, Bulgaria, and Greece, to secure the holding, at an early date, of an International Conference to consider the condition of the Israelites, and their claims to Palestine, as their ancient home; and to promote in all other just and proper ways the alleviation of their suffering condition.16

[...]

Impact.

Because of the vigorousness of the debate, the Blackstone Memorial functioned to awaken the Jewish consciousness toward Jewish suffering and Zionism. Marnin Feinstein, who chronicles this debate better than any other, comments on the impact of the Blackstone Memorial:

Although this Memorial, its author, and the sharp reactions to his proposal have sunk into oblivion, the fact remains that no 19th-century document dealing with the Jewish question and Palestine, including Herzl's Jewish State, evoked as much editorial comment in this country as Blackstone's Memorial.

Whatever Blackstone's primary motives—and these may be justly questioned, his plan provoked heated discussions among Jews and non-Jews, eliciting reactions that, in many ways, foreshadowed the American reception accorded Herzl and his Zionism.26

The foregoing is excerpted from a much larger article about Rev. Nutjob that can be found here:

The Father of American Zionism: Meet The Psychotic Reverend Who Ruined Everything!
Say Hello to Rev. Nutjob, Mr. William E. Blackstone
https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2023/10/the-father-of-american-zionism-meet-the-psychotic-reverend-who-ruined-everything/