Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-01-06
IsRAEL's LOST TRIBES.
Interesting Theory Of the Origin Of
the Japanese.

teen centuries, and whose solution ID
apparently, as distant today as that
on which the question was first
broached, is the ultimate fate Of the
descendants Of the Israelites-the Ten
Tribes-whom Shalmaneser took in
to captivity on the overthrow Of the
Kingdom Of Israel. The lost Tribes
have been found at different times
In all parts Of the world. Their
alleged discovery on the Ameri-
can continent was one Of the
causes that led to the return OF
the Jews-the descendants Of the
subjects Of Judah-to this country IN
the middle Of the seventeenth century.
The Anglo-Israel theory has been
quoted by Anglophobes as the rea-
son for the English hostility to Ma
poleon and the sympathy Of this
country with Dreyfus. The remnant
Of Israel has been located In Poly
nesia and the Sahara BY one set
of theorists the whole Of Europe is
said to be peopled by the descendants
of Israel. Afghanistan, Tartary. Abys-
sinia, Arabia, all have their advo-
Gates as the home Of the remnant.
Wales has been pointed to as the n
nal refuge, while on the other hand,
1t has been suggested that the last
Of the wanderers disappeared when
Atlantis sank into the ocean. An
~ tcfo nnnfnnda
that the people never went into cap
tivity at ALL and that their descend
ants are still to be found In the
Holy Land, and a further one argues
that the district in which the cap
tives were placed by Shalmaneser
still holds their descendants. When
ever any little known part Of the
world comes into prominence the
Lost Tribes are inevitably found
within its limits. During the native
disturbances in South Africa some OF
the local tribes were identified with
those of Israel. When China came
prominently before the public eye a
few years ago, Israel was traced to
corner Of that vast Empire. Now that
Japan has become the cynosure OF
every eye, the foes Of the Russians are
hailed as the lost ones Of Israel, come
to avenge the wrongs Of their Jewish
brethren. This theory, extravagantly
fantastic as it is, is believed so sin
cerely by some that It has been held
In parts Of Russia as a reason for
avenging defeats by the Japanese on
the Jewish subjects Of the czar, and
combined belief in the Anglo-1srael
and the Japano-Israel theories has ex-
planned to observers, not confined to
Russia, but to be found throughout
the continent, the sympathy the Eng
lish feel with the Japanese in their
struggle. ...
To explain the Japano-Israel theory
one might almost adopt the satire Of
the German humorist, Julius Stetten-
helm. He has discovered six reasons
that, in combination. prove the Jewish
connections Of the Japanese. In the
first place, Herr Stettenheim points
out the Russians have noticed that
they are beaten on almost every day
Of the week excepting Saturday, and
that on that day the Japanese do no
work except to pursue the enemy
when there is a danger of their escape.
The second argument Is that hogs are
raised by the Japanese merely to feed
foreigners, and not for their own use.
The name OF the capital of Japan Is
derived from the Hebrew, "Kekio Ge-
doulo," which denotes that the city
was founded after some great victory.
The name Wei-hai-wei is derived from
the Jewish expression, "Ai-Wei' an
exclamation Of grief. This suggests
Japanese misfortunes in connection
with that port. The fifth argument In
favor Of the theory is the mutual ha-
tired between Russia and Japan. FL
nally, the name of the official organ
Of Japan is "Tchuwo," the Hebrew
equivalent for answer or repentance.
The bases Of the theory Of the sim
cere believers are almost as ridiculous.
The story Is that the victims Of Shall
manesers captivity wandered In the
confines Of the earth in the northeast
and the northwest From these who
chose the latter direction the English
are descended. The other branch
found a resting place in Japan. In
730 B. c. Japan was invaded by an
alien race, under the leadership Of
their King Hoshea, (Hoshea was the
last King Of Israel,) and he became
the first Of the 126 emperors Of the ia
panese line. A very ancient painting
Is mentioned In which Is depicted the
invasion Of Japan by Israelites. The
king is seated on a raft. Soldiers
supporting the tables Of the law and
carrying hammers and picks surround
him. The king wears the crown OF
Judgment. Other figures represent
Judges clad in black robes and hats,
said to resemble the uniform Of the
rabbis, whatever that may be. The
procession Is brought to a close by
porters bearing the ark Of the cove
nant. The account is on the whole,
somewhat reminiscent Of the tradi-
tional DANTE landing In Ireland under
Jeremiah and Baruch, when the Liza
Fail was first brought to Irish soil.
Half a century ago another theory
was evolved by a European Jewish
resident in the far East. The south
most of the main islands Of Japan
is connected with Formosa by long
chain of small islands, the Loo -Choo-
an group. Their inhabitants are OF
two races, the Japanese proper In the
north and the Loo -Chooans, or abor-
igines, throughout the group. 1t was
in one Of the little known centres Of
this group that the aforementioned
European Jew lived. From the ac-
count he has left he seems to have
been a merchant who had adopted
medicine as a hobby, for he complains
of the unwillingness Of the natives
to accept his attention and their pref
erence for suffering, since their own
medicine men were unable to relieve
them. The country was both unat-
tractive and poor In fauna, flora and
everything else. The inhabitants, ac-