THE RESTORATION OF THE JEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 110, 13 May 1867, Page 3

THE RESTORATION OF THE JEWS.

The Jews, socially and politically, are in a most favorable position to repossess themselves of the Promised Land, and organise a free and liberal government consonant with the advancement of the age. In Poland, Wallachia, Prance, and Prussia, and wherever the illiberality of European G-ovemments has not interposed obstacles, they are practical farmers. Agriculture was once their chief employment — but their old land is now desolate, according to the prediction of the prophets? hut it is full of hope and promise. The soil is rich, and the magnificent cedars of Lebanon show its strength on the highest elevations. The climate is mild and salubrious, similar to that of our own State, and double crops in the lowlands are annually garnered. Everything is produced — the greatest variety of cereals, vegetables, and timber. "Wheat, corn, barley, rye, oats, cotton, mulberry, grape, orange, fig, pomegranate, peach, apple, plum, nectarine, pine-apple, and all fruits of the tropical as well as of the temperate region, flourish everywhere throughout the land. Commercially speaking, the rehabilitation of the Holy Land would be of great value to the whole world. The several ports of the Mediterranean, which formerly carried on a thriving traffic Avith outside nations, can be advantageously reoccupied. Manufacturers of silk, wool and cotton, could furnish all the Levant and the Asiatic countries with useful fabrics. Within 20 days travel of the Holy City over 3,000,000 of Jews now reside. There cannot be less than from eight to ten millions of the " chosen people" remaining on carth — descendants from Judah, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Of the missing ten tribes, some writers think they are in Persia, China, Hindostan, and the American Continent. And although it is impossible to calculate their numerical strength, they, too, can be computed at an equal figure. Many retain the strict observance of the Mosaic law, whilst others observe the rulings of the Talmud and commentaries of Sanhedrim. In some portions of the Orient they combine both in their religious observances. Reforms have been adopted as the advance in civilisation and education demanded, but they are merely changes in the ritual and modes of worship, without trenching on any of the cardinal principles of the faith. The whole sect are in a position, so far as relates to intelligence, education, industry, undivided enterprise, variety of business pursuits, science, a love of the arts, political economy and wealth, to adopt the initiatory step for their restoration to the land of their forefathers. -American Paper.