The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-21
The yapanese.


The Japanese.
We ind the following interesting notice Of
the Japanese, in the California True Standard,
an excellent daily paper, edited by Eugene Cas-
serley, formerly member Of the New York bar
A more singular race than the Japanese is not
to be found on the surface of the globe. AS a
people, intelligent and cultivated in high de-
gree, they yet submit to despotism more CON-
plete than any other known. Ingenious and
skilful as the most advanced nations yet from
all we know, they are very deficient in invention,
adhering with remarkable and what may be
called obstinate pertinacity, to the forms and
models which have existed among them for CEN
turtles Shrewd, inquisitive and penetrating, and
remarkably fond of novelty, still they maintain
most rigorous non-intercourse with nations
whose people, manners, habits, customs, inven-
tons, riches, commerce, and possessions, as re-
ported amongst them by the few who have ever
lett their shores, must have excited their Curl
osity 20 the highest point Remarkable for the
spirit of commerce which their people possess,
they confine their adventures almost exclusively
to the domestic trade.
Possessing in great abundance, gold, silver,
copper, pearls, agates, jaspers, and other sub
stances, which have for ages been the object of
the utmost acqusitveness of, the people of
other nations-in the pursuit Of which they have
dared the dangers Of the seas, the heats of the
tropics, the cold Of the snow-cad mountain
peaks, and defed the fear of the pestencs and
the plague, and the savage races of both man
and bcast--to acquire which, they have negotia-
ted and fought, and conqured, and civilized and
christianized--in spite OF all this, the japanese
have succeeded in maintaining their non-inter-
course, and retiring within themselves, have kept
themselves in great measure unknown to the
world.
But the progress of events seems to forbid
that this state of affairs should continue much
onger. The eyes of the commercial world have
long been turned towards that country as very
promising field for mercantile adventure, and it
is hardly doubtful that, with the increased vigor
and daring which is continually displayed by its
votaries, there will be some way found by which
to obtain access to its favored, highly cultivated
and populous islands The chief question which
agitates the minds of those who reflect on it is,
by whom is the commerce of Japan to be opened
to the world! Will it be by the British or by
the Americans?
| The answer to this question is, that if it is
done peaceably it will be by the Americans, if
| by violence by the British. The Americans
know that willing trade is the most profitable
and agreeable--they can afford to wait little
while; in the long run, they will gain thereby.
The British must have new openings for their
commerre-peaceably, if they can, forcibly, if
they must. If the Americans do not succeed
now in insinuating an opening with the oppor-
tunity afforded them, they can wait for another,
and will wait The British, if the trade is not
opened, will, on some pretext or another forci-
bly, open it. II they do this it will nevertheless
rebound to the advantage of the Americans.
The Japanese will never be willing traders with
nations that compel them to deal with them ;
and the Americans with their superior energy,
enterprise, and commercial acumen, will speedi-
! ly supplant the British merchants.
These remarks have been drawn out by the
report that the seventeen shipwrecked japanese,
| brought TO our shores in the Auckland, are to be
returned to their own country by means Of
vessel specially chartered, and laden with goods
suitable for their market. The opportunity
thus afforded and which may result in the ac-
complishment of the so long desired end, of al
peaceable opening of commercial relations with
| the Japanese nation, is very favorable one, and
we hope may be successful. If not so at this
period, tie safe restoration of so many of their
people TO their own shores, must propitiate them
as people in our favor, and increase the prob
ability of successful result TO the unceasing
efforts which will be made to open commercial
relation with them, as our lines of steam vessels
which will shortly cross the Pacific ocean, open
up more frequent and regular intercourse with
China, and the adjacent islands Qncluding the
Japanese) lying on the eastern and southern
coast of Asia.