Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-12-03
The Expedition TO Japan.

been talked Of and getting in readiness by the
Government OF the U. S. The precise object of
the expedition has not been stated by the Govern
mcnt. Probably they cannot tell, in advance,
what they design to effect. But whatever they
shall effect will doubt be the result of the en-
terprise. Japan is country which has resisted,
heretofore all attempts OF all outside barbarians,
to make or enjoy commerce with her numerous
subjects. As yet she remains entirely secluded
from all relations and contact with all the govern
mcnts upon the globe, unless except small
favor of trade which has been enjoyed by the
Dutch for some years past, and the unavoidable
commerce which has grown out of the close prox-
unity of China.
Japan enjoys the credit of being extremely
wealthy and very much advanced in some of the
arts. There is no doubt but that in some Wis
ionary minds, her wealth and cultivation has been
much overrated; but i'll nation where by irwin
chile law and iron custom the son is obliged to-
and has followed the occupation of his ancestors
back for thousands of years, it would be foolish
to deny, nay, impossible to doubt but that the
trades and arts of uicchanicans, as far as they
extended, were in advance of all other countries
on the face of the globe. To derive some advan-
tage from insight into the arts of those heather
as they arc displayed in the articles which the
handiwork of their creation, is doubtless one Of
the designs of the Government in this expedition.
Whether it may not tend to an indulgence of
costly luxuries by those of our mobiles, who, in
our eastern cities, have nothing TO do but invent
plans to get rid of and enjoy their surplus wealth.
and thus set bad example to the next class Of
aping imitators, is perhaps none of our business,
and need not enter into the discussion. Suffice it
to say, that Uncle Sam has fitted out costly cx-
petition and loaded it with presents Of every ma
turc-prescnts that are worthy of the nation and
indicative of the progress and wealth of the nation
which sends them out. Among the costly pres
ents are found all sorts of the luXurics which can
be obtained by wealth, in furniture and carriages
and almost royal cquipage. lie has also sent a
locomotive and with rails and fixtures for ten
miles of Railroad. Miles and miles of wire has
also been sent with the apparatus and necessary
conyenences for constructing Telegraph line.
These things are TO be put in operation for the
especial hewildcrmcnt of his Yellow Uighncss the
Emperor of Japan. The courtiers of his palace
and the mobiles of his realm will be invited to take
ride upon the cars, and be delighted at the fly
ing speed which will be exhibited; and for a va
riety we suppose that the whole use of the cars
will be exhibited and the days performance will
wind up with a regular "smash up, fn give oc-
cosion for about fifty burnings of beautiful widows
upon the funeral pyres of as many slain husbands.
All these and many more fine presents are to
be carried in q ship of war, well freighted with
guns, carbines, swords, powder, and other elc-
ments Of civilization and Christian refinement
What use is to be made of these latter mentioned
toys, has not, as yet, been disclosed. The people
of that country have polite, if not natural aver
sion to opening their ports and commerce to the
people of every other country. They are not
satisfied that they receive any advantage from
them in the way of science and the arts, while
thew fear almost to Il dead certainty that their re-
hgion viii suffer by contact with the heather
from other lands. They are rot sufficiently we'll
informed about this Christian religion which au
thorizes and sanctions human slavery and propa-
gates its teuets at the point of the bayonet and
steals its nciChbors land for the manifest destiny
Of its own wealth and glory. And who wonders
at it Z, The people of Jeddo are doubtless IS SEN
sbc as the people of New York, and know what
is about right with regard to the every day con-
Germs of life as we'll as they, if they do not
engage in fibustcring expeditions against the
territory of their weaker nci ghbOrs. Perhaps II
the guns of Uncle Sam vessels are commanded
Il h 6ro ooIh n1l M
and canister, and death, and havoc, and ruin right
in the face and eyes ofthcsc images OF God, which
happen to dwell land wish to remain unmolested)
in this Isle of the Sea, by themselves; we say
perhaps they will not be induced to think any
more of our civilization, religion or humanity,
and we hope, certainly, will not be disposed to
learn any practices which dishonors their gods or
debaScs themselves.
On the whole, we hope the expedition will con-
iuc itself to legitimate efforts and laudablc enter
prises in surveying new coasts and unknown seas
where the adventurous sailor, for honorable gain
is tempted 20 roam The North Pacific ocean
the China Seas, and the waters of tho Eastern
world will afford, we think, sufficient for the
display of all the scamanship and extra patriot
ism which may embark. In a laudablc enterprise
to obtain knowledge or commercial good, the
fleet will command the good wishes of all.
~ 1t will be rccollectpd by those living at the
Court end of the city that an Constitution" has
recently sprung up rejoicing in the delightful To-
calitv known rs the North East corner of the
Park. Whether this institution was erected or
deposited there for an ornamental, or merely
q useful purpose, we have never taken the pains
TO inqurc-and whether it was designed for
"pormancncy" like Susan Nipper, or "tcmpora-
ry" like a relative of the "Toodle Family" we
ara just as much in the dark-unless the dcvel-
opemcnts of the last few nights, which have tend
ed in great measure to confirm our convictions
OF the instability of human things, were designed
TO enlghten us fully upon the point, and satisfy
US of the probability of the story written in the
book of JONAH which states that the institution
which arose tor his convenience and comfort in
a night" likewise persisted in a night" Alas!
Temporal non nWtG'tur.
c. The Evening Post, of New York, is the
pretended friend of Freedom and Free Soil, and