The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-23

0ne AmPsxc OH Saponv - to0 Future Com. |
mcrelai Relataan' with the United States.
We publish, in this mornings paper, an article
the Japanese Empire, taken from the memoirs Of
captivity In that country, by Captain Golownin, of
the Russian Navy. II is relative to the produc-
lions and resources Of the magnificent islands en-
braced in that empire Wehave other articles, from
the same source, on the social and political condi-
tion of the Japanese, some of which we may hero
after give in our columns.
The government expedition to that quarter of
the world is phenomenon of modern times. and
happily in keeping with them. 1t has attracted nj
most universal attention, and will cause whatever
of value is published to be read with avidity.
The affair has created much excitement all over
Europe, and has revcrberated on the Asiatic 4
shores. The King of Siam has already made peace
with the United States and England, by throw
ing open his ports to those nations, and the Japan
are, by all accounts, in terrific CONSERVATION.
The impenetrablc mystery Of the authorship of
Junus letters made them notorious; the mysterious
and secluded policy efthe Japanese has also made
them notorious. To paraphrase well-known
passage
Concealment lends enchantment to the views
nation which has existed for z, 400 years, and
longer in utter seclusion from the rest Of the human
race, is to be overhauled and brought up to the
mark Of intercourse with the most enlightened
tons Of the world. What treat to the philosophic
mind will be the contrast! What theories and
practical results in the history and development of
the human race will be elected!
Let us inquire into the causes which have die
tated such exclusive and extraordinary policy.
The Japanese claim for themselves an antiquity ex-
tending considerably further back than the fabu-
lous periods of the ancient Egyptians. Their re-
| Al. g.
{ bred years, are uniform and minute and bear the
appearance Of general accuracy. The effect of
these fabulous traditions, believed by the body Of
the people, is the cause of their secluded spirit, and
is part of the government policy which deems it
conducive to their happiness, which some little TO
, reign experiences have confirmed, and to which is
added their fear of foreign broils Moreover, they
believe in distinct origins of the human race; for
how (remarks one Of their oracles) can Dutchmen
, and negroes be of the same descent! The Portu-
guese, after their discovery Of JAPAN about the
middle of the sixteenth century, with the view to
forward their interests, according to their custom
sent out Catholic missionaries, who admitted
to free to the interior Of the country, and
made large number of converts. This continued
for some ten years, when Teigs, the reigning EN-
peror, perceiving that the Jcsuits much more
eager to collect Japanese gold than to souls,
and having good for suspecting an attempt
ed conquest by the Portuguese resolutey banished
them, and by the most rigorous measures thoroughly
: extirpated Christianity and all Europeans. This
fact accounts for the calumnes by the Jesuits and
, exhibits the chief principles upon which the Sc
IS elusive policy Of the japanese has been founded
The principles of this exclusive policy cannot now
, be regarded as tcnable or justfable. The opening
= of free commercial intercourse will be of immense
advantage to the Japanese, and will employ their
! enormously over-stocked population in raising
productions and manufactures for export, and
q their imports from the United States will contr
butte to their social, and comparatively enlightened
! and educated condition, to place them at the
9 head of the Asiatic nations The political constu
ton Of Japan, strange to say approximates to that
Of England few centuries back, and the island of
Q Niphon may almost be commercially regarded as
IS the England of Asia. Her abundance Of COAL cop
per- and all kinds Of steel and polished iron tools
to say nothing of her gold, silver, porcelain and
9 yarnish, renders trade with her highly desirable
in itself In these days Of steam navigation, and
looking at our future maritime relations with that
e part of the Pacific, the frstnamed commodity will
) be of incaculable benefit will the copper for
Q sheathing ships Cotton, also, largely manu-
: featured in Japan An immense traffic will at once
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! and the numerous ports of Nippon, and with China
: and the Archipelago The advantages resulting to
our whale fisheries, in the Of her harbors, will
also be great. The example will also have its due
y effect, and will be thoroughly appreciated by all
parties in that quarter. 1t will be new cra-not
y only In Asia, but in the world.
y Who would have supposed, in the days Of Asatc
= grandeur, that unknown America was to be the
medating and civilizing power on this continent
that she was destined to proclaim new order Of
commerce to the world, and to stand herself in the
; midst, and its author and protector? We all
recollect the excitement aud change in affairs which
: pervaded the commercial world when England
achieved her overland and Mediterranean routes to
India but how will stand the advantages Of the
transit by ship canal through Nicaragua, when
the best part Of the Asiatic territories shall have
been opened This Overland route was destined
for the sole benefit Of England but the United States
will almost simultaneously open commercial
relations with Asia, and a route far surprising in
, value the English overland" by its contiguity
with our own nation, with South America, and the
valuable islands in the Pacific, drawing in its track
luminous train Of commercial enterprise. In short
the Development Of the world-its developc-
ment by a commercial and republican genius.
Truly, the source is worthy of its honor,
great and powerful as we are. We are enjoying
; supremacy before we know it. The ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
of San Francisco and the resources and require
ments Of the California territory will have a cor
responding effect upon this and the other Atlantic
citios, and the sympathetic intercourse between the
cities Of the two coasts whether by water by land
both, will consummate the prosperity Of this coun-
try line Of first class steamers will no Doubt be
projected shortly between New York and Japan and
China, and also between tho two latter places and
San Francisco Such is the progression Of tho
wohd-the United States sprang from its SPIRIT and
is now about to minister TO its developemcnt.
1t may be said that such an expansion Of inter-