Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-02-18
From the New York Times.
JAPAS. OR NIPPON.


and miles from the westernmost OF the American
States are scattered multudes of volcanic islands,
They extend rregularly from Behring's Straits 10
Ceylon Some four thousand of them, more or less,
The Empire of Japan, the object Of an expedition
about to leave the 1orts of country and IN view
of the interest impaired to this terra ineond by the
anticipated opening of commercial relations he
Times volunteers trfe OF desuiory information IL
NAV be prudent to know little about people TO
whom we propose teach so much. Some slight
knowledge of their institutons-and all our knowl-
edge of this insuiar monarchy is but stIght-may
not be superduous,. before we materially AFTER anu
perhaps destroy them.
The whole empire of Japan is said to contain a
population Of 10000, 900 inhabitants. Niphon, the
largest of the island group, boasts Of an extent about
equal to, and population nearly double that OF Ire
"a land. The Chinese have corrupted the name into
Jihpun, and the English by easy transition, make
Japan of it. Upon this Niphon among temples and
camphor groves and rice fields, and hills cultivated TO
the SUBMITS, stand the apital towns of MAco and
Jeddo. The latter ranks among the first class cities
of the world. Its low, one-stOry buildings shelter
population of 500, 900 souls, all Iaborng cheerfuIly
the mechanic finer arts, or living IN as much ar
isocratc elegance and European nobility OF
measureess pedigree. AT Jeddo too resides the civil
Emperor Siogoon of Japan and there the princes
who rule in the mullitudinous islands spend half their
time thence all the reins of Government diverge
and there the imperial council holds its sessions. The
commerce of the Archipelago all centres at Jeddo.
At Maco, the other side of the island, lives the
Mikado religious Emperor, in other times the sole
ruler of the realm in all its interests, civil, naval and
supeTstitious. Revolution, however, did its work
some centuries since, and the Sogoon, upsar from
the lower orders, made himself nominal regent and
actual autocrat of the Empire. Time has in turn
crippled the power of the Siogoon, who is actually
governed by his council retaining, however, sort of
veto at all similar to the veto of the American
Constitution. If any act of the council fail to meet
the views of the Siogoon, it is referred 20 three OF his
relatives. If they sustain the objections of
fhoO hinf no ohl IN adj aDdd lilo.
ENDOWED themselves: each member deliberately cut
ting himself open. OnIhe other hand, should the act
of the council be approved, the Sogoon Is bound to
abdicate, pretty much the principle that an
EDglish Cabinent Minister resigns when voted down
in the Commons. The Mikado inhabits temple at
Miaco, and spends his time in receiving alteration.
As he has 10 dress daily in new garments, and eat
daily from crockery, his fare is said be hard.
He generally resigns in favor of his son, after a few
years OF dedication, and retires TO privaieIife.
The island of kiusiu is next in order OF dimension
TO Nippon. Nagasaki, the port town, is the ony
to which foreigners ale admitted. There the
Dutch have their isand-fort of Dezma, in which
they remain locked up two-ihirds of the year, unit
the pair of vessels. the onl Japanese jealousy
allows to European commerce, arrives. Then an
nual pilgrimage, with presents to The Siogoon, a
Jeddo takes up three months; and six weeks Of the
year are left, in which to dispose of the cargnes o.
Spices and load up the burdens of copper
camphor. The various tables and stands and cabi
nets and enamelled work, for the exquisite manufac
ture of which the Japanese so famous, are neve
permitted to leave the islands. few samples
enough to furnish models for European imitation
alone escape, through the connivance of suboicias
Japan is as insulated in manners, habits, govern
meni and religion, as la situation Every thing strikes
the stranger as anomalous, like the animal and vege
table life Of Australia. The social scheme is entire
Iy subordinate to the purposes of Government.
more perfect system of checks and balances nave
entered The head OF the constitution maker. 1t is
perfect network of espionage. Each private cilize
Is by law spy upon his five nearest neghbors. TIL
commissioned and secret spies Of Government resid
In every village. Each magistrate is surrou nded b
spies. The prince, who rules million subjects ha
MS two secretaries appointed at Jeddo, where one re
sides, while the other, the shadow of the viceroy
ms remote government, transmits constant in forma
ton 10 his fellow at the capital. Even these subol
olnaes are In their turn subjected to surveillance an
Tor better security the prince is obliged 10 spend
alternate year at the Capital, where his family renal
all the while as hostages. The Council and the S
ogoon are equally watched and TO be detected in Ell
ror or dlshonor or neg ect, entails upon the untortu
nate officer the duty of cutting himself open in III
presence of his friends. This curious mode of sci
destruction is part of the education of every j
Panese child. To accomplish it gracefully, and VI
on hearing the first whisper preudicia to ones FAM
me great object of the national ethics In schem
SO ln3ehlously Tied and knoted up, it is impossib
Tor any advance or improvement 10 be made. TT
people are victims of an inevitably vicious absurdit
And yet the Japanese hunger and thirst for fraqmen
OF european learning. They pick up with the u
most avidiy any scrap Of knowledUe thar Dntcb
Chinese visitors may let drop. Many of The Ieadir
French and German scientific authors, have been rel
dered into the vernacular, and esteemed standa
authorities. They have their astromica instrument
calculate their almanAcs and ecIpses, and know mo
about every other planet in the solar system than III.
do of their own. They have none of the Chine
slPercilious contempt for barbarian accomplishment,
lheir motto Is TO get all they can, and keen all IN,
Rel.'' 0 A'oP oil Liz
But the oldest of the national diosyncrasies is I,
Iooteu aversion TO outsiders. gIance at histor
perhaps with the conservative scheme of checks a,
balances we nave referred to. borne 10 mind, W
serve Papsna.y |" elucldate this popularity.