Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-02-12
THE JAPANESE.

Of Commodore Perry, to the Empire OF Japan
is destined to create quite sensation in the COM
mercial world. Nor will the departure of the
expedition excite interest alone in commercial
circles; the whole empire of Japan contains, it
is estimated between SO, 900, 900 and 40 000. 600
inhabitants, deeply stepped in Paganism aud 60
verned by the despotic will of one man. Thus,
then, the devotees of Christianity and of Repub-
licanism, throughout the civilized world will
feel deep interest in the success eff the expedi-
ton.
The present, however, is not the FIRST expedi-
ton which the Government of the United States
has sent to Japan. In 1876 Commodore Biddle
anchored his frigate in the harbour of Jeddo, for
the purpose of endeavouring to open commercial
relations between the two countries. The Com
modore unfortunately violated the laws of the
Empire in bringing his frigate to anchor without
the consent of the Emperor and in attempting
to open negotiations with that august parsonage,
received the following curt reply
according to the laws of Japan, the Japanese
can only trade with Hollanders and Cinnamon.
America cannot be permitted to have treaty
with Japan or commerce with the Empire, while
such permission is granted to no other nation
Besides, whatever relates to foreign countries is
attended to at Nagasaki, and not in this bay you
will therefore depart as soon us possible, and
never return"
Thus ended the effort made by Commodore
Biddle; and thus, we hope, may not end that
about to be made by Commodore Perry.
Japan, as the reader knows, is an empire in
tba Eo If A EFF
large and several thousand small volcanic is
lands which extend irregularly from Behring's
Straits to Ceylon. The three principal islands
are Niphon, Jesse and Sikof, separated from
Corea and China by the Strait of Corea and the
Sea of Japan Jeddo is the capital of the en-
pire; it is a city of 1.680,000 inhabitants, and
of great extent and power with palaces of gor-
geous magnificence. The Emperor's palace is
said to have its Hall of Audience supported by
pillars of massive gold, while plates of gold CO.
yer its three towers, each of which are nine
stories high. The whole empire is divided into
seven principal districts, which are ub-divided
into seventy provinces. 1t abounds in gold and
silver Mines and fine copper is the source of
the wealth in many provinces. Rice, ginger,
black pepper sugar, cotton and indigo are the
chief products of the soil; the tea shrub grows
wild in the hedges. The rocks and most bar
rem places produce variety of fruits, plants and
roots. Upon the whole, it is a wonderful king
dom, where every thing strikes the behoder as
anomalous, like the animal and vegetable king
dom of Australia. Japan, (says the New Y DIRK
Times, to whose researches we are indebted for
much information relative to this isolated king
dom,) is semi barbarous empire, exhibiting
the curious spectacle to mankind of nation,-
which, in It's whole history, has neither retro
graded or advanced. The social scheme is en-
o1x- to tIe If
ment A more perfect system of checks and
balances never entered the head ofthe consti-
tuition maker. 1t is perfect network of espoin-
age. Each private citizen is by law spy upon
his five nearest neighbors. The commissioned
and secret spies Of Government reside in
every village. Each magistrate is surrounded
by spies. The prince, who rules million sub
iects, has his two secretaries appointed at Jed-f
do, where one resides, while the other, the
shadow of the viceroy in his remote Govern
ment, transmits constant Information to his fell
low at the capital. Even these subordinates
are in their turn objected to surveillance, and
for better security, The prince is obliged to
spend each alternate year at the Capital, where
his family remain all the while rs hostages
The Council and the Siogoon are equally
watched; and to be detected in error or disho-
| nor neglect, entails upon the unfortunate Of
ficer the duty of cutting himself open in the
presence of his friends. This curious mode of
self-destructon is part of the education of every
Japanese child To accomplish it gracefully
and upon hearing the first whisper prejudicial
to ones fame, is the great object of the nation
al ethics. In a scheme so ingeniously tied and
knotted up, it is impossible for any advance or
improvement to be made The people are VIC
| Tins of an inveterately vicious absurd p.
| The Portuguese Continues the Times) were
| fret 11r no md I'd T.,
pan. This they did in 1912, meeting with a
cordial and hospitable welcome. Commerce at
once sprnng up with great animation, the Por-
tuguese naturally endeavoring to obtain an en-
tire monopoly of it. The early zeal of the Je-
suits, then an uncorrupted order of holy men,
carried large body of missionaries to the new
land where the attractive dogmas of Roman
Catholicism We're remarkably successful in dis
| placing Sintooism and Buddhism, the prevalent
| religions of the people. The converts number
| ed nearly hundred thousand souls, embracing
members of the Imperial family, and the Mica
do himself is said to have been believer. In
the course of hundred years the trade with
Europe had waxed exceedingly. The COM
mercial importance of the discoveries, had de-
cined, however, and the Dutch, always ready
to extend their traffic, were located at every ia
panese port of any moment. To drive out their
Portuguese rivals entirely was great object
with the thrifty Hollanders. Stories We're ac-
cordingly circulated, that the Catholic Mission
aries, as true believers in the PapaI supremacy,
designed to bring the Islands under the rule of
the Roman pontiff. The fears thus excited
were soon in ungovernabe flame. A revolution
took place. The Siogoon of the day was de-
posed; war OF determination waged against
the Jesuits, and hosts of faithful converts faith
ful even in death, put to the sword History
records that the Dutch had oyershot the mark. |
They had stirred up so thorough dread of Eu-
ropean treachery, that they themselves came
very suffering the consequences, and only
sa.ed the narrow footing they still retain at Ma
gasaki, by aiding in the slaughter and torture of
their Christian brethren. Even now their two
vessels per annlm are always deprived of their
armature and rudders the moment they come
ff anchor and bota al tl,.