The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-08-10


~. The Japan Expedition.
We have received from distinguished and
esteemed correspondent, the Hon. f. JOY
MoRRs, Charge d'Affaires of the United
States at Naples. the following translation of
an exceedingly interesting article. suggested by
the American expedition to Japan, and VIII ich
appeared editorially in the Independence Beige,
Of Brussels, of the first of July last. The ar
ticle is philosophic in its reaso ming, liberal in
lis views, and brings forward certain highly
interesting facts of japanese history that would
seem to afford them justification for their
selfish policy of seclusien. We commend
the translation to the attention of our readers,
satisfied that perusal will amply repay the
time it will occupy:
Translated for the Washington Republic from the
Independence Beige, Of July 1, 1853
THE JAPANEsE--CAUsE OF THEIR Exclusion OF
STRANGERs-THEA AMERICAN EXPEDITION, &c.
1t is known that strong American squadron,
under the command of Commodore Perry, has
sailed for japan, for the purpose of opening rea
tons with that country, which continues to con-
fine itself within an almost absolute isolation.
We heartily wish that the attempt may be crown
ed with success. We wish it the more on account
Of the very liberal instructions given to the Com
modore, which enjon upon him to seek the open
ing of the ports of Japan, not only for the citi-
zens of the American Union, but for all civilized
nations. We have therefore direct interest in
the success of tine American mission. Unfortu-
nately, Europeans have left the most unfavorabe
rcmembrances among the japanese, and we fear
that these souvenirs will initiate much against the
negotiations of Commodore Perry.
The policy of excluding strangers has not al
ways prevailed at Japan. When that empire
was discovered in 1542 by the Portuguese nnvi-
gator, Member Pinto, Europeans were at first ad-
mirably received. Every part of Japan was open
to them; they could freely traffic, and even pro-
pagate, without any obstacle whatever, their re-
! ligious faiths. In few years christianity made
prodigious progress among the Japanese people,
and, at the close of the sixteenth century, the
number of converts amounted to not less than
two three millions st. Francis Xavier, the
most distinguished propagation of the faith in ia
pan, was enraptured at such happy results, and
he never could find terms too strong to express
his admiration of the good and solid qualities of
the Japanese. 81 cannot finish, " he wrote sswhen
| speak of this people; they the delight of my
heart. Another missionary, the Father Lewis
FroGs, who had resided for long period in Japan,
declared that nation of Europe was more
highly gifted with intellectual endowmcnts. I'm
fortunately, religious intolerance and commercial
jealousies soon interrupted the harmony which
reigned in the outset between the Japanese and
their European visitors The missionaries, who
had largely profted of the federation OF the
government to introduce their faith, manifested
the most deplorable intolerance soon as they
had landed in the country. Not content with the
liberty granted them of making proselytes to the
prejudice of the ancient religions of the country,
they stimulated their neophytes to prosecute the
priests of Sinto, the national god, and to destroy
his temples
For several years the government paid no at
tention to the complaints which were addressed to
it against the Christian missionaries. "We have, -
responded the Emperor Taico-sama, those who
lamented the progress of the new worship, 'thir-
ty-tour sects in Japan, exclusive of the State re-
ligon; why should we not permit thirty fifth"
1t was only when the complaints against the toll
Grafton of the Christians increased that the same
sovereign decided to direct representations to the
missionaries 't .......
In 1887 he sent two imperial commissioners to
the Father Cuelo, Vice Provincial of the Portu-
guese, to inquire of him-Ist. Why he and his
associates imposed their religion upon his subjects
I'd. Why they excited their proselytes to overturn
the national temples' Sd. Why they prosecuted
the native priests? 4th. Why they adopted for
food the flesh of animals useful to man, such as
the OK and the cow The Vice Provincial de-
Tended himself in lengthy memorial before the
commissioners. He pretended that the missionaries
did not impose their faith, and that they employ
ed only persuasion for its propagation; and that
if Christians had prosecuted the japanese priests
and ruined their tcmples-a charge which the pro-
vincial did not deny---it was done without the
cognizance of the missionaries. As to the law
against eating the flesh Of the OK and cow, they
had transgressed from ignorance of its existence.
These explanations do not appear to have sat
isfod the commissioners and perhaps not without
reason, for, at the same epoch, the missionaries
commended in the warmest terms n feudatory
Prince of Bungo, Of the baptsmal name of Francis
Gran, for having levcllcd to the earth three thou
sand temples and monasteries belonging to The
bouzes (prests of the country.) The practice of
the Christian religion prohibited throughout
Japan, and the missionaries ordered to leave
the country within twenty days. This first edict,
however, against the Christians did not go into
execution, and second cdct issued five years
later (1592) was likewise not enforced, although
new protestations, more or less founded were
raised against the prosecuting bigotry of foreign
priests and their converts.
The m'onopoIsing spirit of European merchants
was exhibited in an equally disgusting form the
intolerance of the missionaries. The Spaniards
intrigued to obtain the dismissal of their Portu-
guese rivals, and both united to seek the expulsion