The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1858-12-23
Changes in Asia.


! There is scarce anything more WORTHY
Of note IN the present aspect of the worlt
than the breaking up of Oriental con
servatism. Within few years past chang
es have been introduced and relations
with the Powers of Christendom estab
i5hed-ether voluntary or compulsiye-
which look like the beginning Of new
condition Of society and polity in Asia.
In Persia-for long time past de-
clining Power-great reforms are taking
place. Since the dismissal from Office 0
Sadrazam Mira Aga Chan the Shah has
been regulating the finances and reor'
ganizing the army upon European foot
ing. Several efficient European officers
have been engaged TO teach the use of the
different firearms to the Persian army.
Gen Krisch, a former Austrian officer,
is organizing the artillery; Col. Barbara,
a Neapolitan, is instructing the cavalry
and guard Of the Shah; while number
of French officers, who wera engaged by
Feruk Chan on his last visit to Europe,
are likewise in the military service. The
reforms of the present ruler of Persia ex-
tend not only to the military, but to the
entire government of the country. Euro
pean ideas are invading that ancient mon
archy, which has remained for SO many
ages in the same imperfect stage Of civ
ilization.
The progress Of Eastern Russia is one
of the remarkable phenomena Of the pres
ent time. Siberia has been civilized by
the exies sent thther, and by voluntary
emigration from Russia, till nearly four
out of the five million inhabitants of that
region are Europeans or of European de-
scent; more fortunate than their western
kinsmen in this, that there is not serf
among them. On their southern frontier
the Russians have been slowly but stead
lily encroaching on the Tartar provisions.
They have gradually absorbed and chang
ed the character of almost the entire prov
ince of Mantchooria. Russian cities,
manufacturing towns, and traders posts
are springing up on the banks OF the
Amoor as they spring up in our Western
country,
Whatever doubts may be entertained
by some of the opening Of free intercourse
between China and the civilized world,
one thing is certain, that there never has
been SO strong desire on the part OF the
nations of Christendom to break through
the barriers she has set up against the in
trusion of foreigners as there now is. All
the rest Of the world seems to be conspir-
ing against China and her prohibitory
system. Ravaged and weakened as tina!
country is by civil war, she must be
fortunate indeed if she can long withstand
the assaults ofthe power of the whole
trading world, bringing their navies to
lopen her ports at the cannons mouth
! Treaty after treaty is extorted from her,
each treaty probably to be made the sub.
ject of new misunderstanding which
will he followed by demand for larger
concessions. We may presume that 1t
will not be possible for China long to eS-
cape b,ing dragged into the sphere of
those influences which are rapidly chang
ling the SharaCter of the East. Whether
a freer ihVrcourse with China would be
of any beueh to our own country, except
in mercantile point of view, and wheth-
er the commacal advantage might not
be more hqh3ounterbalanced by certain
moral mischief are points which we will
not stop to dsluss
Japan, so loA. closed to all nations but
he Dutch, and Etherto little known 10 the
European world is opened to the COM
merce Of Christ@dom, and diplomatic
intercourse is promised with the Powers
whose vessels she admits to her ports.
If we may believe I've favorable accounts
lately given Of the rkople Of that country.
they are more likelyto be contaminated
than made better by their intercourse
with the people OF EiNope and America
--elso there is no truth in the maxim
that evil communications corrupt good
manners. We have alIesdy seen, in one
of the journals, a philantl vic expression
of sorrow for the viii Rsus japanese,
whose fate probably is to % corrupted by
the contagion of Eurou vices.
Meanwhile the d in Northern
Africa sees d Saracen civil.
cation - merged in the
cjgLk not probable
I ent with the
in that re-
her system
prove in
next un-
Aing Eu.