St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-01-06
From the London Times, Nov. 8.
.s The Unknown Land.

q A marvel has been disclosed to us,a new
wonder has been opened to u.s.. Suddenly,
as if by magic, we have revealed to us y
new people, with an unknown civilization
and unknown institutions. We have rent
the veil that shrouded the mystery which
has puzzled the world for centuries. Ad;-
cess has been gained for the west to par
adisc in the east. The "brazen WALL of
protection which surrounded Japan has
been thrown down. The gates Of an e x
tensive, wealthy and populous kingdom
have been thrown open to the traders Iof
the world. And all this has been do ne
without force or menace by reason a nd
persuasion; and we may add by the p ro-s
gress Of enlightend opinions amongst the
japanese themselves. Hitherto Japan
has been a sealed book, but now the seal
is broken. We knew indeed that the
country is about the size Of the British Is
lands; with nearly the same population
and climate, and the same insular position
between great continent and 8 reat
ocean. We had heard that the State is
governed by two sovereigns, one exe1'cis-
ing the spiritual authority, and the other
conducting the civil and military rule
History has recorded that Japan was not
always isolated from the rest Of the world
or opposed the christianity. =:-.* r."
r.. MASSACRE OF CHRISTIANS.
Two centuries ago the Portuguese mis-
siOnaries were allowed the fullest latitude
for the PRONUNCIATION Of their doctrin es.-
Not satisfied with this freedom, the, in
terfercd in question Of disputed S, scces-
sion, and brought the aid of the chr stian
population to the aid of the candidate
they supper: ed. Their intervention was
followed by the most disastrous results, for
the party with which they joined proved
unsuccessful, and two hundred thousand
persons were slaughtered Since that pc
Rod Japan has been Theoretically closed,
not in the arrogant spirit which animated
the Chinese, but because the governm ent
dreaded a renewal of interference, lint rigues
and bloodshed. The Dutch alone were al
Wed commercial intercourse under the
4arrowest and most humiliating restriction.
r two hundred years they we're confined
dHas small Island, four hundred yards long
Hzthree hundred broad; and until within
All years they were not allowed to pass
the paundary Of their prison, or enter the
town, or the surrounding country. The
American expedition under Commodore
Perry, opened postern to the empire
The residence of an American consul at
Simoda, and the visits of Russian and
English ships during the late war, prepar-
ed the way for a change,the inevitability
Of which, it is said was recognized by the
Japanese themselves. Mr.. Harris, the
resident Representative Of the United
States, proved himself an able, accom-
plished and indefatigable pioneer. For
two years he labored to obtain CONNER
cial treaty, and when the news reached
Japan Of the allied operation in the Pehio,
his efforts were crowned with Success
He did not strive to secure any exclusive
advantages for his own countrymen, but
assisted, other nations to enter BY the way
he made. @stta#
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