The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-03-21
The March of Empire.

Asia is indebted to America for her grow
ng civilization end intelligence far more
han to Europe. Europe has made war upon
Ter with commerce and with cannon, slsugh
tering her people with opium and bullets,
with en- occasional mingli0g Of better things;
while the intercourse Of America with that
interesting portion Of the Old World has
thus far been of comfy and good will. We
have ossailed it only with our peaceful arts,
our ships, our missionaries, our teachers and
our printing machines. The American
presses at Canton in the East, and Beyrout
in the West, have shed more light over those
ancient plains than all the guns and buyo-
nets of Europe. This is we'll. 1t is meet
that this oldest, most decrepid and degraded
portion of the Ancient World, after centuries
of Information, should receive fresh draught
of youth from the New. 1t is we'll that the
old prophetic sentiment embodied in the
line,
ssWestward the star cf empire takes its way"
es Asia most directly from the California
side, and thus the oracular girdle is compile
ted. Civilization, taking it's start with the
race in Asia, has moved westward, until the
last link is made across the Pacific, and the
end is the place OF beginning.
JAPAN.
BY the opening of Japsn TO the world,
through American enterprise, that ingenious
and interesting people will receive the steam
engine, the magnetic telegraph, and in fact,
oil our mechanical and agricultural improve
ments. These, there is reason TO believe,
will be rapidly appropriated by the Japan
ese. Owing probably to their long exclu-
sion from other nations, they have not the
same prejudice against foreign things and
customs, as other Asiatic nations. A Chi
nese looks at new plough, or a steamboat
without an attempt 10 comprehend it. A
japanese, on the contrary, examines new
Thing curiousIy, and in a short time master
the mystery OF its use.
g Americans and Europeans, in their inter
course with the japanese, greatly irritat
3 them by foolish disregard aud contempt o
the habits of Japanese life. To say nothin
of the wild and lawless conduct Of America
e and European sailors on shcre, educated an
intelligent foreigners trample cherished Gus
!, toms under foot, and Laugh at all remon
n STRANGE. For instance, the Japanese us
u neither chairs nor tables. The mating wit
? which the floor of their houses are Covere
j. answers for tables, chairs and beds. The
! sit, sleep and eat on them and as they q
o a very cleanly people, they keep them l
| sp otAed always removing their shoes fro
1t their feet at the door The Emperor hin
e self, on entering the house of his meanes
If subject, would conform TO this societary Law
And yet John Bull and Brother Jon0tha
ID coo!ly diareI lard it, and persist daily in sol
Id ing the floors OF the japanese with mudt
d boots. This, aud thousand other studi
ot infrngemcnts of japanese convenience al
etiquette, it is asserted, are fast exciting
" hutred Of foreigners among this interestin
it and in many respects noble people.
it Notwithstanding the japanese police
q acknowledged to be the best in the wor
Nv the murderers of the Russian officer and 81
IN dler at Yokee H ma have not been disco
ed cred 1t is surmised that the government
to not in earnest in its attempts to ferret the
out. Now we zee enother similar murt
ok has been petpetrated at the sume place
of This time the victim was servant belor
it ing to one Of the European conealates.
,e. was cut down BY japanese officer in one
TO the principal Etreets-cIeft with sab
ith which passed through a heavy sheep5l
1st overcoat-mnde up with the wool on-wa
ds coat and under garments. with cut
, ;, smooth as razor, and still had force enou
ors 10 destroy the Wearer's life. The Engli
by the advice of the British Consul, h
ain armed themselves, and the Americans b
The followed their example. Both now 60 ab
so town armed to the teeth, which must 4
, i, still further to ALLEVIATE the feelings of
, natives.
the THE OTTOMAN POWER.
,fi This power in Europe and Asia is pass
by under a cloud from which it is not lik
ing ever to emerge. Mahommedan ciVilizat
ae is founded upon the Koran-it cannot
les. beyond it; it cannot cut loose from it;
civil and religions law is all containe
that, end there is no escape from it, exc
Tho by opostacy and revolution. The SCI
cause of the decay of the Turks is to
found in their consciousness-everyd day
- ia coming potent and wide spread among Il
that European or Christian civilizatio
. superior TO their own. This result has
- produced by their growing intercourse
~. other nations-by the Greek war and
- consequences, by the foreign ships throns
~" ' their harbors, by the splendid foreign
INV n Ia hu