Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-06-07
Gnvernmnnt Hcnthenism.

n very lauuaDle lnbeTceb Nus pVOh hioh-
ifested by the clergymen and various good
people at Washington, that the visit Of the
Japanese to this Christian land shall be the
means of their salvation, and of innoculating
them with doctrine which we have faith to
believe if il once enters the Japanese system
will work its way by infection and in
evitably convert the nation. This is GER
tainly laudable and natural on our part, for
the stubbornness Of that people toward Chris
tianity in former times, the horrible cruelties
with which they utterly extirpated the
Christian religion--the seed of the Church
having failed to germinate in this instance
and their annual ceremony of trampling on
the Cross can not be regarded as conducive
to their eternal welfare, and it is eminently
proper that some means should be used TO
inform the japanese that the extraordinary
honors which we are paying them are not on
account of these virtues H.I
There seems to be a disposition on the part
Of our Government to offer distractions to
the application of the machinery of conver-
sion to the Japanese; perhaps in order to pre-
serve our traditional character among the
0rientals, as not being Christian nation
And in this connection it viii be remembered
that, although Mr.. Buchanan has assumed q
very sanctimonious manner since his inaugu-
ration, his habits before his election, as de-
scribed by one of his most intimate friends,
James Gordon Bennett, showed a sad want
of that respect for the Sabbath and for reli-
gion that should be found in the head of a
| Christian nation. This, perhaps, may explain
the obstructions that are placed in the way of
converting the Japanese.
1t is stated by the Washington correspond
ent of the New York Herald that the Chap
lain of the House of Representatives sent a
pressing invitation to the Embassy to attend
his preaching, having prepared a sermon ex-
pressly for them, and that "the invitation
was, very properly, not conveyed to them,
and if it had been, they would have assuredly
declined it had its exact nature been ex-
planned to them" If the Japanese had de-
clined, the responsibility would have been.o
| their own heads; but as they had no oppor-
tunity, it is on the Government. 1t is no
excuse to say that the Japanese could not
| have understood the sermon. Unknown
| tongues were potent means of conversion
with the Apostles, and why not now2 We
are informed by the Cincinnati Gazette that
religion, as preached by the Apostles, con-
templated diversity of gifts and are refer
red to chapter and verse of the Scriptures, in
which we find the gift of tongues as one OF
those contemplated. There certainly could
be no better occasion for the gift than this
on which depended, perhaps, the salvation Of
millions of people, and we have no right tC
doubt that if the ENJOYS had attended, tn,
preacher would have received the gift Il
reach their understanding.
The same correspondent relates that
pious old lady, who had been long tim
plotting distribution of Bibles among 9Th
e heathen,n as she calls the Japanese, attende
one of their receptions, and watching her OF
e portunity, she thrust pocket edition of tn
) Bible into the astonished bosom of Simene
|. boozen Nokami, devoutly believing, withou
: doubt, that if she could only sprinkle tn
u salt of the word, as it were, on the strange
it would subdue him. But her excellent in
tentioDs were thwarted by the senior office
of the Naval Commission, who withdrew
e from the unwilling recipient and returned
! to the donor, who, justly, manifested muc
e Indignation at this official inference wit
the spread of the gospel.