Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-06-18


For several weeks this young eepublic, the
child of less than century, has been exhibit
ing herself to the representatives of people
who claim 10 be as old as the sun. and were
named, by Oriental eonceit, after that fountain
of light. Similar exhibitions have been before
made in this empire of the setting sun, but
not always with fortunate results. In the
thoughtlessness of YOUTH our pride of nation
atty has been thrust into the faces of men
whose conceit is the fruit of many centuries of
creditable history and heroic tradition, and
which to them was undoubtedly sweeter
than our own. The result was matured in
books OF charicature or of partial and unjust
criticism, which the envy of tourists, or their
haste for fame could the most easily suggest.
Something of the weakness which has be-
trayed us before has appeared many times dur
ing the protracted holiday which the Niphon-
csc embassy has not been able to escape since
their arrival. They were assaulted first at San
Francisco, and bore the assault passably well.
They came to Washington, and after the great
and overshadowing question of etiquette was
settled, were compelled to undergo an arduous
succession of official and unofficial displays.
They passed on to Baltimore, where they were
paraded, processioned, wined and dined, wor-
ried by autograph hunters and insulted by dis.
orderly firemen. They FASTENED to Phladel-
phla, where there we're fewer rowdies, but
still enough to startle the princes of the empire
by comparing them with the race out OF which
our slaves are made. They arrived in New.
FORK on Saturday in season to find themselves
caricatured in all the illustrated papers of Go
than, and to witness the working of republic
can institutions through their necessary fami
iarity with the rascals who govern that city.
With all the trials which beset them they
would not be human if they did not often sigh
for repose under the reign of their own Ty-
coon.
In the structure of governments there are
some things which are common to all. HUI
man nature is the same at Washington and at
Yeddo, and the same passions require to be
regulated and controlled by agencies substan-
tally alike in their operation. To our minds
there is not much doubt as to which of
the civilizations of the world is of the highest
and purest type. 1t would not be allowed con-
sciousy that the theory of republican govern
ment, which gives the largest individual free.
don consistent with the common security, is
not the true theory. But a stranger coming
to us with his own conceits of race, and fresh
from the shadow of ancient traditions which
are grand and beautiful to him, will never have
his complacent patriotism disturbed by any
=, L
march through some Of the largest cities. If
the good name which America wishes to have
carried into every quarter of the globe, where
it is possible for her example to fall like
fruitful seed into the soil, is the thing to be cul
tivated, it would be becoming to exercise
modesty in those things wherein she is weak
and to make the more of herself in the sources
and manifestations Of her strength.
The Japanese have authentic records for
twenty-five hundred years. They have laws
administered with prudence, decorum, and
solemnity. They have religions, unlike ours,
but still equal to their understanding, and toll
Grafton not unworthy to be quoted as an exam
pie. When the Christians went thither in the
tenth century, some heather priest asked
the emperor to prohibit the new faith. He i'll
CURED how many different religions there
were in Japan the answer was thirty five.
"Well, said the emperor, "where thirty~ive
religions are tolerated, we can easily bear with
thirty-six. Leave the strangers in peace"
Our system is undoubtedly the best. But
they will not be convinced by anything they
will have seen of it from San Francisco to New
York. The good order, the general thrift
the large intelligence, the sound morality,
the unaffected religious character of the
people, which constitute the bright consum-
mate flower" of free institutions, and of demo-
cratic government, are never seen in the dissi-
pations of gala day in the seAboard cities, but
must be contemplated to be understood by &C.
quaintance with the people in their common
pursuits, or at least through the testimony of
their wisest and most prudent representatives.
JAMES S. WHITNEI.-It is well understood
that slight differences of opinion have arisen in
the democracy Of Massachusetts since one.halt
the delegation, chosen because they were sup
posed to be Douglas men, have seen fit to dis
appoint the Gust expectations" of their con-
stituents. We copy the closing paragraph of
an elaborate review of Mr.. James S. Whitney
one of the most conspicuous offenders, which
appeared in the Bay State last week, to show
how far the accustomed amiability of that nor