The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-26


Keep the "balance OF power" after the fashion
If European rulers, were devising means
whereby to take down " the Tycoon, as
we say in this country. One way which
occurred was to assassinate foreigners, and
hus bring the Tycoon into trouble with
he great nations with whom he had made
treaties. And these secret assassination5
could be perpetrated with comparative i'm
punity because the Emperor had not ratified
he treaties. But now that this has been
the previous danger to the
life OF foreigners has passed by. Unlike the
Chinese, the Japanese have a great respect for
Americans and for Europeans. They appre-
niate the power and the resources, the pro-
ductions and the wealth, of America and Eug-
land.
The Tycoon was shrewd enough to locate all
the ports Of entry within his own district
when he made the treaties. The result is that
he gathers into his own Golfers all the income
from the tariffs. They have not gone into the
hands Of the supreme Government. And as
he lays tribute on all exports as we'll as i'm
PORTS, he has reaped a rich harvest. lie is at
present, practically, the leading power Of the
empire next to the Emperor.
The japanese are people who desire know
ledge In this respect they are in marked
contrast to the Chinese. They are quick to
learn, and they are anxious to extend their
sphere of knowledge.
One OF them has translated the entire Con-
stituiOn of the United States into the japanese
language, with explanatory notes of his own,
to be published for the enlightenment of his
countIymen. Some seven Japanese young
men are now in this country gaining liberal
education, and they show superior intelli-
gence and great facility in the acquisition of
knowledge. Most of them are supported by
their friends, or by Japanese prince.
The state religion of the Japanese is Bud
hism, derived from the Chinese.
The Japanese have an original religion of
their own, which was supplanted by Bud
hism. But these 'gods of the country" num-
beling many millions, according 10 the state
ments of the religious books, still receive some
attention and regard. One sees all about
Japan, by the road side, little shrines set up
to these aboriginal gods, and votive offerings
laid in or around them. If a Japanese is tra-
yelling, and does not wish to do anything
more expensive he will very likely toss a
stone to the shrine as a recognition of the ma
tional gods; and hence one will see by the side
of these shIines heaps of stones which have
been gathered one by one in this way. The
theory of this national religion is, that there
was in the beginning three gods existing in a
mysterious unity. The Japanese history of
creation represents the islands of Japan as
having been first created, and as being the
best product of divinity.
Buddhism. The selfshness and greed for
money and satisfaction in the good things of
this life which characterize the Buddhist
priesthood have destroyed the confidence of
the people not only in the men, but in the
religion they represent. Then Buddhism is a
foreign religion. 1t was prOpagated by the
zeal of its first missionaries from China. 1t
won converts from among the rulers, and
thus became the tate religion. Then it was
fastened upon the people by enactments,
which made every deed of real estate and
every contract void if either of the parties
thereto is not a registered member of one of
the ten or dozen Buddhist sects, and is not a
member of some Buddhist temple. Thus it is
Well-nigh impossible for a Japanese to trans
act business unless he is a BUDDHIST by pro-
fession. A large part of the people are fol-
lowers of Confucius, and regard Buddhism and
all religions with a certain skeptical contempt.
The writings of Confucius contain nothing
which can be called religion, if one means by
religion the relation which one holds to the
Divine Being or Beings. His writings are
made up of the discussion of the relations
which exist between the members of the
human family, and set forth the duties which
belong to husband and wife, parents and
child en-, neighbors and friends, fellow citizens
and foreigners. The followers of COnfucius
are without religiOn-they are atheists and
positivists.
In the middle OF the sixteenth century the
Romish Church sent its missionaries to Japan,
and the Romish priests claimed hundreds of
thousands of proselytes. But they began to
lose influence by jealousies and quarrels
among themselves, especially between tue
Jesuits and Dominicans. Zach was striving
to get full control over the chief officers of the
Government. The people and the Govern
meut, moreover, became alarmed at their as
sumI ton of supreme power in behalf OF tue
Pope at Rome, which was an aifront put upon
their own Emperor. AT last the Government
decreed'th Punishment of the ROmish priests.
The people rose against them. They slew
some, drove others off in boats, drowned a
number in the sea, and finally cleared japan
of every priest They proceeded still further,
instituting the severest measures against the
proselytes to Romanism. They burnt down
all the churches. They destroyed every book
that had in it the name of Jesus. They broke
up and trampled under foot all the crosses, and
SO proceeded until they had crushed out the
last life from the Romish Church, and left not a
vestige of the religion. Laws were then pro
mulgated against the Christian religion of the
most severe character and these laws are in
force until this day, and the name of "Chris
tian" in Japanese is synonym for that o.
''artful usurper."
Our American Protestant missionaries have
now been there eight years, and by their prq
dence and excellence have shown the people
what the Christianity of America is, and thai
no fear need be felt that the American mis-
sionaIies are seeking to usurp the Govern
ment in behalf of foreign potentate. 1t Ii
hoped that these laws against Christianity, the
only religion forbidden by japan, will soon be
repealed When this 10 accomplished, anC