Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-15
THEE EAST.
Progress of Civilization and Religion
in China and Japan.

C --@.=-c@
TEE EAST.
Progress of Civilization and Religion
u in China and Japan.
The Asiatic border of the Pacific, from
which the original civilizing element o
the world started thousands of years since
{ in its westward sweep, is at length awaken
4 ing under the impulsive blows Of It's own
1 creation, which have made the circuit Of
/ the globe and now attack Asia from the
} eastward. While China has been lying
! dormant the child of its own creation has
grown to gigantic proportions. II has
chained and trained to its touch certain
: elements which have intensified human
strength beyond all calculation, and, ma
king these elements available, now pre-
sents itself at the Pacific doors of Asia,
threatening to oVerturn the oldest estab-
lished dynasty of the globe and make them
acknowledge that they have been in Rip
Van Wrinkle sleep for a whole geologic
period.
Both China and Japan must go through
a primary education before We can expect
them to accept modern ideas in all their
national significance. However progress
sive their statesmen may be, they cannot
hold their official positions and adopt the
whole train of national motors-railroads,
telegraphs, steamboats, and neWspapers-aL
a moments notice. 1t already makes more
than one European nation stagger to re-
cognize the movement of the age. Why
should we expect too much at a time from
China and Japan? Still they cannot re-
sist the impulse. Telegrsphs are to touch
their coasts. Every time steamboat
anchors in one of their ports the dormant
Asiatic mass starts at the sting of civiliza-
| ton.
In obedience TO the will Of the Chinese
Emperor Mr.. Burlingame is now looking
for the best means to link the old world
with the new but, naturally relenting, the |
government praYs for the sacred glance"
upon a revision Of Mr.. Burlingame's |
treaty. The Imperial Minister thus amns-
ingly speaks Of the "outside barbarians:"
Foreigners in the East and West for |
several hundred years have been making |
and unmaking Kingdoms, each kingdom
wishing to deprive its neighbours subjects
of some advantage, with the hope that its
own subjects might ultimately profit there
by. Their object in coming 10 China, set
ting up places of business everywhere, and
trading largely in goods ia to follow out
their nefarious devices of depriviDg others
Of advantages, and they, wish to damage
orr merchants. Ever since the commence
ment of our troubles-that is, the Taep-
ing, etc.-the people Of China have SUI
fered long and severely. Literally have
long suffered fire and water
'Tbe additional opening of some (it-
orally, three or tive) ports and of the river
has been contracting their means from day
to day. They suffer in mute agony and
will be driven to extremity. If trade in
salt is conceded to Foreigners salt merchants
will suffer in business. Ii the building of
godowns lin the interior,) the establish
ments already existing will suffer; if small
steamers be allowed in the interior native
craft of every size, sailors and pilots will
suffer; if they are allowed to construct
telegrsphs and railroads (owners of carts,
mules, chairs and inrs and the coolies
livelihood will suffer"
These arguments against progress used
By the Chinese Minister are very natural
oDes. We remember tina! many Intelligent
men argued, when railroads were first pro-
posed that horses would become ValueleEs,
and thousands OF people who depend upon
the transportation Of merchandise for
living would starVe TO death for lack ofem-
plOyment The Chinese have to be taught |
by experience that machinery, STEAMBOATS,
and all mechanical improvements increase
commerce, demand more supplies, give new
openings for labor, make this more valu
able, and, in general, add beyond all esti-
mate to the prosperity of 4 nation The
highest civilized nations have opposed
modern innovations with the same Chinese !
Arguments used above and not until they
have been absolutely forced to see their
value have they ceased opposition to their
China will, however, rapidly come up 10
the modern mark, for its inhabitants are
an Intelligent people despite thtir brain
lethargy. They only want waking up !
and Brother Jonathan" will give them
no rest until they have their eyes wide
open to the fact that the NPT World is in
existence and that the Ola must bend to it.
With Japan the problem of regeneration
il little more complex. There they have
q feHdalism similar TO that which existed |
in Europe in the middle ages-Church and
State are closely mingled, and despite the
of the race over the Chinese
they must go through 4 long period of civil
warfare before they can hope to have so
good a government as their Celestial'
neighbors. China is well centralized, and
through its admirable system Of education |
for official power deserves great credit at
least for placing its best men in office. In
vantage try to initiate them.
One great source Of trouble which APP
pears TO sgitate both Japan and China is
IT. Al |
ligiOus sects to force their Creed5 into
prominence. So great is the opposition
among Catholics, Protestsnts and others,
that they are with cash buying converts by
the wholesale, to the great disCredit Of true
religious principles. 1t appears that the
French Catholic Church at Nagasaki and
vicinity numbers some three thousand con
verls. Japanese documents are circulated
warning the people against "the insidious
and poisonous attacks of the Jesus men,
who violate their eighth commandment,
which says, Thou shalt not steaI,' in seiz-
ing on other countries" 1t is a strange
fact, thst while we get news of these rei-
gious disturbances in Japan We find in the
State documents of the Chinese Minister
cited above, the following:
As to the opening Of the interior for
the spread Of religion, your Minister
would observe that the Roman Catholics
began by attracting men by mercenary mo-
tives, but lately, through the poverty of
the missionaries, this inducement has not
been held out go much, and their argu-
ments not so much believed.
The Confucian doctrine was somewhat
obscured after the Ts'iR and Han dynas-
ties, while Buddhism gained strength.
1t had its rise in India, and it is now sup
planted in great measure by Mohamme-
danism there. Roman Catholicism arose
in the East and West. Now Protestant
ism has sprung up in the east and West,
and opposes Roman Catholicism with
much power.
"It is very evident, then, that the differ
ent religions fuctuate from time to time in
their vigor. Confucianism has not suffered
by attrition through myriads of ages and
il has regenerated China in government,
morals, manners and doctrines"
II the civilized world Is to penetrate
Asia on a religious crusade-following the
style Of Spain in her conquests on the
contineEt-we may expect much trouble
in cur contact with China and Japan.
What they both require are the modern
elements of progress, and true religion
will result from them. If we offer them |
in sensible manner, Asia will accept |
them: but If we commence by stirring IN