Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-10-27
Misfllanfons.
Japanese An America
From the Brooklyn Union.l


Much interest attaches to the present
attitude of China and Japan. Wi atever
may be the truth in regard to the inten-
tions of China, we do not believe that
the Government off Mikado is hostile
to the Western nations. The Imperial
Government of Japan is so much intes-
ested in Western nations that it supports
large number of students at college in
Germany, France, England. and our
our own country. Some of these are lit
erary students, others are military. Its
purpose is to enrich the learning of its
people with the branches of knowledge
taught in the colleges of Europe and
America. Quite number of these tu-
dents are at New Brunswick, n. j., at
tending Rutgers College, which is ia
vorite institution with hem.
At the honse of Professor AtherlOn of
Rutgers, the writer ofthis article passed
a delightful evening last week in com
pany with Mr.. Soogiwoora and Mr.. Has
kutche, two japanese gentlemen up
ported by the Government of the Mika-
do while pursuing their studies Both
are intelligent gentlemen, and in refine
ment of bearing and courteous observ-
ance ofthe rules of etiquette they would
put to the blush any American that we
know. Mr.. Soogiwoora has been here
three years and is now fresh man. He
speaks with great intelligence of his
country, of her institutions, education,
history and future. He says that the
Government of the Mikado entertains
no hostile feeling toward foreigners, and
that, since our handsome treatment of
the Japanese Embassy and the arriva.
cf Commodore Perry in Japan, it has a
peculiar friendship for America. He
conversed freely of the three religions of
Japan, but in SO courteous, catholic and
unsectarian 4. tone that we could not di-
vine to which he belonged, though we
were informed that m st of the New
Brunswick students were Bhuddists. In
religious matters alone the Japanese
dictionary. 1t is intended to abolish
Buddhism and Confucianism, so far as a
State support is concerned, and return
to the old religion of the nation known
as 7chindo, or aboriginal" 1t is a
singular fact, that this religion, which
is an idolatry with three thousand dei-
ties, finds its principal adherents among
the upper classes.
Foreignefs, according to Mr.. Soogi-
woora, may travel in Japan without mo-
lesLation from the Government, but in
the interior the lower classes believe all
foreigners to be savages, and their pref
udices might make them dangerous if
the foreigners We're without guards.
The principal danger however would be
from class of outlaws called Lord
less" Every citizen must ach himself
to one of the lords or rulers of the prov
inces, and those who are attached to
none are liable to arrest and execution if
discovered.
1t Is a curious fact, pointed out by our
friend the Professor in this conversation,
that similar stateof things existed in
Europe during the middle ages. japan
isjust emerging from feudalism not
very different from that of Europe five
or six centuries ago. In the recent rev
oiutiOn the family of the Tycoon was
stripped of power which it had unsurped
many hundred years ago, and which il
had held without conflict for two
hundred and sixty years This same
revolution, which returned the dynasty
OF the Mikado To power, has also over
thrown tn hereditary damios and es-
tat lished check on the imperial power
in the two EOuses of parliament. But
the Mikado is regarded with oriental
reverence, and the>law politely reads 4:
'If any man speak aught against the
Mikado he cannot stand between earth
and heaven"
Inf