New-York tribune., 1870-08-15
JAPAN.
PERSECUTION OF THE CHRISTIANS.
fppou AN OCCASIONAL CORREsPOEDBNT.l


YoKouAMA. June 10.-The persecution of
native Christians in this country has as length reached
nass which imperayely cals for the interference OF
foreign Powers Naeasak In particular the scene OF
the earliest trumphs and btterest prosecutions OF the
Christian Church. events are almost daily happening
which arouse the indignation OF every foreigner In the
conntrv The foreigner Is in tho japanese mind, always
more or less Identified with the religion his country men
profess and have little doubt that the revival OF pefSe
con is Intended TO create impression on the minds OF
the peopc that the Government ia quite independent OF
foreign influence. A brief sketch OF former persecu-
ons and some account Of the recent acts OF inc ha
dos Government may prove interesting to your readers
should fret state that there are two estaDilshed re-
lgions-Sintoism and Buddhism the former primitive
belief recognizing supreme being and the latter allied
TO the Buddhisc faith OF China third creed called
sootoo resembles Confuciansm, andis purely atieSc
creed The Mlado has il well known, been Tor ages
considered to be the sacred representative OF the rSt
named deriving his descent from the Sun goddess ana
receiving the worship Of his subjects IT was ust 0VV
years ago when the Dutch and other nations had op
aned satisfactory footing FOR cQlnmerca Pu,PottE pun ~
within the Empire, that certain missionaries ffoh the
East made tleir appearance In Japan st. Francis AaNef
being their leader Fired with zeai lof le
people which even IN those DAY eNleen ~ th
and desire for progress which struck ter vstors Will
astOnshmen they set eagerly to WORK. ana wa MI tSey
short period had obtained so many cOhEers tt t'eS
constituted formidable class, ana n Deoamo ,bst 81
Tycosama, the first ohlogOon (or % 40
Osly say Wa-days), determined on thcr ptd
q
lIs yast power by his unTyaled ability ana deterlna-
lion. and he was not to pause in the means be
ioI we're orSared TO the Tsimos OF every Prov
incc commanding them on given day TO maSacIe every
dcton Tie savage mandate was literally Gsey96a, y6e
The visitor to Nagasah Will as ne nnaaronre o
Of a small island which rises in md-chan-
mel its noEo % gpd o bcre 'f from ~ the brnshwood which
clothes its sides I'm a the brilliant nts OF japanese YER
durc and with PERCEPTIONS clif side Of some
luud %
Barely mile in circumference, this island was one OF
the scenes OF the Nagasa All the Christians
native and foreign, OF the neigborhood, were suddenly
seized and conveyed to this spot, and there amid ma
tnres Oyelest scenery, between 10000 and 10000 men
women ana children including beautiful girls and in
fants lust able TO walk, driven at the pkes point
pieces on the rocks beneath. History records few in
stances greater heroism than the refusal OF hese
martyrs TO trample on figure on tie cross Wlsh Was
tho alternative 81 escal.g death, No Christian I0Ots
even at the present day, allowed TO tread he SHORES
an island consecated by the blood thus shed III Whe's
Distant but few miles from Naeasah proper lies
smabarra the of another and similar massacre at
the date. 1t is quiet looking town, backed up Dy
huge mountain, whence hdeous volcanic hrfs VQimt
coudess atmosphere around it, 1t bears sad history IN
many ways for il has been the of desoatng earth
quakes where thousands have fallen victims 70 lhe con
vusons of nature But s of course as me scene OF
the determination oil christianity IN JapdVtne ,t u,
al Pappenberg was consumIhated before t,at at SINE
bana begn-hat il Of present interest In tins ease
the town was surrounded by troops who prevented all
egress the part of its INHABITANTS ana uelbelatey
burned and battered TO pieces every house, putting 10
who sought 10 escape It's dciendefs hoWgNer, lonst
bravcly, though maNaiingly; and when all was over
Law dead upon the ground But shameful than the
ferocity which dictated these wholesale murders was me
rPe fbeV ayoged their readiness to forswear their
faith They accordingly performed in public the ccre-
mony Of tranpng on the cross aud honorable even III
he had promised One of his principal officers asked him
what was To be done with the renegades. " Let the
lave site in tie haTbor like this" holding out his fan.
small island called Dessima, south of the Native CITY,
accordingly enlarged artnclaiy, ana cOhheceu
with the main land by causeway, the whole rudey re-
semblng native fan in shape and TO TINS I9r more
than two hundred years were the Dutch restricted III
is about $50 yards long by 30 III wdth once year Only
Dutch ship allowed TO visit the Larpor az that only
under the most NeXatlOus res foT 3l8
subsequent to the massacre the Dessma Dutch were re-
quired TO trample upon drawing Si thG cross one
year, in presence OF oiheias appointed oy the
Ii scarcely De wondered that Dutch trade has not
proved very successful in this country
1t is said that the Temples OF kilnak!ra, near foko-
hama, contain the various sacred cmbeHs the pidte,
annimated. ] think, however, that the assertion Is
doubtful for have visited them, but could never learn
that such articles supposed to exist there st as
access the nerOr Enclosures Is forbidden TO foreign
eTs, cannot speak positively. 49,. .
The break up Of the exclusive system pursued with the
Dutch dates from about the time Oi Commodore Perys
treaty with Japan and they now enjoy the same prlvi-
above described, a certain number Of Christians re
manned who secretly transmitted TO their children the
teachings they had received and shortly after the
ond United States Treaty Of 1883, which resulted In the
admission of foreign missionaries these longconceaed
Christians threw on their disguise and the agents of the
Roman propaganda found readymade congregations
eager 10 welcome their wlyfOund pastors. But little
notice was taken them by the Government during the
troubles which ensued from 1850 to 1861 About this time,
however fresh prosecutions began and In the early days
OF August OF the latter year 10 native Christians
arrested and imprisoned at Nagasaki The reI10n.
stances OF the foreign representatives had some effect
in checking the rgOr OF their treatment This was how
ever but temporary and In 1868 very harsh measures
taken toward the converts OF Snabarfa the scene
Of the second above described. The foreign
ministers were politely told TO mind their business,
and there nothing ia the treaties 10 Justify inter
ference they dessted In 1862 however, the new Gov
ernment having been consolidated, extensive seizure
Of all natives known 10 be Christians made at Ma
gasak and they exiled to the northern part OF
NessO Local journals said they taken TO and
there drowned and this report reused the ministers 10
action. Sir Harry Parkcs IN CONCERT with MS coledgues
called upon the japanese Government for explana-
ton. formal answer was given To the elect that the
Christians in question not injured and that their
bansment TO YessO political necessity, dictated
by Russian aggression. The northern part 0that
island being minhabted the Russians attempting
It, and meet this the japanese had deter
mined planting colony there themselves. Unsats-
factory il was the Foreign Ministers had 10 be content
with the explanation; but within the last few months
have been taken which leave doubt OF the
intentions OF the native Government TO make the pro-
fesson Of Christianity uncomfortable possible IL
is rumOred here that the French Government intends
interfere vigorously behalf Of their MISSIONS and every
civilized power should back them III such a movement
You will probably learn before this reaches you whether
the is or IL not founded fact The British Min
lister has also expressed his intention OF laying the mat
ter before his own authorities | trust that similar
step will be taken by the United States representative
|
SECRETARY BOUTWELL, IN BOSTON