Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-24
PROGRESS IN JAPAN.

Among the principal changes, there has
been an entire revolution IN the system of
government, the Mikado having become the
active head of the temporal power. The
entire system of feudalism has been swept
away, and all the forces of the empire, both
on land aud sea, have been consolidated,
and are fed and clothed in European style,
and paid from the national treasury. The
government possesses large fleet of war
and transport steamers, among which are
the StoneWall, and other irOn-clads and
rams. 1t has also constructed a stone dry
dock that will admit steamers of the largest
size, with ways for repairing smaller YES
sells; and foundTies, machine shops and
FORCES, capable of doing the largest class of
work, the machinery used being the
best obtainable in France, at a cost
of over two million dollars. This estab-
lishment gives employment to eighteen hun
bred men, about a score Of them being
foreigners, and the remainder Japanese.
The government is also building railroad,
which when completed, will extend from
Hiogo to YedO, distance of about four
hundred miles.
The government schools at YedO contain
about sixteen hundred pupils, studying for
eign languages, three-fourths of whom are
under American teachers, receiving an
English education. The Principal of this
school, and some twenty sub-teachers, are
Americans, while many subjects of other ma
tions are employed in different capacities in
other departments. An American fills the
highest office that foreigner can hold I'M
der the Japanese government-that is, In
perial Councillor, whose duty it is to fran .
codes of general laws for the empire. Four
Americans compose a Scientific Commits
sion, to introduce new methods of agricul-
ture, mechanics, mining, roads, etc, while
another American has been appointed to re-
wise and organise system of internal reve-
nue. somewhat similar to our own. In ad-
ditiOn, during the last four years, nearly
one thousand young men of intelligence
and ability have been sent abroad to study
the languages, laws, habits, manufactures,
methods of government, and all other mat
tiers appertaining to western civilization, the
greater part of which is to be introduced
into Japan.
Japan to-day has a population of thirty
five millions, or within a few millions of
that Of the United States. Unlike the Chi
nese, its people readily make changes in
clothing, food, manufactures, and modes of
living, when they see improvements there
in. They are, as race, highly intelligent,
brave to rashness, clearly in their habits,
have high sense of personal honor, and are
universally polite, from the highest dignitary
to the lowest in the land, and withal are
kindly disposed towards foreigners, espe-
cially Americans. Unlike the Chinese,
again, the people of Japan are warmly at
tached to their country, and will not emf
crate on coolie contracts, the thirst for
knowledge being the incentive of those who
seek foreign lands. A Japanese who can
speak and write foreign languages, the Eng
glish in particular, Is assured of profitable
employment under his government, with
favorable prospects Of promotion. The
law that forbade marriages between the
noble and the common classes has been re-
pealed, with the effect to elevate the mar
rage ties, by improving the moral and so
cial status of woman. The barriers of
caste, that allowed mobiles only to bear arms,
or to hold military or civic Office, have been
modified, so that all classes, except the tan
ners, whose occupation is deemed unelean,
are now eligible.
Another important change made has been
the withdrawal of government assistance to
the Buddhist religion, leaving it to continue
only through the voluntary support of the |
people. The priests, having no income,
have been advised by the government to en-
ter the army as soldiers, so that Sintooism,
which IS only amoral code, is all the reli- |
gion left for the guidance of the people. |
This circumstance seems to prepare the way
for the introduction of Christianity, for it |
is now well known that the oppressive
measures taken by the japanese govern
ment against it, we're mainly caused by its
interference with the temporal authority
San Francisco Bulletin.