The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-01-25
rrpon OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

| of the tourists and doubtless tne n0splta!1CieS
of the metropolis will also be rendered to
them from our local officials. All New York
turned out twelve years ago to welcome the
deputation led by Sima Boozen, and 1t receiv-
ed much attention from our government, but
The party now on lis way east from San Fran
cisco is of much greater dignity and impor-
.tance, and the impres ,ons Americans may
make upon its members will be of more con-
sequence 1t has been sent out by the Mikado
and the Japanese Parliament, TO confer with
the governments of the whole civilized world,
with the view of placing Japan among civiliz-
ed nations. How largely American influence
predominates in Japan may be seen from The
| circumstance that our minister, Mr. DeLong,
| has been selected by the Japanese ambassa-
| dors 10 do for Them what Mr.. Burlingame did
| for the Chinese few years ago-lo act as
their cicerone with foreign nations.
The Japanese Government: IN pursuance OF
| its new policy, has sent to this country and
Europe about six hundred young men, be-
longing 10 the noble families, to be educated
In every branch of learning. Rather more
than half are studying in the United States,
being scattered through New Eogland, New
York and Pennsylvania. The government
has also resolved to give the women of ils
country the same advantages, and with
Iwa-Kura's embassy are six young Japanese
| ladies, who are on their way to Vassar Col
lege, at Poughkeepsie, on the Hudson. Many
of the young men are at school 10 New York
and Brooklyn.
It was nv good fortune, few days ago, to
be able to interview several of the japanese
gentlemen who have been attending the
classes OF the Polytechnic Institution 10 Brook
| lyn. One of these students, nobleman of
! high rank. has since left by Captain Robert
| I,0ckWood's steamer for Charleston, where he
will remain few days, and then proceed to
Aiken for the benefit oil bis health. All who
come iu contact with him will find him 10 be
| Informed gentleman. Among those who re,
main In Brooklyn Is prince of the Imperial
| family. the only one In America, though news.
paper reporters are In the habit OF comforting
ihe princely title on all our Japanese visitors.
This young man. who Is known here by his
travelling name, Mr.. Asyupa, is q ki1snan !, Dy
| blood TO The emperor, and his adopted brother
| by law, He Is about twenty years Of age, Is
well formed and graceful In his movements,
has good head and delicate features, and The
same refinement and good breeding that dis
tinguish all the Japanese noblemen have yet
met.
panions, I have learned some facts about the
| future Great Britain of Asia which may be OF
Interest to The readers Of The NEWS. The
modern awakening OF Japan tsok place Win
The revolution of 1S67-8. which dethroned the
| Tycoon, restored the Mikado TO the supreme
power. aud opened Japan 10 The Introduction
OF western civilization. Since then the pro-
gress OF the country and the people towards
| eplIyhtment has been wonderful. when it Is
reflected that, but q few years ago, the nobi1.
ty were wrapped in exclnsiyeness, and ihe
common people In ignorance, that foreign
sailors wrecked on The coast were put ID
Il fnn rQlnntnnIlr IN
miIted to trade at one port only, the change
seems more astonishing still. 1t Is but hVe
Years since reform began, and to-day thls
ouick-witted people have their rivers and
coasts swarmfng with steamboats,, all their
| principal rorts connected win the capita Dy
| lines of telegraph, railroads building and part
| ly In operation through the country, daily
jupaness newspaper published In Yeddo, and
| Yankee sewing machines, washing machines
| and wripgers, and Chickering's aud Stein
ways pianos iu their houses.
A still more curious change Is the gradual
adoption of The European costume by The peo-
nile. They have an aptness In finding what Is
most us.fll and comfortable In the Western
arts and customs, and permit no national pre-
iudlces to stand in the way OF their adoption.
tThe Japanese clothes are very well In sum-
mer," said one, shut We find your costume The
most sensible all the year round The MI
kado, who Is, according to the religion OF the
nnDer q
been regarded with 80 much awe and reTer-
ence, that he has lived life apart from und
above the rest of the world, but he has now
come down from the clouds, and leads the re-
form movement In person. Recently he visit
ed The United States war vessels In pnri, and
In return entertained The American officers In
This palace at dinner In the European fashion.
The political changes have been equally
great The government was formerly an ab-
solule despotsm, the Mikado being the nomi
nal and the Tycoon the actual monarch. The
system Is now an odd combination Of Hbsout-
ism and democracy. The Mikado Is still su.
preme ruler, with the power Of life and dealh
J over his subjects; but Is under moral check
from parliament Of two houses, correspond
ing 10 OUR Senate and House Of Representa-.
lives, the first of which 10 composed of mem.
bers appointed by himself ana the last of del
epates chosen by universal suffrage. Within
a year the order of the nobility, which has ex
isted since time immemOriai, hos been swept
away by Parliament. Tner. are now but tWo
ranks In the empire-the Mkado and the peo.
Pile. With the exception of the ministry ald
high officers of the goVel nmeDt, al the ON
cials in Japan are now CHOSEN by the elective
system. We can get some conception Of The
greatness of the revolution when we see the
foundations Of ages thus overturned In mo
ment and with the acquescence OF the peo
pie, too; for I am assured there is but oHs
party In Japan now, and that s the Reform
party. But the wonder grows when We learr
that the people will permit their religion L
be reformed also. The latest decree Of tn,
Mlkado strips the pri, sthood of their pecu ial
priviIeg. 8, and orders them into The army o.
to useful mechanical employmentS. Hitherto
it has not been thought OF consequence 10 ed
i ucale the women 10 be more than good house
| wives But under the new order OF thipg
women are to be as highly educatrd as men
and to have the chance to become DtStaelS OIL
Missions, II they have the fire in them.
Knowing The interest that is fell in The mat
ter by so many of our people. asked th'
Japanese gentlemen for some information re
sppcting the attitude Uf III. government ant
inhabitants towards Christian missionaries
At present no foreign religions are tolerated
but they have no doubt that ere long ever
man will be permitted 10 worship according
10 the dictates of his own conscience. 1I
deed. This seems 10 be the logical cunseqlenc
of all The other liberal changes that are Il
progress. Japan will offer an inviting fe
: | TO the Chris Ian propagandists. for the peopl
[. are naturally 30 intelligent and eager for I'm
provemen! that they will readily see and &C
cept what Is good In new systems, either G
re!i.ion, morals or poiilics. The census
' last year returned population of over 35 900
:, 600, and as the country is no larger than lh
b two Carollnas and Georgia. some idea Of IL
popnonsness may be formed.
. During this interviewing some peculiar tof
!. les were approached with deiicacy, as wa
:. not. certain they would be received with con
posure. but found my Japanese friends affi
D.. hl,y IN to1 anv anhtpct The nj