The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-03-28
Japnn andits Dignities.

"My country is undergoing complete
change from old to new," said Moutsouhi-
to, Mikado of Japan. 1t is not unprofita-
BILE for us upstairs of a century or two to
temper our national vanity by obtaining
"realizing sense" Of the many worthy and
venerable dignities' of its sold" and Of the
great promise, scarcely less than that of
this great nation, of its ''new."
The catholic-minded editor of Old and
+ Neao, always on the watch for lessons Of
this teaching, has not failed to seize upon
so remarkable an occasion as this visit of
the present embassy from the " Yankees of
the East and we may quote from what
will appear in the April issue of that
monthly as its introduction, as putting all
this in most striking light:
"The Japanese Embassy has, before this
time, proved to ourpeople, what it is so diff
cult to make our people understand, that
one civilized nation is, in this case, dealing
with another.
''The Japanese forms and methods of
civilization are, indeed, very different from
ours. But nation which has kept internal
peace for four hundred years may well
claim that it understands the essential prin-
ciple on which Christian civilization is based
4
1t is indeed matter of fact not sufficient
ly appreciated by the youthful of the ma
tons of the West, that in Japan there ex-
lists civilization older, and in many re-
spects more complete than ours. That it
is higher and better, of course our compla-
cency will hardly allow us to concede.-
Nevertheless, it is true, that in this ORR
entail Empire, education is more widely diff
ft,caI fbo,, ,,ottCY, Of ha Mast
few being unable to read their native litera-
ture and that literature is neither meagre
in amount, nor by any means inferior in
character. Books in almost every
department of human thought have
been accommodating for ages. Print
ing was all antiquated art there be-
fore the days of Faust and Gutenberg, and
the oldest newspaper to-day is printed up
on silk, in the dominions of the Mikado.
In almost every department of mechanic
arts their ingenuity has been prolific and
constantly active. Its productions in
many cases are so different from ours as to
appear to our narrow minds ridiculous,
but they are as useful il, their way as our
own inventions, and the skill displayed
cannot be surpassed by the most acute of
Yankees. Organizations for public and
pIlVate purposes are loTineu allu ulrecteu
with unquestionablc ability and success in
Japan.
In public and individual morals, too, we
dare not challenge comparison. The
most observant and fair-minded travellers
have borne witness that in the treatment of
strangers and the observance of the ameni-
ties of life in their own social relations
they would stand fair chance of coming
out from the test triumphant. In our ig-
norance of the history, the institutions and
the character of the japanese we have been
wont to look upon them as outside barba.
rians. A few years ago they no doubt re.
garded us in the same light, and who shall
say which had the better ground for theil
opinions ? They have shown a tolerant
spirit and willingness to learn OF us
Shall we not meet them half way, and as
certain what good can come out Of Japan
N. Y. Ecening Mail.