The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-01-11
GENERAL CIVILIZATION.
From the Chicago Tribune.


The rapid progress which the Japanese
are making, in adapting themse Yes TO
the forms of higher civilization, is one
of the most astonishing events of the
present century. The new departure
which they have taken is so radical, in
deed, that it is almost impossible to con-
ceive Of it and, at the rate of progress,
it is by no means certain that we may
not sUOp have to look to the Orient for
our own ideas Of civilization. No sooner
did the Japar csc hear OF paper money
than they substituted il for their own in
c. Dveuent specie, and Immediately after
wards appeared in the London markets
as negot.atols of loan. Their next step
was t. apply the principles of political
economy to finance and adopt free trade,
which they will practically carry out
when their treaties are revised by declar-
ing void the prohibition on the export OF
rlce. They are building railroad hun
dreds OF miles in length. They have
adopted our system Of steamboats,. They
have introduced tram.roads in the Empire
an Improvement the feasibility OF which
is even now discussed in London. They
have formed society for the prevention
O
aud clothed their soldiers upon she mode
of the European military system. Tho
Mkado himself shares the progressive
ideas o bis people. He has ordered that
the women shall have equal opportunities
for education with the men. He has com
manded the Buddhist priests to cease
their mummeries and 60 to work a
mechanical pursuits He has broken Ctl
tjme.hOnoIed custom of his ancestors
which provided that the sovereign SHOULD
be invisible to his peopt, and now con
stantIy appears in public. He has giver
up the national beverages and taken tht
p0tIstr and more clvilizlng champagne
Wishing to elevate his literary tastes, ht
is studying German for use and Frencl
for ornament, and has generously giver
the younger members of the nobility p
portunines for travel and study.
These changes are as rapid as they art
sweeping, and denote one of the mos
curious social revolutions in the hist ny
Of the world. It has long been the bnas
Of Oriental civilization that 1t furnished
the world, hundreds OF years ago, witt
all the great discoveries of science,-tiit
compass, printing, gunpowder, electricity
Tile al O1 ua ISdtl'Ai' OOC' OluCS Lud
time, however, il has stood still. Is Il
pussl bile that in the revolutions Of tht
whi"lgig "f time, we are gong undot
ana that the Orient is coming upper
m"st ? That, absorbing whatever "t
may nave accomplished, the heather
ChJaee's next door neI9hbnr is stnrtirp
of Ia the lace OF progress at pace which
Will leave us out oi sight, amt tlla5 H.
Will once more eclipse Us all with the
brIIilaEcy Of his new civilization? What
ever else may be Thought If him, it i
certain that I've is quicker in apprehension
tb;l w. VIII re;le discuss ng and
reas''nlug.he is accepting with lntuitlv ~
correct Judgment, ANA putting int,
practice with a marvellous power of inn
tation. to say the least. 1t will b. /"
curious study tt, fellow HIM in the ne"
path he has marked out, and see If, after
accep my our ideas and theories So
readtly,he has inventive powers suficien
to enable hun to improve apnn them and
USE them for hts elevation above our own
plane OF civilization.