The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-02

Nations May Teach Ono Another.
The arrival of the Japanese Embassy marks
an important era in the history of the interesting
country of Japan, and is not without its les
sons to America. We have been curiousy
observing our distinguished visitors in their
enforced seclusion at Salt Lake City. The
exact and docile Oriental mind must have
had its own thoughts, for instance, about the
way in which a great nation manages its
Pacific Railway. They have seen railway
built with princely subsidy cut In two by q
winter snow storm. Since then they have seen
a great city almost In ashes. If they had been
blessed with hearing of the three weeks de-
bate of the Senatorial demagogues, and could
have been instructed by Mr.. Mort as to its
tenor, and learned that there were American
Senators who felt that political capital could
properly be made at the expense of their
country's honor, they would have had an odd
idea Of American patriotism. The resources
of our great country would not have
been exhausted with these phenomena. We
can show them our Court House, which cost
ten dollars a brick; its carpets, worth
hundred dollars yard; its walls, as expen-
sive as If they had been done in porcelain.
Above all, Field Marshal Lane may gallantly
show them the Erie Opera House and the
troupe of decorated ballet girls, and instruct
them in railway management. 1t will not be
our fault, either In New York or Washington,
if the illustrious Orientals do not comprehend
the whole scope of American civilization.
Japan has long been q sealed nation.
The spirit of exclusion which has per-
vaded the East has never been 80 success
fully preserved as in Japan. When even as
able and well-lnformed an author as Swift
wrote his famous narrative of "Gulliver's Trav-
els" he gave his imaginary countries, where
nature was supposed to run wild, place
near Japan, as the one country which seamen
and adventures never visited The daring
Englishry who conquered India and found
Judgment on the Chinese coasts and occupied
the Pacific islands the thrifty and enterpris-
ing Dutch, who, two centuries ago, disputed
with the English the possession of the rich
islands of the Orient; even the French, who
have been striving for centuries to aggrandize
themselves at the expense of the Asiatics,
have always been repealed from the interior of
japan. 1t is six hundred years since Marco
Polo and his Venetians made an effort to
occupy the islands, and the result of their
voyagngs, as written in the extravagant
rhetoric of the day, was to make Cipango the
dream of navigators. The history of the
Catholic Church is identified with an effort to
civilize Japan, which forms tragical chapter
of religious enterprise, and the heroes of which
have been canonized as martyrs. What Marco
Polo and his successors could not do was
achieved by Francis Xavier and his followers
in obedience to the orders of the Jesuits. So
well was this done that an Embassy of
Japanese noblemen and scholars, mainly CON-
verts to the religion of Christ, visited Pope
Gregory and made spiritual submission to the
Xavier had controlled the relations between
the Portuguese and Dutch traders and the
Japanese, if the Gospel of charity and good
will had been practised by Catholic
mariners as well as preached by
Catholic missionaries, Japan might have
remained open to our European civilization
and as accessible as India and Egypt. But
this was not to be. The Christian traders be-
gan to deal with the Japanese as they he'd
dealt with Montezuma and Guatamozin and the
Incas of Peru. But they were far different
people from the docile natives of Mexico and
South America. So in time they arose and
drove the foreigner with his cross into the
sea, putting thirty thousand Christians to
death, the legends say, and sealing their
coasts to the Christian world.
Efforts have now and then been made to
open Japan to the commerce of the West, but
nineteenth century to conclude satisfactory
treaty. We printed the narrative Of the ne
gotiations yesterday. Since 1854, when Com
modore Perry signed the treaty with the ia
panese on behalf of the United States, other
nations have been gradually securing CONNER
cial treaties from the Mikado. The influence
which Commodore Perry established at the
outset by his candor and courtesy and perfect
fairness has never been weakened
In this respect the country was also
well served by Townsend Harris,
our Minister. In time Japan sent an
Embassy to America, and the profuse courtesy
showered upon its members by our
government and people made pro-
found and gratifying impression upon
Japan. Since then American influence has
preponderated. Our Pacific coast was washed
by the seas that laved its shores. Japan
began to regard America as in some sense
neighbor. Little streams Of emigration began
to drip into California and Oregon, following
the great movement of the Chinese. America