, 1876-11-25

hIstfll6t for Which there i8 neither reason nor
Qualification.
JAPANESE PROGRESS.
Japan is no longer tho enigma to the world
that Il onco was. Evcry fow months VIC hear
something interesting Of our aetive, 1orial, COP
pcr-colorcd brethren Rcross the Pacific. Tho
Information this time comes from TINT great
British traveller, Sir CnAR1Es WENTWORTH
DtLKE. One nlwnys expects something good
from lin, and Sir CHARLES tna not disappointed
Ills renders In Ills admirable paper on Japan, In
tho lost number Of tho FortnIghttv. lie sues In
tho growing Indifference md want OF reverence,
displayed Ut late by tho people for their rcilg-
ion, tho working out Of tho Engisl1 and Anlcrl-
can influence. The Japanese Government has
become 80 short Ut money, on account OF heavy
expenditures for public Improvements, that It
actually proposed to sell Dai.Butz, bronzc and
silver Duddha, sixty feet higll, for old metal.
THIS sacrllege WIS only prevented by certain
foreign Ministers, who desired the statue saved
for specimen Of Eastern religious art. II nc
add to this recent strong i1csIru to destroy the
tombs Of tho Tycoons at Toxic formerly
YclJo}, It Is nt once seen that the Japanese arc
becoming fcvcrtsh for modern improvements,
and hnve but little rcgard for ancient dogmas,
especially when they block the van Of needed
progress.
Not only aro religious monuments to be
stashcd down to pay Tor public works, but tho
Finance Minister hns Ind strong call to cut
down tic Incomes of the grcat mobiles Of Japan
80 strong IS public opinion that tile upper
Ten nave beeomc terribly e3cfclectl over tho
prospect thas tho extoftionasc 1acomc-ta9,
which tooS one.1eath OF thcif incomes 'ast year.
VIII not DC content Win less than t"o'tehths
tllas ycaf. Inc Importance OF tue lncome-tAx to
more readlly understood when tue TACT L known
that tue annual appropriations Tor noD'es' pen
sons IS ABOUT Sl4,uNV'oN' INC total revenue
anu expenditure OF Inc Empro Is IN fouhu he-
afes eao'ooo,ooo year. LUG ioples' incomes
are iiall rs lnueh aeai'i Us TIC military eSpenn-
tnfes' I'VE tlmcs tho cost OF the navy, ahu hVe
a'nacs tt'c interest On 1ne hatfoha! aeoE'
sir cnARLfs D1LKs seems to nave great con-
adcnce In tho honesty Of those who administer
tue afiaira Of Japan. her finance accounts may
he taken without suspicion INC European
postal system anu lighthouse systems nave
rro'ed very SUCCESSFUL. lhe fost1nastef-
denefals report OF 1870 also"a that, IN !onF
years. japan tas dlstaneea denmark, sweden,
Nof"ay, turkey, anu dfecee IN the postal
service. 1hree thousand hVe Auhasea posi-
ol'lees nave been Already openee' anu the tn
crease Of 1etteFs roetea IS at tic rate Of " per
cent year. AS tic Fostmaster-dcnefal re-
marked IN MS report: "1he enormous increase
ol bb per cent on tnc revenue oil the pfeccuing
year Is due to TIC rapid progress Of clylllza-
tton." The Japancse already lave thlrty"thFec
lighthouses which arc sa'a to DO models TO a'1y
country f1oh 'hls IL eec'l.8 ohpan Is uc'
ter'nined to BE- on q level With tho European
world In army, navy, education, post -oatcPs,
lighthouses teicefaph, ra!lfoads, etc. 1he e1-
traord'nary proercss OF Japan Is largely At
triousable TO Tue perso'lal ce'ernesa, pluck, anu
che9ey VI tnc sapAHese peopic'
An attempt nos been mate anu, no believe,
receives doscfnment ala anu encouragement,
to Induce iar!ners to raise sheep, with view u
converting tho Hills into pasture 4and' This
Woald bo source OF gfeat wealth TO Japan, as
the nils cover large portion Of tue country.
Up to tue present time little or no use Is being
nlaie Of these vast tracts Of land. The Timber
las been cut OIL and none Las been planted to
replace It. ...
IN sir CHARLES OPINION o0t ono thing re-
MANS ~ cohip1ete tno prosperity Oh she empire
anu Plaes eef ~ the tfoh1 TANKS Q. tHe e'Yil2eo
"oF'd. ihc doVesnmeht must allow Foreigners
TO feslae ahY"hefe III tae country ms cxclu-
son OF 1orelsnefs mas oeen INC great afaw wpaek
TO lcr pEogfcss' This privilege granted, anu
the splendiu mines wonlu then be worked with
English a"d American capital. INC work could
~ done under the direction o! American anu
Etlghsn engineers anu result oeaoaclat TO Jn-
paul few countries nave sueh apnnuant MN.
era! resources Waltlhs 10 ne uhcaftheu' toal
i6 premium IN the hoFth' gotd, copper, lin, ron'
oa's, anu sulphur arc among the products Of Its
mines. There Is much Marble rock salt, amber,
flre-elay, poreclain-elay, petroleum, alum, rock