Delaware tribune, and the Delaware state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1877-18??, 1877-07-26
THROUGH ALMOND EYES
AMERICAN MORALS AND MANNERs
As SEEN BY 4 JAPANESE.


From the North American Review for July.
The American people have been SO very
kind in receiving my political rshexions
that / take the great liberty of writing
again my observations aud feelings about
their country. I would not, however, do
this without having been asked, because
to offer opinions too freely often gives
offence when it il not intended. So wish
clearly to explain, that what write now
il in consequence Of urgent request, and ia
not my own proposal. No doubt, many
will laugh at my opinions this time, just
as they laughed at my political refiexions,
but cannot understand why they laugh.
read Senator Morton's paper on Ameri-
can Constitution. He said almost exactly
the same things I did. This astonished
me very much-and it also satisfied me,
because 1 found this very clever Senator
agrees so closely with me. But l observe
newspapers did not laugh at him then
thought, If had signed his paper and he
had signed mine. they would have laughed
at his paper, and approved mine. Ameri-
can people look too much at names.
They think, when a paper is signed by
great name, they must approve, never
mind what is in the paper; if foreigner or
unknown man signs. then they don't
approve-or pass by silently.
| observe in every country there ls dif-
ferent kind of morality, different kind of
vice, although all the countries may be
| Christian, still vices in Catholic countries
differ from vices in Protestant countries,
vices in old countries differ from vices in
new countries, vices in countries where
church is paid by the Government differ
from vices in countries where churches
are not paid by the Government, vices in
countries where there is rich and idle
aristocratic class, differ from vices in
countries where everybody is equal and
everybody is busy making money. As
am writing for Americans, l will leave all
these other countries out of the question,
and describe the vices which I observe in
a new country, which is chiefly Protestant,
where the churches are not paid by the
Government, where everybody is equal,
according to the Constitution, and all are
busy making money. l will not say any
thing about their virtues, not because the,
have not got any indeed, they have
most excellent virtues and high qualities
but it in not necessary for me to tell them
they describe them very fully themst lvei
both in conversation and newspapers
therefore there would be nothing new il
this, but their vices are not 80 often de
scribed, except sometimes with bitterness
but / will describe them with grea
affection because have received no mucl
kindness from American people. II
the first place, Americans, quite naturally
like all other Christians, think their re
ligion best in IT, world, therefore the.
must try and make other nations adopt 1t
for that reason they send missionaries +
, Japan. II missionaries could come alone
without sailors or merchants, / think the
, might do some good. Generally, they ar
very good men, though missionaries O
| different Christian sects quarrel anon
| themselves more than any other people
) still, individually, they try to set a goo
example, only their religion does not pre-
: vent them from hating each other whe
I they do not agree on religious subjects.
D Ihave examined into religious matter
t good deal, and find no religion wher
q difference is 80 great between what religio
! teaches, and what the people practice as i
+ Christian religion. Mahometan religio
I does not teach such high and pure moralit
: as Christianity, but Mshometans practit
t their religion much more closely. The
y are never ashamed to pray, even when the
z are alone among strangers; they perforl
n all observances very faithfully. They d
g not depart from teaching in order to NAL
l. money, therefore they cannot make
< when they are near Christians, becaul
o when Christians Gao called want to NAL
Q money, they do not care much what the
o Bible teaches, but Mahometan cares VIII
Il Koran teaches. Bible says, it is not got
4 to lend money on usury, but Christian
1t always charge interest. Koran says san