The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-03
VISITORS IN TWO PULPITS.
; Revs. NOrthrOpat Plymouth and Brown
at the First Presbyterian.
The New PrOvdential Movement Among
the People of Japan-President Brown
Talks About Cruelty to Animals
DEVELOPMENT OF JAPAN.
a Leap from the Fifteenth to the Nineteenth
Centary-The Present AIilaado.

well known as prominent educator and who
took a prominent part in the work of developing
the educational system Of Japan. occupied the
pulpit of Plymouth Church yesterday morning
his discourse being on the subject of the de-
velopment of Japan. Dr.. Northrop spoke sub
stantially as follows:
"Japan is unique in its geography people,
laws, customs and manners. 1t stretches from
the latitude of Maine to that of Florida, and pre-
sents a coast line more extended than that Of
the United States. 1t is governed by the Oldest
dynasty in the world. The family of the
Mikado have swayed the scepter of Japan for
2,545 years, and on that account. mainly, were
looked upon as divine till the present
sovereign, who is a man of excellent
education and sound common sense, renowned
all supernatural pretensions, forbade his daimios
to PROSTATE themselves in his presence and, in
stead of allowing himself to be carried about be-
hind curtains, which gave to his adniring sub
jects only glimpse of his imperial feet availed
himself of all such occasions as the institution of
colleges, the founding of asylums and the open
ing of bridges and railroads. occasions plentifuIy
supplied by the rapid advance of his realms in
civilization, to mingle with the higher classes of
his subjects
To Europe a knowledge of these remarkable
islands was first brought three hundred years ago
by the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Pinto;
and then the Portuguese, the Dutch and the Jes
uits repaired to her for mercantile and mission
airy operations, and for eighty years the
JdpdD6SG WClCOnleU Un6 NlSlJS OIL IOr-
eigners. At the end of that period
they reviewed its history and came to
the conclusion that Japan had never so disas-
trous an epoch. Among other discoveries they
found that they had been misled into trading
away their gold for five times instead of fifteen
times its weight in silver; that they had been
cheated in most Of their bargains, and that vice
and disease had become rampant among them
The nation, it was ascertained, had been i'm
poverlshed, and was daily growing poorer. For
eign influence at .Once became unpopular in
Japan, and for long period, as is well known,
the nation vigorously excluded aliens from their
ports The strictness of this isolation is strik-
lngly illustrated by the story of the celebrated
DR. Williams, who was attached to Perry's en-
bassy, and the seven Japanese sailors whom he
endeavored, after they had been saved from
shipwreek, to assist in returning home They
reached Japan, but were not permitted by their
own government to remain at home, the refusal
| being based on the plea that they had been
among foreigners long enough to be spoiled by
their bad example
When Japan was again received into the fa1ni-
ly of nations its government was practically
dual. The Mikado the supreme rNler, but
| the Tycoon was encroaehiIig upon his preroga-
tives. Two years later, the nation following the
example OF Europe In aiming at unihcation of
the government, came the struggle between the
Mikado and Tycoon, in which the latter was re-
duced to submission This was followed by the
abolition of a feudal system resembling that of
Europe. This amazing revolution was effected
by the mobiles themselves, from motives of the
|
purest patriotism and with view of establish
ing on a sure basis the liberties of their country
In this respect, in the voluntary abandonment
by the nobility of wealth, titles, and honors
that grand movement was in advance of any
concerted action by the Individual members of
any class of society since history began. The
argument which influenced these noble patriots
to pursue their self-Sacritieing course was that
since they had compelled the Tycoon to relin-
quish his prerOgatiyes that the government might
be consolidated and strong, they also were
bound, for the same reason, to relinquish theirs
and they voted to do it. The progress Of Japan
has been civil, material intellectual, moral In
civil affairs they have been adopting the princi-
Piles Of our common law The material improve
ments have included railroads. telegraps, light
houses and chairs This last is more important
than it at first seems The old-fashiOned way of
sitting in Japan was to bend the feet, putting
the toe of one to the heel of the ether in
position unattainable by European or an Amer
lean, and TO sit down upon the species of bench
thus contrived Strange to say this was found
to render the people indolent, and, also, to make
them narrowc hested and superinduce affections
of the lungs. Now chairs are used in all the
schools and in many private houses The intel
lectual progress of Japan includes a com
plete system of popular education en-
bracing eight colleges, 256 high-schoos, and
less than 55, 900 grammar and primary
schools. This has only been hindered by want
of money, and will be perfected as soon as the
national treasury, depleted by making so many
improvements all at once, shall have been re-
plenished Japan it must be remembered is
springing at one bound from the fifteenth to the
nineteenth century.
The postal arrangements, all things eonsid-
cred, are admirable Last year over fifty mill
ion of letters and newspapers were delivered;
for like religion, the press is free.
When the strength and tenacity of ancient
usages are considered, it is little less than won
derful that the government has been able to
abolish the custom of hari-kari, and others of
equal antiquity. The former difficult feat how
aUap has baap acoOYnD1icbad fba
an ordinance that whoever committed suicide
should have his head displayed on a pole at the
corner of his street, to be deridea and insulted
by the populace. To japanese this is worse
than death itself. Great efforts are also being
made by the government to repress the sale of
bad books and pictures and to crush out all kinds
of Righteousness The custom of trampling on the
cross has been abolished. The Christian Sab
bath has been made the first day of the week
The Bible circulates freely. and the receipt of
superb copy of the sacred volume, presented by
the American Bible Society to the Mikado was
cordially acknowledged by that enlightened
prince Many japanese officials and many of
the students in this country are aYoWsd Chris
tians and the Buddhist priests in Japan arenow
allowed to wear the costume of every day life
to marry, to work and to eat meat The Japan
nese are, perhaps, the most courteous people in
the world. In the families where the students
here have resided they have always been favor
ties and of the two japanese young ladies lately
in Vassar College-Miss Yamakawa and Miss
Nagal-the former was president of her class.
One remarkable Characteristic of the Japanese
is their taste for flowers. The heraldic emblem
of the Mikadoo is the ehrysanthemum, which
appears on the Japanese coins; and at the din
ners of the japanese minister in Washington
the table is always decorated with that flower
From Japan come many of the new flowers and
foliage plants INTRODUCED with such fine effect in
American ornamental gardening.
The payment of the japanese indemnity by
our government last June is gratefully recognized
by the japanese government as a rare instance
of national conscience, for the practical theory
in the diplomacy of the European governments
has seemed to them to be, THAT the weaker
powers have no rights which the stronger nations
are bound to respect Japan is now open to