Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-01-02
The Man who Leads the way Of re-
form in Japan.

MRS. Frances r. Newton Ia the 1ndependentl
About 30 years ago, in the city OF Osaka,
a boy was born 10 poor family Of the Sam
urai class. SO straitened in circumstances
were they that II was with much difficulty
that the boy, ~ he grew up, found means to
study the Chinese classics, which constituted
the higher education of former times. When
II or lS years of age, he went to Nagasaki,
the first open port, and studied the Dutch
language, the only teachers he could find be-
ing Dutch doctors. Ia pursuing this un-
heard Of course he es,rangsd his family aud
friends and brought upon himself suspicion,
obloquy aud persecution but he kept on his
undaunted way. Subsequently he went to
Toxic, studied English aud established an
English school for boys Of the Sumurai class.
He came to America with the first japanese
ambassador who ever came to this couotry,
and while he was staying here be studied our
customs and manners, with those Of England,
our history and politics, our educational sys-
tens and industrial inventions, and on his
return to japan published a book emitted
"Sai Yo Jiio" ("The Condition OF the West
ern Nations'), which contained brief descrip-
tions of what he had seen and heard in the
West. The Japanese people were startled by
this book. 1t informed them of many things
OF which they never dreamed H. carried
home at this time the first "Webster'4 Una.
bftuRfu luhl ever went 70 JhDhus tuu many
other English books esp cislly school books
to be used in bis English school At this
time the anti foreign party was very strong,
and this man was so intensely hated for these
things that he and bis friends were in great
personal danger.
In 1866 after a second tripto Europe, and a
second visit to the United States, he pub
lished another book the celebrated "Gakum-
om no Susume' (''The Promotion Of Knowl-
edge'). This book contains a number of
short essay on liberty, equality aud patriot
ism, etc As the views Of the author were
Numerically opposed to the opinions held
by the old Chinese aud Japanese thinkers, it
was most severely criticised, aud there WAS
an attempt made to gather aud burn every
copy. Yet 1t had an immense sale OF the
first edition about half million copies were
sold, ana at present there is hardly any one
in japan who thinks the book too radical
How wond rfully alike are the histories of
reform in every land As in water face an
swereth to face, so the heart of man to the
heart of man.
As an organ Of communication between
this great leader and the large party OF prog.
ress Of which be was the iuspirer, the Jill
Shimro (The Daily Times) was founded at
Toxic in March, 1882 Tue first number an
nounced the aim Of this paper to be the rec
oncllng Of the government and the people,
ana the promoting of the welfare of Japan
by increasing its weslth and military power
OF late the Jill Sbmro has been treating,
with great ability and tact, in styles adapted
to both the higher and lower classes the sub
ject of "Our Foreign Intercourse" This has
set the whole japanese people to watching
with intelligence and interest the course
which foreign nations, especially America
and England, will take in regard to ex-terri-
torial rights in the new treaties now under
consideration. The practical Christianity
and justice, which we put into our treaties
With them, will rghtfully have much to do
with the signifcancy of the message of good
will which our missionaries are carrying from
Us to them. The whole people are awake as
never before.
Now, rs we review the history of Japan
| for the last 20 years, We shall see that, in its
three distinct periods of development, it has
responded to the electric touch of its great
est leader. l say greatest, for though the
Mikado has stood at the front before the
world, it is the man who, by educating the
| young men of the Samurai class for tn last
| 20 years in western ideas, without which not
even the Mikado could have wrought his
| great and wise reforms. Journalist, lectur-
er, author, as he is, it is principally and pre-
eminently as a teacher that he holds in If
fectiouate control and following hundreds of
the young men of the leading class