Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-08-24
JAPANS TENDENCIES.
The Public Men OF the Umpire Dis
GUESSING the Adoption OF the Chris
tian Religion.


The Public Men OF the Empire Dis
GUESSING the Adoption OF the Chris
tian Religion.
Tee II mes OF Saturday published from the
japan Weekly Hail remarkable story from
Japan, says the London Spectator 1t is stat
cd that the pubrcists OF that country are dis
cussing the propriety OF an official adoption
Of the Christian religion, and arc In a larg
measure In favor OF the step. rhey do not
they say, believe 10 Christianity. and are even
repealed by It's dsgmas, holding that educated
men should slwsys be guided by pure reason,
but they thiak the adoption Of the civilized
creed essential 10 the perfection OF their own
civilization and to the maiRtainance OF NOR.
al standard among their people The Jap an
csc, they saw have lost their old faiths. and
II IA Indispensable for the safety OF societ ~
and It's development that they should have a
now one. Without II they will never obtain
that strong conference AMI eliance on each
other which is essential to powerful state.
Some OF the reasons pleaded are OF less I'M
portance than this last, which is not in the
Times narrative, one OF those actually pub
lished being that only when Japan is Chris
tian Will It's music ever improve; and we dare
say most OF the readers OF the account set il
down as mere digest Of purely academ lc
dissertations BIZ half In formed or over-spscu-
lstve men. That however Is not the case.
We have strong reasons, wholly independent
Of the account IN the Ndl, for believing that
the persons who really govern japan are dis
cussing this proposal as earnestly as the pub
l'cfsts and that. although there is a strong
resisting party, II Is still bv no means imposi-
that Christianity may he declared by imperial
decree the official religion OF Japan. Some OF
the most influential councillors OF the empire
are OF the opinion that such a step is essen
tial 10 further progress In civilization, (which
cannot be based upon weak morale, 'and all
implicitly admit that IL would be possible, that
the Indigenous creeds are dying or dead, aud
that tho BODY OF the japanese would receive
the new faith with acquiesence. as something
quite within the educating province OF their
rulers.
/ OF the accuracy Of this view we can not at
+ this distance pretend TO Judge, but we know
II to be held by powerful men, and the
Japanese have accepted so many, such extern
sive, and one would think such ANNOYING
innovations that the view IL probably correct
and though We doubt whether the struggle
can end In victory for Christianity. While b
would Involve reputation OF the mlkado's
claim 10 be, as descendant of the gods, him
self semi divine, the chance Is still serious
enough 10 deserve n moments discussion.
The first feeling OF Englishmen on hearing Of
such a project is one OF instructive repusion.
The last few generations have been so trained
In the idea that religion Is a matter for the
Individual conscience alone, and that any
thing, even satDeing OF persecution, Is NOR
ally wrong, that the PRONUNCIATION OF creed
by a dcspotic government as au official inca
I sure Of education strikes them with a sort Of
horror. There can, they think, be no good
result from step so opposed To the inner
spirit Of Christianity. Nobodv's faith can be
affected by such a proclamation, and for a
whole people TO profess creed In which they
do not believe must be either Hypocrisy, or
OF the best BIT OF hlstrionics OF an obj-c-
tionable, not 10 say rather blasphemous
sort. No mans spiritual state can be the
better for any official announcement that a
creed Is true, unattended with an internal
change In the minds Of those who promulg gate
or obey It, and n great religious revolution
which benefits no mans religious condition
must be useless to any country, and be mos,
and, therefore, beneficial, diffusion Of truly
be stopped instead OF stimulated by the ap.
parent acquiescence OF an unbelieyng peo-
pie.
There Is much force In these objections,
and, indeed, II the japanese believed either
strongly or sincerely In any creed-even ag-
uosticism-thev would be fnsl but this is
/ alleged not to be the case. The assertion lie
thai the bulk OF the people OF Japan, and
more especially OF the directing classes, have
ceased 10 believe strongly in any creed what
ever and are precisely In that condition oi
mind when they Will accept one at the hands
Of rulers, who they th nix know more abou,
what Ia true, or at all events what Is wise,
than they do themselves. The japanese have
learned from the failure OF their own system
% doubt everything, even themselves