The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-02-02

him peaceful. unless you attempt to in
fringe upon his lands, and then he is
ready to fight unto death in self de
fence.
In religion, ne is quite sure to be a
ShintO Buddhist, but 10 save his life, he
could not tell you what he is. The most
he knows or cares about it is at certain
times to go to some shrine and there
leave his offering, be it of rice or few
cOppers. HIs fathers have done so, and
that is proof sufficient why he should
do so, He is going to take the medi-
cine they did if it kills him.
But since the treaty with the United
States great changes have taken plaCr
Some three thousand cattle, N,
nOrses, ten thousand sheep and a.
dTed thousand fruit trees have been in
reduced and are doing well. Artificial
grasses and various foreign cereals are
being experimental with and promise
success. Their agricultural colleges and
| -clentitic schools are preparing the way
Tor better things in this weird land.
Osaka, to which we have referred, aud
which is near at hand, and now being
called the Manchester of Japan. because
Il its manufactures, II doing much for
the farmers in tie way of improving
heir tools The great mint of the coun
ry which is there. is truly modern in
ill recent improvements, equipped as
well as the one 1t London or Washing
on. About AGO natives and several
Englshmcn are employed in it. The
armers must feel the influence of this
institution. Then, too, the light houses
ct along the COasts,th railroads run.
ning through this extensive PLAIN, the
elegraphs s'Tung over the country, the
telephones speaking from city TO CITY
nd the present communications with
Western civiliZat on, must tend to ele
Vate the cullivator of the soil. so that he
will be able to make two blades grow
where but one is Low produced
Japan does move, tor in 1867 there
was not a cotton spinning mill in the
country. Now there are twenty IN sue.
essful operation, with $4,000 spindles,
representing a capital Of some $2,O00,-
900.
Now. here is matter brought to light
hat ought to interest us; for all the
machinery for these mills was purchas.
ID in England;not a single spindle came
rom our country The same is true of
he railroad iron and machinery-all
'as been imported from England and
Germany, and yeg it is an undeniable
TACT that the hest and cheapest railroad
rolling stock is produced in the United
States.
So. our manufacturers or their agents
rught to visit this country and present
their claims. There are now more than
'hree hundred miles of railroad in Jap
4 hu
rther railroad projects started which
will cost millions Uf dollars, According
Iv, while the most successful mission
Ary work is heing carried on by Ameri-
cans, and while the agricultural i'm
provemeDts are being largely managed
by Americans, we should take advdn
age of opportunities to increase our
trade and influence.
In 1885 the export trade of this coun-
try amounted To $37. .l37, 345 and the i'm.
ports to S29,3j gGi In the following
wear the exports amounted to S4S S15,-
All and the Imports to S32, 1863 432, show.
ing a gain in trade for one year Of more
han $14.000.000 Now, the share we
had in this trade was as follows: We
purchased from Japan goods to the
amount of $l6. 900 900 and sold to the
country 5000, ,0C0 worth, giving bal
ance of trade of $4,000 900 to Japan,
while Great Britain during the same
year sold to Japan goods to the amount
o. 1000, 600 and purchased from her
So 900 600 worth giving England bal
auce OF s., 600 600. The sales of Great
Biitain were confined mostly to cotton
md iron manufacturers. Now it is
known that the Unitei States produces
more than half Of the cotton grown on
the globe, and should she not be able to
convert it into cloth and utnish it to
Japan certainly as cheap as Great Brit
ain can, since she first carries the cot
ton across the Atlantic to England and
hen converts it into cloth and conveys
II 16 600 miles, while we could get the
same into the country by shipping it
less than 10 600 mites:
W. shou d real Ze that Japan does not
intend to buy any more than she is
obliged to and therefore is improving
every opportunity of increasing her
home industries that she may as far as
p pssible pr ,duce " hatever is required in
the land Really our merchants and
manufacturers should weigh these facts
C irefully. Offering their goods in ex-
change. and il does seem as though this
would be beneficial both to Japan and
our own Government, If we take most
of her silks and tea, why not furnish
her with most of her cotton goods and
IRON in exchange: Since the arrival of
Commodore Perry in Heddo Bay, and
Mai r Shaw carried the Stars and
S ripes around the world, the Japanese
have had great respect for the Ameri-
can nation, and SO are really waiting
for it to make approaches that she may
have the chance TO return favors.
Jaran is now all astir with the antici-
patton of the good time coming in 1890
when Japan shall have a constitution
and the people shall virtually rule the
Ian The Mkadn's Cabinet is now COM
uosed of thinking, cultured and pro-
gressive men. This fact presages what
is to come. Education ls being made
he basis of her progress. The different
political parties are well organized and
furnished with newspapers, clubs and
public representatives, all speaking ana
acting with reference to the goal of 1890
The masses are reading and thinking,
and appear determined to do the best
thing for their beloved Japan. Already
religious liberty prevails, and the guld-
| ing spirit seems to be Christian. The
school, the press, the cabinet and the
| Christian church are redeemlng the
nation. Japan hitherto was never max.
ing history as now. 1t is classic and
unique. .bespeaklng more hope han fear,
more good than evil. Let the good time
speedily come, and the peasant, farmer,
merchant, mechanic and scholar will
become wiser. better and happier S.
II. MCollester, Correspondent Boston
Journal.
Osaka, Japan. Nov. 20, 1887.
WHAT CIRCULAR" MEANS