The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1889-09-11
CONSTITUTION.

We forget tits so old that we doze
in merely calling the centuries
before Rome and Greece were new.
So, too, with China, and We have
been taught to believe that there
was no such thing as change or pro-
gress in either.
To James X Polk, a native North
Car0lnian, we owe it that California
was annexed. We already had Ore
gon fronting on the Pacific coast
California stretched our coast far
down the Pacific, fronting the en-
pires of Japan and China with whom
we had never had any direct dealing
or commerce.
Folks conquesto of Mexico brought
about the defeat of the Democracy,
and the Wings inaugurated Gen.
Zachary Taylor as his successor. In
year, death made vacancy. when
Vlce-President Fillmore became
President, and gathered around him
a cabinet never excelled for ability
among whom the late Hon. W. A.
Graham, of this State.
Mr.. Graham as Secretary of the
Navy, thought there was something
else for MIN to do besides the occa
sional advice given the President in
the cabinet and the dull uninterest-
ing routine of official duties. lie
saw Japan and China lying opposite
our Pacific coast, then a wilderness
indeed-with the most unfavorable
prospect for settlement and develop
ment. But Gov. Graham had the
ken of the statesman, and deter
mined to open communication with
one of the hermit nations what had
long sealed her ports against the
whole world.
So the celebrated exploring expe-
dition Of Admiral Wilkes was pro-
iected by HIM, and sent to Japan
1t was as successful as could have
been expected. From that moment,
the progress of Japan has been but
little short of miracle when every
thing is considered. Modern ideas
have advanced most wonderfully:
modern improvements in almost
every direction; schools after the
American type, and largely carried
on by American teachers, have fur
nished the primary teachers for
general system of common schools
Christianity had advanced with such
rapid strides as to be but little short
of the miraculous.
Some wears ago, it was decided to
give Japan a constitution about like
that of the United States. Patriotic
japanese donbted whether they
would he competent for self-govern
ment under a century Of the adj
vancing civilization, so that legisla'
ton should he done BY Congress:
Of two houses similar to ours
Hitherto the edicts Of the emperor
were the only legislation. The peo'
pie were made for the Mikado: now
it is changed. and now the Mika1c
il to become the constitutional rulel
for the people.
Last February, the 18th, astixe(
for the commencement Of the gov.
eminent under the constitution 81
Japan il a constitutional govern
ment like ours. and she owes it Il
our great Republic more than to al
other causes combined. Hon. VIM
4. Graham, who sleeps at HiIlsboro
projected the movement that brought
about this wonderful ehleyement
Of a constitutional monarchy il
Asia.
Japan has become free consti'
tutional government like ours, ex.
cept that they have legitimat,
monarch by heredity instead Of on,
periodically elected like ours. All
this in Asia the land fertile 10 alb.
solute despotisms from time ion.
memorial. 1t is the eighth wonder
Of the world. and more wonderful
than all the other seven and seven
times a. many more. II il owing Il
American influence they caught {