The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-03-31
oblivion from which she has SO recently

| OBLIVION from Wnlcn Snc mas SO recently
emerged.
These reforms have come upon them
so suddenly that it is no wonder there
should be some mistakes-the marvel is
there should not have been more and Of
a more serious nature. Placing the bal
lot in the hands of a people who SO late
", under the old feudal system, had
practically been serfs, must be regarded
as very dangerous experiment, but the
present quiet and order of things not
| only shows the fidelity OF these people
! to their government but is strong point
in favor of their capability OF self gov
ernment.
But turning from her political situa-
| ton, let US glance at what her advance
Inent has been in some other directions,
especially in her internal improvements.
/ Her statistics show that at q date scare
" more than twenty years ago there was
not a single mile of either telegraph or
railway, in the Empire. The aggregate
lengtl. OF the telegraph lines HOW in
operation is something over eighteen
thousand miles, and that of her railways
tot less than one thousand seven hun
dred, with several additional lines in
course of construction. Both OF these
systems are managed with so much abili-
ty that their trust wCrthiness and eff
cheney are uneXcelled- Tbe construc.
ton of her railways is of the best char
acter, with stone ballasted road bed,
made wide enough for an additional set
of rails-sides of embankments faced
with stone, to prevent the possibility Of
land Sides and every precaution taken
to secure both safety and durability.
English steel rails of the L pattern are
in use on all of the different lines, and
the streams and rivers are crossed on
iron bridges of the most substantial
character The Tokaido railway, the
great commercial artery OF Japan, spans
the main island (Nippon), from north to
south, connecting the Capitol with the
part of Hiago, GATES of the Gods pass
ing through the richest and most produc-
tive valleys, and tapping nearly all of the
great commercial centers of the Empire.
The length of this line of railway, (the
longest in Japan is something less than
four hundred miles In this distance it
pierces two of her principal ranges OF
mountains, and spans half dozen of her
great rivers The equipment of the
railways of the country is patterned en-
tirely after English models which, not
combining, the elegance and comfort of
the American railway service, it seems
8 we'll adapted to the wants of these peo-
pie For the safety of the shipping that
visits her shores the government has
taken every precaution. Although there
were lights upon the most important
head lands previous to the New Era
their construction was extremely primi-
, tive, and their illuminating power in
Significant but under the new order Of
: things, European and American models
!. have been adopted. and a large number
of additional lighthouses have been con
structed Her coast line has been care
All ,fynr, mr.
= shoals buoyed. The extensive harboi
: works which the government is at pres
:, emit engaged in constructing in the lo-
: kohama harbor, and which will require
. three years to complete, is a work o
great commercial Importance. Her Mer
' chant Marine is steadily increasing il
! Importance The Nippon Yusen Kaish;
= line of steam ships compare favorabl.
. : with the leading steam ship lines in tn
!, more advanced parts of the world. Thi
= company has not only an extensive coast
y ing trade but extends it's business t.
. China, India and Australia.
But notwithstanding the progress tina
3 Japan has made during the short periot
u since she threw off the letters of feudal
ISM her advancement is rldlculed il
y both Europe and America. But for al
> this she holds on her course and is grow
. ing and broadening daily. America a
: least should cease unjust criticism Of
!. country, which not only seeks to becom
L her ally but which looks to her will
!. special friendliness, and seeks her guild
. ance and companionshlp. Sir Edwll
= Arnold, in his lecture on Japan, deliver
> ed in Chicago, few days ago, took oc
casion to allude to this subject in TIL
Il following manner: "a great futur
awaits that country, (Japan) your owl
neighbor, and nearer to you than t
- England, and the time will come whel
!. YOU will pierce the Isthmus of Panama
&c and the great era of the Pacific com
merce will commence. In these day
:. the Pacific Ocean will be more importan
~ than the Atlantic, and there will arts
~ splendid traffic contributed by Japan
= India and China and most all America
'e your own great country, sOjU be III posi-
ton to control THIS cast Orieato
traffic. In these days too, you will fin
! japan taking leading place, and lie
y trade aDiL be eGt7emety gdJUG0ie TO yoat.
= America should not fail to heariSetrst
y such words of wisdom. Among other
e who have interested themselves in thl
re matter is Maj. Gen Palmer, one {
~ England's ablest engineers, but no.
v resident engineer of the Imperial Coy
eminent of Japan, who in his able lei
T. tiers to the london Times has urged thi
7, matter upon his government, and he
"a (England's) intelligent consular staff al
ie also wide awake to the Importance {
" this question.
le America is Japans natural ally, by he
q. geographical position, and her prefer
y, ence from social and political reasons
III and between these two countries Their
might and should be u strong allianc
~ that would result in great advantage t
" BOTH The japanese have never bee
81 remiss in national courtesy, and Amer
= ca has been the recipient of her share
70 such favors. The reception she tender
IS ed her great Captain, Gen. Grant, upo
+ - his visit to this country some years age
= should not be forgotten. No Prince G
&c Ruler ever received such an ovation a
Is their hands, and such scenes Of Orienta
o. splendor had meyer bafore been witness
~ ed in the East, and have never sinc
SC been attempted in honor Of any one
le Pleading Japan seeks our friendship
u then why should we not accept the out
= stretched hand and thus secure watci
a. full and by no means impOtent friend.
!, In conclusion I will add that in notin
u the general progress of the country
20 have not touched upon her spiritual ad
T. vancement. With this subject | hardl
= feel competent to deal, but judging frol
" the shadows that hang upon her nor
e zon, fear she has not grasped the trut
~ as she has the arts and sciences-tha
| her advancement has been political an
VI intellectual rather than spiritual, an
e that the masses of her people still see
II inspiration by turning their faces to th
IS Rising Sun. FRANK WINFIELD.
l. Democratic Convention
e The Democratic State Conventio
e which is called to meet in Richmond