The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-13
BUT KAJINOsUKE IBUKA, OF TO-
KIO, IS A BELIEVER IN
AMERICA
AND IN AMERICAS RELIGION,
BEING A REGULAR MINISTER IN
THE PRESBYTERIAN DENOM-
NATION.
SEEN THROUGH ORIENTAL EYES
Impressions of the SANITY City
Gained by "a Busy Visitor From
Abroad.

Gained by Busy Visitor From
Abroad.
81 stood on one of the high bridges
over the river last evening and watch
ed the electric cars go dashing past 1
saw the very tall buildings and heard
the roar of the railway cars under me
and 1 felt thrilled and amazed at the
material progress of the new world"
said Kajinosuke Ibuka, NJ. A. of Toxic,
Japan, at the Merchants last evening
But month ago, and I was in
Japan. l was surrounded by people
and customs and sights which have
scarcely changed in hundreds and hun
dreds of years. The transition was so
great that it deeply impressed me. In
the larger cities and on the coast line
OF Japan we are making remarkable
progress toward a more modern civili-
cation. We owe much to you Of Amer
lea. But in many portions of Japan
there has been little change for CEN
turieS.'
Mr.. Ibuka is the president of the
Presbyterian college at Toxic and a
Of the Presbyterian church and came
to America to attend the Worlds Stu
dent Christian federation, which meets
soon in New York. The federation is
an international federation Of the Y.
NJ G. A. of the world. Mr. Ibuka is a
delegate from Japan, where national
union has recently been organized. Like
most of his countrymen, Mr.. Ibuka is
short of stature, but robust and strong.
His motions are quick and enthusiastic.
He speaks excellent English.
Japan blesses the day when old
Commodore Perry hammered with his
guns upon the gates Of our country"
said Mr.. Ibuka
He hammered and hammered until
he gained admission It was a rough
lesson for us, but it was necessary, and
the old commodore we'll knew it. From
that moment Japan commenced to rise
out Of paganism toward civilization.
Then there came to US your first minis
ter plenipotentiary, Mr.. Harris. He
was a far-sighted man. Well he knew
that unless Japan signed treaty with
the United States Immediately that it
would not be long before Russia, Ger
many or England would come along
with harder and most exasperating
conditions. So Japan signed it's first
treaty with America and has always
been glad. America is our greatest
friend. We look to her for advice, for
a market, for our machinery, for our
warships, for our locomotives, for al
most everything. I think the national
feeling in Japan is of the warmest love
for the American government"
Then it is not true that the jap
anese government is hostile on account
Of the Hawaiian incident" was sug-
geSted. @Ef 4'c ,sszi5ft.
mot at ALL was the reply 1.-The
people Of japan and the government
do not attribute the difficulty to the
United States. Of course our immi-
grafton and development companies
have lost money by the action of the
Hawaiian government, but the Incl
dent is now closed and friendly rela-
lions have been resumed
"I think that Russia is still figuring
on more territory in the Orient" con-
tinued Mr. Ibuka I'VE do not feel as
kindly toward her as we might. Rus
STA means to control Manchuria. She
is building her railways to the gulf
and in time intends to have China
under her little finger. Great Britain
will not allow it. and in this we are
assured Of support"
What are the commercial condi-
tons in Japan at the present timer
Our manufacturers are doubling in
their output. We are making new
things constantly. The Japanese are
progressing in mechanical arts. You
know as race, we lead in the fine
arts. We are skillful with our hands.
There is not a Japanese but loves the
beautiful. For this reason, perhaps
we are not an inventive or a creative
nation. But you are teaching us. We
are apt scholars. You taught us how
to make war, how to run our engines,
how to spin. Now we do all that our
selves. We have our own military and
naval colleges. We have colleges and
high schools and in them we teach
the English language. which is to be
the common foreign language Of the
islands"
american imports are fast supple
menting those Of Germany and Eng
land First we bought our locomotives
in England and invited her engineers
to come to us. Then we bought in
Germany, and then in the United
States. Now nearly all Of our loco
motives come from this country and
they are superior in make and results"
"As to the progress of the Christian
religion in Japan, will say that it has
not been making as rapid strides as 1t
did few years ago, but 1t has been
making steady progress nevertheless.
Buddhism and other Pagan religions
are fast losing their power upon the
people"
Mr. Ibuka will attend Central Pres
byterian church services this morning
and will leave for Chicago late this
afternoon. He is deeply impressed
with the size of the American conti-
nent and the wonderful facilities for
travel He was a passenger on the
steamer Pathan from Yokohoma,
which broke her engines in mid-Pa-
cific, and drifted for three days at the
mercy Of the elements.