The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-28
ALMIGHTY'S HAND
GUIDING JAPAN
WILL MAKE NATION SUPREME.
REV. DIR. McALPINE BELIEVES MI
KADO WILL CONQUER RUSSIA.

4NsAtAOh AA&S
viii Become Interpreter Between n
West and East-Safety of MiISadO
First Thought of Nntives--Japan
Loves America md Appreciates
sympathy in Present Contest.
Jnpnnese Idols Displayed in
Church.
"God is the ruler and the keeper of
the destinies of all nations, and His
hand is guiding Japan in the present
conflict.
HE will make the little nation the
leader of thought in the Far East and
use it to promote His own Kingdom" "
In this way Rev. r. e. McAlpine,
who has recently returned from ia
pan after a residence there of several
years opened his sermon at the First
| Presbyterian Church last night
He declared that men of all nations
were looking in astonishment at this
| pigmy nation that is worsting the giant
Russia at every turn. Fifty years
ago Japan was as completely Oriental
| as China, said DR.. McAlpine, and the
people worshiped the Mikado, the de-
| scendant of the ancient gods, they be-
lieved.
Patriotism and loyalty, he said,
caused the Japanese to shut out all
the nations of the earth and seal their
gates, and the same reason was as
signed for opening their doors and
inviting the world to come in and give
them the advantage of modern in
ventions and modern civilization. He
declared they were greatly alarmed
for the safety of their Emperor when
Commodore Perry made them open
their gates to the world, but they now
realize that Perry was d savior in
disguise.
Strives to Equal other Nations.
DR.. McAlpine said the first thought
of the Japanese is the safety of the
Mikado and when they were forced to
admit the world to their gates they
set out with the lofty ambition not TO
allow any other nation to be their su-
perior in modern ways and civilization.
They Immediately set out to build
navy, but their first equipment was
not worthy the name, and they soon
realized If they were to keep abreast
educate their sons to build the proper
kind of battleships and to man them.
They sent their boys to Europe and
America, he declared, that they might
profit by the advancement of other ma
tions and give to their native land the
benefit of this knowledge.
The next step taken by the progress
siVe Japanese, DR.. McAlpine said, was
to establish daily, weekly and monthly
publications, and to cause the highest
grade of literature to be reproduced in
their native language. They then be-
gan an educational crusade which has
revolutionized the little nation and
Justly gained for it the title of being
the most progressive nation in the Far
East.
Postal System ExceIs Our own.
The postal system of Japan, he de-
clared, was far ahead of that in our
own country. Americans are Dragging
on their wonderful new system of rural
free delivery, when the little nation OF
Japan has enjoyed this great boon for
many years before it was even agitated
in this country" said the speaker. He
said that twenty years ago there We're
not fifty miles of railroad in the whole
of Japan, and that to-day the country
is a net work of railroads. and their
steamships and their railway equip
ment compare we'll with that in this
| country.
He declared that the Japanese real
lied that if they were to keep abreast
| of the times they would be Obliged to
| abandon their old mode of dressing
and adopt the more modern styles in
vogue in Europe and America. First,
! he said. the American military uni
forms were adopted. and finally ii
progressed until all the male citizens
were dressing in the same costumes rs
| their brothers in the West. The Jap
anese, however, he said, have been un-
willing for their wives and daughters
| to throw aside the Oriental style OF
dress for the modern styles of Paris,
London and New York, They believe
that what was good enough for their
mothers and their grandmothers should
also DO for their daughters and their
wives.
National Patriotism Rules Japan.
National patriotism is the ruling
spirit in JAPAN" said DR.. McAlpine,
land the public servants of the ma
| ton have not been slow to try to bring
all their institutions UP to point
equal to those in the countries of the
| West They have adopted all the
modern improvements in the admini-
stration of government and have ac-
cepted the latest in science, medicine,
| law, and other professions. In every
town in Japan can be found the law
yer, doctor, trained nurse, drug store
and other evidence of national pro-
| gress.
Japan is the interpreter between the
West and the East and our only hope
| to Christianize and civilize China,
and other Eastern countries, is through
the aid and assistance of the japanese.
| The morals of Japan are in keeping
with their religious faith and it IS
along these lines that the Japanese
a world power"
The speaker declared that Japan re-
| spected Europe, but loved America, and
the Japanese believe we are standing
| by them in their present conflict. DR..
| McAlpine said they were a kind of
people that would never forget our
! sympathy, and would always be friends
| of America and Americans. He took
the position that when the trouble had
| ceased, and Japan triumphed, as he
| believed she would, Americans would
| then be in a position to approach them
as brothers and urge them to lay aside
their worship of idols and accept the
! true Christianity. He declared he be-
! lieved it only a question of time when
| the little nation would accept Chris
tianity.
Dr. McAlpine displayed japanese uni
forms and japanese idols to the con-
! gregation. At the morning service he
| preached on the advancement that was
| being made in carrying the word OF
God into the homes of the japanese
and in the afternoon he delivered a