The semi-weekly messenger., 1904-04-12

e.gn and the Shotgun was but the mill
itary governor. the commander-in-chfef
of the army This was strikinkly shown
in the last century. when foreign na-
tions. making treaties with Japan uu-
der the seal OF the Slogan. found these
treats worthlss without the consent
OF the Mikado. The assumption OF the
title OF s.Taikun'' q Great Sovereign.
by a Shotgun. brought on the civil war
or iS66-'6e. and reduced that officer to
the rank OF Daimio.
In March 1854. through the skill. dip
lomatic tact and firmness OF Commo-
dore Perry. who entered the Bay or
Yeddo with seven sloops OF war. an
advantageous treaty was made between
the United States and Japan. whereby
certain ports OF that country were
opened to our commerce: and in 1883.
by the exertions OF Consul General
Harris. still more valuable concessions
, were obtained.
Rayard Taylor the well known trav-
eler and author, was with the expedi-
ton OF Commodore Perry TO Japan. and
was present at the conference between
the officials OF the two government ~
Uraga Commenting on the personal
traits OF the people. he says: The
complexion OF these officers was n dark
olive but not too dark to allow rud-
dy tinge on the lips and cheeks. Their
eyes were somewhat larger than those
Of the Chinese and not SD obliquely
=.
open with a greater facial angle. and
the expression of their faces 4 re
a lively and active mind. Notwithstand-
ing that spirit OF cunning and secrecy
which. through the continual teachings
of their government has become al
most a second nature to them, their
faces were agreeable and expressive.
Their motions and gestures were char
acteriZed by an unstudied grace. and
Ii was the unanimous opinion or our
officers that they were as perfect gen.
tlemen as could be found in any part
OF the world
Bayard Taylor states that only after
the japanese become convinced. from
the stern pertinacy OF Perry. that he
would adhere to this determination to-
communicate officially with the Mika-
dos government. in accordance with
the orders OF President Franklin Pierce
I did they relax in their espionage and
| surveillance of the Americans. and
| their studious seclusion from the for
! eigners. The influence and authority
of the Shotgun were everywhere. From
| their fields houses. towns and market
| places. the people fed from Perry's ex-
| pediton wherever 1t appeared.
In 1882 the Mikado permitted the ia
| pansse Christians to send an embassy
| to the Pope to assure him OF their
| obedience; but the first political and
| commercial embassy that ever left ia
| pan for any country arrived in the
| United States in 1850. the last year OF
| Buchanan's admins tration. At that
| time l was student at Alexandria.
| six or eight miles distant. and was in
| Washington City when the embassy
| reached there, where Ii was received
| with impressing military and civic hon
| ors. and was treated with distinguished
| consideration. Mere boy as Z was. a
deep impression was made Upon my
mind by the dignity and self posses
| sion of the japanese and especially by
| their culture and refinement-Oriental
| 1t is true, and strange to Western eyes.
| but very graceful and attractive. Their
| dress was elegant. almost snowy, and
| their exquisite neatnesS and absolute
! cleanliness of person were wonderful.
| To sum it up. should say that the ia
| panese are the best ''groomed" people
! in the world.
| Japan is plainly the Zipangu OF the
| Marco Polo who gives maryelous
| stories of the wealth and fertility of
| this land though he had never visited
| it. but had Travelled in China The ac-
| counts by the celebrated Venetian voy-
| ager evidently impressed the mind and
| infiamed the imagination OF Columbus,
| who believed. when he first landed on
| the Bahama Islands, that he had reach
| ed Zipangu.
| Japan lies off the coast of Asia, be-
| tween latitude % degrees and so de-
| grees north and longitude 122 degrees
| and 153 degrees east. The empire COM
| prlses the three Kurile islands, Karafto,
Yzo, Nippon. Sikok Kiusiu. and Loo
| Choo. besides interlying and outlying
small ISLANDS. computed to nearly 900
| Rice is the great staple. and has hith-
| erto been the standard of value "-r,a
| country is very rich in metels-goId
| silver. iron, copper. lead and tin an1
| great quantities of coal. sulphur and
| salt are produced. The variety and
\ abundance 70 MI ~
| are hardly surpassed in any other
| country on the globe It's Climate is
| very much the same as that OF the
| Atlantic Coast States, but is more
equanie The chief animal food OF the
| people Is fish. which they eat raw h,1t
| they have as varied domestic animals
| ana poultry as America The Japanesa
| are among the finest agriculturists I'm
| the world. while In manufactures they
| nave become the successful rivals or
! TIE most advanced States of Europe
The present total population OF the en-
pire Is estimated. probably overesti-
| mated at AZ 900 00O but il IS said that
with the frugality Of the people, their
system OF intensive farming, and the
rapid development of the resources.
| the country could support double the
number of Inhabitants
Up 10 It's war with China-lu the
| enjoyment OF long and unbrokea peace
| and IN comparative seclusion from the
| rest OF the worid-Japan's spirit OF
militarism declined. and its army did
not number more than &c. 900 men. Sine
tnen with the huge bulk OF the Ceies-
tiai empire iooming up against II. and
Win powerful. aggrandizing Russia
| threatening Its very existence. II has
| vastly increased its armament bofh nv
sea and land, and its army and navy
equipment includes the best instru-
ments OF modern warfare. The people
Venerate authority. are used to implicit
ooedience OF the higher powers and
IIgid dicipline-all the qualities TO
| make good soldiers
| truly IL looks as IL the war in the
tar East Is TO be no child's play.