The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-02-23
A BIT OF HISTORY.
Commodore Perry's Guns Woke Up
The Japanese.

peopled by Caucasian race, VINO oc-
cupy in Japanese history a position
similar to the early Britons in English
history. These people. now represent
ed b. the hairy Anus OF Northern
Yeddo. were driven northward by the
storm OF Mongolians. who swept
cross Korea from Northern China.
The first great leader known was Jim
mu Tcnnc. who founded his dynasty
about 60 3. c. He is deihed as the
defendant OF Amate1aSu, Goddess of
the Sun. Another string of Mongolics
came from Malaysia by way OF the
string OF islands. To this southern
strain is probably due the mercurial
temperament of the Japs. Superb
cially the Japs seem to resemble the
Chinese, close examination proves
that the race has been evolved inde-
pendently They, however, absorb
ed the earlier Chinese civilization.
The history OF the succeeding CEN
turies is vague until about 200 4. D.,
when an amazonian empress by the ap
propriate name OF lingo captured Ko-
, rea. This campaign was big thing
for Japan in more ways than one.
The svesals brough with their trib-
utes the knowledge OF writing, the
mulberry and the silk worm. The
art of spinning and weaving followed,
and in the year $50. the first image Of
/ Buddha appeared. In the succeeding
century there was a perfect rage-like
! that now for western ideas-for the
civilization OF China. Arts, customs
and opinions-whethe7 OF society,"
morals OF politics-were assimilated
with the greatest ardor. Buddhism
made rapid progress. Feudalism was
Instituted and great Offices were made
hereditary and the Shotgun OF Eeddo
(Sho-general, gun-arrly) became OF
greater power than the Mikado. In
the fifteenth century the mikado and
shogun got TO fighting. and both were
whipped by the Samural, or warriors.
After that series OF strong shoguns
held sway over the land.
In 1S45, the Portuguese navigator,
Mendez Pinto, with lot of followers,
landed and soon established himself.
He was followed by the Jesuit mis-
sionary, St. Frances Xavier, who made
rapid progress. the initiative Japs TAX
ing readily to the new visitors and
new customs. But the visitors were
too free, and were ordered away in
1897. By, 1858, after terrible perse-
cution, Christianity was eNtirpated
and all foreigners were kept away en-
cept; the Chinese and Dutch traders.
This expulsion was accomplished by
the Tokugawa Shoguns, who intro
duced a horrible system OF espion-
age, which has left its mark until the
present day in the shape OF dishonesty
and lack OF civic courage.
When Commodore Perry knocked
at the door OF Japan in 1854, the Sho-
gun rule and the last phase OF mediae-
valism fell before the modern civiliza-
lion. That date, when the treaty with
the United States was signed, March
81, 1854, was ths birth OF modern ia
pan. Yokohama, Nagasaki and Ha-
kodate were opened up to trade 1859,
and the next year we sent a minister
to the court OF the Mikado.
The daimos, or military leaders,
were a long time in accepting the
changed conditions, and there were
many attacks on the foreigners. Our
own legation was attacked in 1861,
and an interpreter killed, and the lega-
ton was burned in 1865. Reprisals
and punitive expeditions followed for
several years, and it was about 1868
before order came about after the
Young nikado had overthrown the
military rulers. The first year OF en-
lightened rule really was 1868, when
the mikado moved to Tedo. changed
its name to Toxic and made it the
capital OF the empire. He soon abol-
ished the feudal system and began to
copy the ideas of the western civiliza-
ton. The first neWspaper appeared