The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-06-18

X,
blamed for the fact that In progress the country
was until recently three centuries behind the
west
The castle of Osaka escaped the great conlag
ration of 1915. 1t destroyed later, however, by
the troops of Slogan at the beginning of the Wal
of the Restoration (1S60) Only the third encos
ure remains at the present day. Upon the the spot
where the lofty central tower used to stand is
placed the pumping station, and nearby is the can
non which is daily discharged exactly at
Evolution of Ideas-Social Transformation.
During the many years of peace which followed
the siege of Osaka, the genius of the nation was
paralyzed. The vital forces of the country dwind-
led in enforced idleness. The people of Osaka alone
showed a little initiative. They became merchants
and developed utilitaran spirit absolutely opposed
to that which the Samurai cherished
The Samurai! What remembrances are called
up by this word dear to the japanese heart
The Samurai was the clIivarous knight to whom
honor was all in all, who regarded as sacred his
given word, who opened his heart to but the
most generous sentiments who despised money and
held death in absolute disdain. His was the nature
OF fine potentialties, but uncutivated and almost
savage; the Samurai needed only to be influenced
by divine grace to have become, like the Christian
knight of European chivalry, the soldier of God,
the apostle armed in defense of truth and virtue.
Such was the heart of the Samurai; such the
ncophytes of st. Francis Xavier.
The time has passed and the spirit of Oriental
tlon of 1868 has changed the face of the country
The customs of only forty years ago are now anti
quated Old men have become strangers in their
own native country. The transformation of man
and the change of sentiment have occurred
with extraordinary rapidity; everything is dierent
from what 1T used to be- ideas, principles laws even
language. The Japanese have become eminently
practical. Other times, other manners. They have
developed wonderful facility in imitation and
adaptation. When the progress which has been
made in forty years is considered it is impossible
to withhold admiration for the genius of a people
capable Of accomplishing so much. When the new
ideas have been thoroughly assimiated Japan ought
to take high rank In the intellectual world and con-
tribute to the discoveries and inventions of the
future. Unfortunately, however, the japanese have
not learned to make haste slowly. They wish to do
everything IN day. But lately an intelligent
young man said that the found the German Ian
guage difficult to acquire because after the first
lesson he could not read and write it readily The
Japanese of today may be said to resemble over
grown children in whom all sorts of qualities both
good and bad, none of which however are well de-
veloped. This is of course the character of every
epoch of transition. 1t was the instability of the
j Japanese people which brought forth from Bishop
Cousin, the oldest Missionary in the country the
following remark:
Here things are never so bad or so good as they
appear to be- Hence it is quite useless to be over
anxious about the former or rely too much OH the
latter"
Educational
The city Of Osaka appeared to be very little af-
ected by the movement which is agitating the rest
II the country. In reality it had no transformation
o undergo. 1t has always been given to trade and
low has only to continue in the accustomed way
Jp to the present it has led separate existence,
o to speak, but now that the Empire of the Sun has
urned with avldity to commerce and industry
Dsaka by force of circumstances takes the lead in
he new movement. In order to succeed this city
vii undergo any expense. In March, 1903 great
atlonaI industrial exposition was opened in which
he whole world was invited to take part Manu-
acturers Of all nations were requested to exhibit
machines and other objects which might be used
D the development of Japan. By means of this ex-
osltIon Osaka hopes to double its business which
already great; last year it amounted to 500 mil
ons of yen ($250,0 ,000,000). The commerce of the
ty will be greatly increased by the vast improve
tents which are being made in the harbor The
ocks have not always been as they are at present
early three miles from the city. Three hundred
ears ago nearly all the houses were built about the
lstle of Hldeyoshi; but as the sea receded Osaka
'llowed In few years the Yodogawa will empty
ITO the ocean through outlet.
Three things have prevented Osaka from becom
g great seaport; the unprotected condition of
S harbor which Is open to the ocean, the want of
ggedness IN the surrounding coast, and the lack
depth OF water due to sand continually washed
wn by the lodogawa Two overcome these diff
ties an immense breakwater nearly 10 miles in
1gth IS to be constructed; it will enclose space
ough to centain the fleets of the world Then
g harbor is to be dredged until depth of about
feet is obtained. Finally new channel is to be |
g Tor the Yodogawa, that it may flow into the :
4 at point upon the coast which will prevent it
'm carrying debris into the reconstructed port.
e works which were commenced about four wears
0 are already well advanced The new riyer-bed
finished and is already spanned by two magnifi- T
1t iron bridges. t
Ihe great breakwater advances steadily every a
= towards completion. In four years it will be t.
lshed and the port open to the worlds shipping. r.
cost will amount to twelve million dollars.
the city hopes to be more than reimbursed for
outlay, as it will now attract to itself imports e,
leh formerly entered Japan by way of Kobe n
I" I'll these projects be as successful as is ex- al
ted! 1t Osaka must rely upon the assistance p
sympathy of the rest of the country they will IL
Tightly or wrongly the people of this city bear vi
oor reputation. They are said to be avariciors
be given to speculation and to be no better than ST
eres. A thoroughly honest employee is not al
lted; when his honesty detected he is liable to be
promptly discharged, because when everyone is ri
rustworty there. is no danger of betrayal They tv
accused of lacking patriotism. 1t is true that at
y have little liking for military service. They
est war, and do not attempt to conceal the fact di