Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1904-02-25
ITS AREA, POPULATION AND
MANNER OF PEOPLE.
Interesting and Instructive Article
From the Pen of Rev. A. r.
Morgan, of This City, Who
for Eight Years Was a
Missionary in That
Country.

his own and erected his throne III
the city of Tokyo, in the year 1869,
thirty-fve years ago, he was En-
peror, it is true, but his place was
any thing but a sinecure, and the
conditions surrounding him were
anything but encouraging. AS an
offset, however, he and his advisers
possessed the vigor and hope of
youth. They had been victorious on
the field of battle, but those very
successes had brought forth compll-
cations. The old soldiers, who had
been obliged by law and custom to
go armed, still chung to their trusty
blades. They had lived hitherto
without so much as taking thought
for to-day, not to mention the NOR
row, having always been fed on the
bounty of their feudal chiefs, it be-
ing enough if when called to battle
their swords were bright and sharp.
Thousands of these wandered about
the country, filled with bitterness,
neither having nor seeking means of
support, not counting life dear, and
ready at any time to avenge them
selves ON their new masters or the
hapless foreigner who ventured
within reach of their long swords. A
more thoroughly reckless and unde-
sirable element of population for the
time being no country ever pos
sessed.
But a nation had been born in a
day. Young Japan has never print
ed the word impossible in her die
tionary. AS to obstacles, like Ma
poleon, she has declared, "There
shall be no Alps" Contrary to all
precedents In Japan there were no
old scores to settle, 40 grudges to be
fed fat, by the new Imperial Gov
eminent. Liberal conditions we're
granted the vanquished samaurai.
AS fast as the old soldiers could be
reconciled good berths were given
them under the administration, and
some Of the best and wisest of ia
pans modern leaders have come up
from the rank and file of the old sa-
maurai. Two forces worked for re-
Cancellation, one the shreWd fore
sight of the young leaders, the other
the inherent disposition of the Japa-
nese to make the best of untoward
circumstances as exercised by the
conquered Shotgun and his followers.
Japan needed all her strength. There
is but n thing in the world that
can unite Japanese and bury the
Ratchet of internecine strife, and
that is love of Japan, to preserve hel
against the alien. There was NJ
time now for chopping off beads. The
young imperialists knew that one O.
the ADLER leaders of the former feuda
government, thoroughly reconcilet
and placed in a position of honor
and influence, vas worth more thar
a hundred with their heads stuck VI
on stakes on the highways. When
japanese discovers the futiiity o
further effort in any direction, he
says, shikata ga mai, there IS no hell
for It, and he at once sets about max
ing the best Of circumstances. Thu
it happened that the unbending, un
welding samaurai of former day
gave in to the inevitable. In a yer,
few years a decree went forth from
the throne forbidding men to longe
wear their swords, and forthwith
these deadly weapons disappeare'
from public view. Many of the oil
soldiers were compelled to work Q
noteat. Not a few of them becam
iinrickisha drawers. To-day there
no distinction as to caste in Japar
Whosoever will pay the price of hor
orable distinction gets it. In fac
to the credit of her good sense, cast
was cast to the winds many a tim
in ancient Japan. Hideyoshi, hitl
erto referred to in this article, We
the son of an humble peasant.
While it is true that most of he
great modern leaders sprung frol
the rank and file Ofthe old samaura
whose leaders at the timeof the Re-
olution had become SO largely sui
merged by dissipation and had grow
effeminate in their luxury, yet IL
door to promotion during Meiji, tt
present era, has stood wide open
merit. Marquis Ito himself was