Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-09
JAPANESE ON THE NEW JAPAN
DR., Eiiiro Takssugi Of Toxic, Educated in
America, Makes Address,
CHRISTIANITY AND DEMOCRACY IN ORIENT
These Two Great Lights Of Advanced
Civilization. tic says, Are Rapidly
Being Embraced In FIowery
Kingdom.

DR.. Eijro Takasugi. s. r. b., Phi. D.. OF
Toxic Japan, lccturcd Sunday afternoon
at tho First Christian church tabernacle,
Nineteenth and Farnam streets, under the
auspices Of the Young Mems Christian as
ISOLATION on the subject of THE New ia
pam" The lecture was preceded by short
devotional services and a vocal solo, "Oh,
Eyes That Are Weary by Miss Sadiek,
and baritone solo, "The Palms." by W.
l.. Hoffman
The tabernacle was we'll filled, the audi
cnce being men entirely. DR.. Takasugi is
a graduate Of DuPaw university. Indiana,
and post graduate of Harvard. He is at
present a professor in the Imperial college
at Sapporo, Japan. and is a leader Of ad-
vanced educational and religious thought
in Japan. He is member Of the samurai
and a scion OF one of the noble families
of the Island empire.
DR.. Takasugfs address began with the
first opening of the ports of Japan to
western civilization under the persuasive
influences OF Commodore Perry's Amer
lean ships in 1853 and with the commercial
treaty between Japan and the United
States March 81, 1854, and its remarkable
advancement since then.
Oldest Empire In the world.
Japan has history of $500 years; it
is the oldest empire in the world" he said.
while China may claim an older form
of government under the generic name
of China, It has been a government of
frequent changes of dynasties. The pres
ent reigning dynasty of Japan has been
on the throne of Japan for $500 years.
Most of the Japanese emperors were kind
monarchs; there is little of any tyrannic
history in Japan. They nation was for
many centuries governed by castles that
were granted special privileges. Another
caste or class was close to the throne that
stood ready at any moment 10 sacrifice life
for the perpetuity of the crown. These
castles and parties were all-powerful and
1t was not until the American invasion
that Japan was awakened from It's leth-
argy. There existed an educational class
also, that was Jealous in its work. and
when the invasion of western civilization
came the nation was ready for 1t. 1t
had a foundation for civilization. Its
island isolation and its scores of navigable
streams and seas made every quarter of
the empire accessible and the spread of
modern civilization was very rapid. The
history of the last fifty years demon
strates that 1t was only a few years ago
that the battleships of Japan were made
is building vessels within its own ship
yards. one that is to be Of 1900 tons
burden.
sixteen Daily Newspapers.
1--WE have a magnificent postal system,
railroads. newspapers of immense circula-
tions including sixteen daily papers. and
the spread of knowledge through the means
of numberless schools. colleges and univer-
-it gg trid no
cial progress of the nation. Ninety-one per
cent of the children of Japan are attending
school. They are studying the English
language and all the European languages.
Our high schools are modeled much after
the German gymnasiums. and after them
come our colleges and universities, in
which every branch Of modern science and
culture is taught. The Japanese are ex-
tremely anxious for the higher systems of
education. We do not adopt the system
of co-education. Men only" teach in the
boys school, but both men and women
teach in the girls schools, of which there
are a great many of all grades.
Democracy to the Front.
1.-THE democratic spirit of Japan is be-
! coming more manifest daily and is keeping
pace with her commercial growth A few
| years ago our people cried out for a con-
! stitutional government and the emperor
! granted it. The emperor is a strong man
| physically, as he is intellectually. and is
I physically a much larger man than the
! average Japanese. When ne says a thing
| must be done it is done. He is a man of
| advanced thought and both he and the
! empress have strong leaning toward
| Christian practices and methods. They rec
ognize the potent power OF Christian in
! huences and have contributed literally 70
| the Christian institutions. Freedom of
worship, press and speech is now a salient
part of the japanese constitution. This
| constitution was granted sixteen years ago
| and new reforms are being established con-
stantly. The emperor is willing to follow
the wishes OF the people and is particu-
larly enthusiastic in the matter OF the
higher education OF the people.
"No passport is required for a person to
travel through any part of Japan. Visitors
always are welcome and the Japanese are
ever hospitable toward strangers, especially
! Americans.
Russia and Japan at War,
elm the recent war with Russia, japan
was ready. We fought for a principle and
for our rights and won them. Russia was
not ready. Japan believes IN its destiny
as the Queen of the Eastern Seas. 1t has
opened the door to sixteen cities of Man
| churia for all the world. The open dooi
was what we were working for. Russia
gave no privileges to preach the gospel IT
Manchuria, but Japan has given that priv
| ilege Its ideal IS the American ideal. L
was the Christian influence ever growing
in Japan that gave us the victory. II!
Christian teachers went INFO the army anC
taught the gospel of Christ there. The!
taught the soldiers OF Japan the beaut!
of the Christian life. taught them to rea,
and write. gave them Bibles and tesla
ments and we're ever present with then
on battehelds. in camp and on tn
marches.
1.-THE present chief commissary Of tn
Japanese army is a Christian convert, be
coming so since the beginning OF the wal
He has prohibited the introduction of an
stronger liquor into the army than swet
cider He favors the army canteen bu
, without the element OF spirituous or mai
liquors, and in this he is sustained b
T the emperor.