The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-02-02
tM I 49, AZ
By ROBERT ALlEY

the Asiatic mainland. They con.
quered the savage island tribes, but
like the Danes and others who in
vaded ancient England-were alb
sorbed by them. Thus, new race
was born.
Through long dead centuries they
lived practically unmolested by the
rest Of the world. They had their
own civilization.
In the 18th century, the galleons Of
Europe began to seek trade in the
remote Pacific. In the wake of trade
came Christian missionaries. En-
peror 1yeyasu encouraged foreign
/ trade, but viewed the missionary en-
terprise as a political danger that
would pave the way for foreign ag-
erosion.
Upon the emperor's death in 1916,
his son issued an edict against Christ
ianity. He ordered expulsion Of all
foreign priests and made it an Of
Tense, punishable by death by burn
ing, for any Japanese to become a
Christian or to deal with Christian
missionaries.
| Many missionaries refused to leave
Japan. Many japanese refused to
give up their newly acquired Christ
ian faith. Ancient Japanese history
speaks mysteriously Of 100000 per-
sons being punished" Catholic
church records list 1400 to 1900 mar
tyrs; there are definite records that
IL foreign priests were burned to
death and 800 others beheaded.
Intermittent trading. principally
with the Dutch and Portuguese, con-
tinucd. but in 1886 came an imperial
decree that no Japanese vessel should
leave Japan's shores and no Japanese
subject should go abroad under pain
Of death.
Two years later, even the Portu-
guese were barred-on the claim that
they brought missionaries. Four
Portuguese ENJOYS, bearing costly
presents for the emperor, were sent
to explain. The ENJOYS. with 81 Of
their companions. were beheaded by
the Japanese. The emperor spared
IL survivors and sent them back with
this message:
Think no more OF us, just as if
we were no longer in the world
In the flush of Americas expansion
that followed victory III the War of
1912, American whaling ships began
to penetrate the far Pacific. When
they attempted to enter japanese
ports for water and supplies, they
were driven away by gunfire. Ship
wrecked sailors. cast ashore on Japan,
were put to death.
The government at Washington de-
cided something had to be done. It
sent Commodore Perry-apparently
with no more definite instructions
than to use his own judgment in ef-
fecting a settlement.
With four ships and $50 men, Perry
entered Uraga harbor on July 8. 1853.
He bore letter from President Fill
more, asking for commercial treaty.
It was addressed to the emperor and
encaSed In a gold box worth $1,000.
With four foreign warships in the
harbor the natives-who had not
/ seen more than two foreign ships to-
gether since the Mongol invasions-
were terror stricken. Japanese his
tories describe the wild scene: the
town was In an uproar, men ran for
safety with their aged mothers on
their backs. the emperor caused pray
ers to be offered at several shrines for
the destruction Of the barbarians"
Determined to remain isolated. the
Japanese prepared to fight. But they
soon realized the futility of such a
course.
\ X X
Commodore Perry was received.
There were long negotiations He
did not get what he wanted then
but he got it later.