Show JAPAN AND THE WEST the hesitation of japan to accept tile the treaty with the united state on ao ac count of an amendment adopted by the senate and considered unfavorable to the island empire shows very plain ly jy the awakening self co noc louen eels of the nation and its determination to assert its if equality with the moat oivi liged countries in the world and this is all the more remarkable because japan ia a a non christian chriatian power striving fir admission on oh equal terms in the great family of the christian peoples peo the emergence of japan out of obscurity to li the work of but one short generation from the time commodore perry visited the he isla islands ode in 1858 and exhibited some ome of the wonders of Christ christan Chr iaUn ln civilization the interest in western progress was aroused and steps were soon BOOD taken to regenerate the country everything foreign was adopted and given a fair trial at present japan has bas a constitutional government a railroad system representatives at foreign courts a modern navy and army educational institutions and almost every other organization necessary for further progress above all the whole nation is inspired by that patriotism and enthusiasm for its own interests that if well directed may yet assign it an important role on the stage of the world one phase of japans japan a history deserves ape special bial attention while the he country adopted foreign institutions of every kind the Chr christian lutian religion as represented by the churches of the world was also admitted and given a hearing bearing at one time missionaries mission ariee fancied that christianity would be adopted as a substitute for the prevailing religion lately however this hope has ban been all but abandoned A closer study of the doctrines of the west has produced a conviction in japan that her future religion mast be either buddhism or con fucia niem or shintoism reformed on the lines suggested by chris tl ti anity what Is considered good in this latter system may be adopted and incorporated in the existing creeds but in the main the teachings of the churches are consid ered inferior and so marked to in this sentiment that missionary societies ettes begin to contemplate the ad of withdrawing some of their missionaries seeing that their work there to is of but little avail should it happen then that japan attains a position of equality among christian nations while still retaining most of the anti christian principles inherited from the past should the emblem of be abe rising sun be floated on a level a vol with that of the orosa arose and should Ja japan and china in a manner be united as a result of the present or any future tt struggle ruggle the history of the world would most probably during the next century be fraught with revolutionizing events japans phenomenal progress can hardly be considered in any other light than providential her rejection of and increasing antagonism to the religion to which this progress is ie due is the most moat notable feature of it the remark has baa been made that this to is the first time since the fall of the saracen empire that the be world aea sees a non christian power contend fir a place in the sisterhood of christian nations nation A student of history who believes in divine intervention in human anians and traces events to their causes will find that the inundation un of europe by the saracens saracena Sara cens with all the bloodshed and destruction of property that followed was but the just sequence of the terrible deviation of the christian world from the paths of truth it was heavens punishment because men perverted the he religion of christ into a system of idolatry and ana it was inflicted for the purpose of bringing about repentance the arabs cf the deserts and alter after them the turks were unquestionably commissioned to execute the judgments of the almighty and by their heir religious sentiments and other qualifications cat eat ions iono they were well equipped t to do so ISO As yet there is no particular indication of similarity between the japanese and the fanatical hordes that overran europe in the middle ages f rom from asia but bug when the present condition of the christian world to Is considered in connection with the abe phenomenal phenomena I 1 rise into prominence of a herthen heathen asiatic nation the question is but natural what Is the destiny of that empire emair e with regard to the west Is bistor history y again about to repeat itsell |