The Literature, History, and Civilization of the Japanese [pp. 306-329]

324 Tll~ MT~RATURE, HISTORY AND CIY1LIZATIO~ [April,
several centuries by the Japanese, and every one knows that
in some respects they have attained in them a superiority not
only to the Asiatics but to the Europeans themselves.
In support of this assertion I will merely mention, among
many other of their manufactures, their weapons, which are
far in advance of the best fabrics of Prussia and equal those
of ancient Damascus. Althongh the Japanese articles which
come to Europe are for the most part of inferior qu~lity, our
me~chants cannot question the rare aptitude of the Eastern
isl~nders for medianicA art; and we know, from the best anthori~y, that in the imperial cities, as, for instance, Ohosaka
and ~~iako, there are manufactures on quite a large scale; and
although the wages are relatively high in these localities, the
conditions of sale are extremely advantageous to the purebaser. Unfortunately connection is still difficult, if not absolutely impossible, between these centres of production and
the ports open to Europeans. The events which have plunged
Japan into a frightful civil w~i have alone retarded the definitive opening of the Empire, whidi had been already resolved
upon in principle in the supreme council of the Gotairo. We
have, however, reason to believe that this political trouble will
not be of long duration, and that the opening of the great isl~nd of Niphon, instead of taking place graduMly, city by city,
will be made with a promptitude and a liberality which will
be most advantageous to our merchants. The first merchants
who established themselves in Nagasaki and Kanagawa made
p~odigious fortunes in a few months; il~ose who came later
have been cautious in relinquishing a soil still amply productive. As soon as the promised tranquillity shall be restored
ill Japan, the conditions of commerce will be more durable and
advantageous than ever.
VIII.
The revolution now being effected in Japan arises from the
absolute incompatibility between the fundamental laws of that
empire and the principle of free intervention admitted by the
Western powers. We assert, not without some reason it
mnet be said, our right to go everywhere, and to break down,