Page:The National Geographic Magazine Vol 16 1905.djvu/258

Rh the surrender of fiefs to the Mikado. No annals of mankind record an inci- dent which appears more inconsistent with the course that human experience would have predicted. Many expla- nations have been attempted. The weakened condition of the Tokugawa government, selfish motives of some ambitious southern Daimios, personal motives of various kinds, the inability of appreciating the real consequences of the change on the part of the Daimios and Samurai, are mentioned among the causes. I do not hesitate to say, how- ever, that such a grand achievement in human history cannot be caused by such petty and selfish motives. It was solely and entirely due to the lofty spirit of pa- triotism and loyalty which found ready echo for action in the spirit of self- sacrifice nurtured for centuries under the rigid feudal system.

From the following words of Captain Brinkley, an eminent authority on Jap- anese history, you will get some idea of the spirit of self-sacrifice: "It had so long been the bushi's habit to associate great deeds with some form of self-im- molation that he had learned to regard the latter as a kind of finger-post to the former. History shows that the ro- mantic element occupies a prominent place in Japanese character, and that the educated classes can always be led into feverish pursuit of an idea which appeals to their sense of moral nobility. The atmosphere was full of loyalty and patriotism in 1869. The mood of the nation was exalted. Any one hesitat- ing for plainly selfish reasons to follow a course apparently essential to the new order of things, and sanctioned by the example of the great southern clans, would have seemed to forfeit the right of calling himself a Samurai."

Such was the spirit of the people of the time in whose hands rested the des- tiny of the Empire. But what was the immediate cause which called forth such a marvelous display of the extreme de- gree of self-sacrifice ? It was the advent of black ships to the coast of Japan. It is true that the long peaceful reign of the Tokugawa government resulted in undermining its strength and power, which infused into some ambitious feu- dal barons the spirit of revolution. It is true that toward the end of that government the spirit of loyalty to the throne received an impetus from the advocates of the Imperial authority, but were it not for the appearance of the black ships of the various western nations along the coast of Japan and the pressure brought upon her by those powers Japan would never have seen the day of restoration.

Long before the formal opening of the country to the world at large a certain sort of intercourse was established with the Dutch, who had been permitted to reside at Deshima, a little island lying near Nagasaki. Through the Dutch settlers the glimpse of the West was being introduced into Japan in a certain measure. What overawed the people of Japan the most at the time were the black ships which moved about on the surface of the water as freely as would a wagon on land, emitting big volumes of black smoke and raising hideous noises. It was a marvel to them that these sailing ships with triangular sails could go against the head wind. Through the Dutch they heard of the greatness of England and France. The Russian fleet made occasional appearances in the northern islands, perpetrated havoc among the inhabitants, and left letters of threat. The following extract from Mr Aston's article on "Russian Descents on Japan" is interesting in this connection :

"From Ruitaka the Russians crossed over to Rushin, a small island near the