JAPAN, 



JBWa 



i. and IH.IMM) telegrams of condolence 

 . ed by t he I'rince. The assassin died 

 i. and no interruption of the friendly ro- 

 itions of Japan and Ku-sia has followed. 

 I r.nle and Industry. Tin- tables. .f exports 

 1 import- shoxx that the resource- ..| I he coiin- 

 being steadily developed, and the im- 

 increasing oxer export-. In INSO the 

 \xei-e '.".I.:;;:;. -KM) yen, and the imports 41,- 

 .. -howing an excess of imports over ex- 

 1 1. ?>. >''-:. In 1889 the exports amounted 

 KO, 706. imports 66,108,767. The half-yearly 

 itistics from .Jan. 1 to July 1, 1891, show that 



export- have exceeded the imports bv 7,500,- 



rhere are now in .Japan '><> mills for spin- 

 cotton yarn, with 377,970 spindles, employ- 

 ll.'.'l^ per-ons. An attempt made by a for- 

 ier to obtain a patent under Japanese laws 

 met by the decision that the granting of a 

 itent is an executive act within the power of a 

 lini-ter of the department, and that he can not 

 forced to grant one to a foreigner. An ap- 

 il having been lodged, decision was again given 

 linst the foreign firm. 



Morals, Education, and Religion. The 

 Greek Church cathedral on Suruga Dai, 

 3, with buildings occupied by the Russian 

 lissionaries, whose work in Japan has resulted 

 18,000 conversions, was dedicated with great 

 jremony. The old standards of public inorali- 

 exceilent under feudalism, being somewhat 

 Itered under the new Western ideas of indi- 

 iduality and responsibility upon which West- 

 laws, government, and progress are estab- 

 i he Kmperor, for the first time in the 

 1 of Japan, issued, in December, 1890, a 

 3ript of twenty lines inculcating moral du- 

 The influence of this act has been very 

 Loyalty to the Emperor and obedience to 

 irents is made the supreme duty. It was hung 

 the schools with the Emperor's photograph, 

 id teachers and students made obeisance to 

 the Christians in some instances refusing 

 bow, and in others explaining that it was 

 I'fereiice to a ruler but not worship of a god, as 

 ie Mikado still is in the eye of Japanese law. 

 Phe total number of the school population of 

 in is 6,920,345, but of these only 3,277,489, or 

 than half, are in school. There has been 

 reaction against female education, two thirds 

 the absentees from schools or non-attendants 

 Hng girls. There are 530 middle schools for 

 iales and 1 for females. The number of fe- 

 lale students in the special schools is 2,599. 

 Government is hostile to private schools, as 

 to breed the soshi or turbulent and law- 

 young men who figure so prominently in 

 ^temporary politics, and even draw forth the 

 ial executive action of the Central Govern- 

 Only 21 students were sent abroad in 

 He-ides the agitation on treaty revision, 

 and education, the Minister of Home 



ffairs promulgated his "Instruction to I'.ud- 

 \\]<\ I'rie-is." rebuking them for their "disgrace- 

 st niggle for worldly honors and profits." 

 ere are in Japan, of Shintoists, 8 heads of 

 " priests or preachers, and '.<;."> student- of 



ie i-n/fux; of Buddhists, :t? heads of sects, 02.- 

 priest-preachers, 39,673 simple priests, and 

 1 :'..i I > students of the cultus. The Buddhists 

 sustain about a do/en journals and 800 minor 



periodical*. <>f temple*, there are, IM.d.'fl Shin- 

 to and 71.H7H Huddlii*!. About IHM) Christum 

 mi-Monaries of all form* of tin- faith labor in .la- 

 pan, and t he nominal < 'hristian population i* i--ti- 

 mated at 'Jon,! MM i. There are 'X' < 'hri.st ian churches 

 and chapels in Tokio. The tendency of Japan- 

 ese ( 'hri-tianity is le*s in the direction of doc- 

 trinal reception or development, and inoredirectly 

 toward reformation of morals, abolition of li- 

 cen-ed prostitution, temperance. Sabbath keep- 

 ing, iiurilicution of the home, moral elevation of 

 family life, abolition of concubinage and jx>lyg- 

 amv. and lessening of divorce. 



.JKWS. The situation in Russia has been the 

 question of the year. The persecutions endured 

 by it- .lexvi-h inhabitants nave continued with 

 no prospect of cessation, despite the general ex- 

 pre ions of disapproval from nearly every coun- 

 try on the globe from Legislature, Senate, pub- 

 lic gatherings, political organ i/atioi,-, the press, 

 pulpit, and platform. All the recognized agen- 

 cies of civilized intercourse seem powerless to 

 restrain the severity of anti-Jewish enactments. 

 The figure of Baron de Hirsch rises above the 

 shadows of the time as the personification of 

 philanthropy, and his magnificent provisions for 

 the suffering Jews, which have spurred on active 

 agencies in Europe and America in their behalf, 

 form a bright chapter in the history of the year. 

 The interest that Baron de Hirsch evinced in the 

 welfare of his brethren, which was illustrated in 

 his gift of three millions for the agricultural 

 and technical training of Jewish youths in Aus- 

 trian Galicia, culminated in his deed of trust. 

 whose preamble was written Jan. 22, 1891, 

 whereby the capital of $2,400,000 was remitted 

 to the Baron de Hirsch fund of New York for 

 aiding exiles from Russia and Roumania. For 

 some months previously about $10,000 monthly 

 had been sent for that purpose, and expended in 

 educational work, transportation, the purchase 

 of tools, and temporary relief. With the capital 

 on hand and property invested, early in March, 

 the Hirsch fund was enabled to continue and 

 develop its lines of activity. According to the 

 deed of trust, the corporation is to embrace 

 among its objects the following : 



1. Loans to emigrants from Russia or Roumania, 

 actual agriculturists, settlers x\ ithin the United States, 

 upon real or chattel security. 



2. Provision for the transportation of emigrant*, se- 

 lected (after their arrival at uu American port i xxith 

 reference to their ajre. character, and capacity to 

 places where it is expected the conditions ot' the 

 labor market or the residence of frieuds will tend to 

 make them srlt'-supportin<:. 



3. Provision for train'mir cmiirrants in a handicraft, 

 and ci>ntril>iitii;'_r t<> their support while learnim: such 

 handicraft, and for t'urnislniii: the necessary tools 

 and implements mul other assistance to enable them 

 to earn a livelihood. 



4. Provision tor improved mechanical training for 

 adults and youths, eiiiiirnmts and their chiUlnn. 

 whcivliy persons ot' industry and capacity may ac- 

 quire some remui'crativc employment, either l>y tlse 

 ]>a\ incut of apprenticeship or tuition tecs, or the in- 

 struction nt' adults a_nd minors in trade schools or 

 otherwise, with contributions for temporary support 



.">. Provision tor instruction in the Kntrlisli lnniMia:_ r e 

 and in the duties ami obligations ( >t' lite and eitixen- 

 ship in the United States and tor technical and t nulo 

 education and the establishment and subvention of 

 special schools, workshops, and other suitable airen- 

 i-ics fur promotinir and maintainiuir such instruction. 



