THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCE IN JAPAN, AND ITS EFFECT ON CIVILIZATION 



IN THAT COUNTRY. 



By CnoHEi SniRAsr, A. M. 

 (A native of Japan). 



t 



INTRODUCTORY. 



The first glance we cast upon the history of nations enables us to perceive an incontestable fact, that civilization representing the 

 highest degree of culture attained by man at different periods does not continue in the same places, but passes from one country to 

 another, from one continent to another, following a certain order. Man can not straggle at once against human oppression aud the 

 hindering and destructive forces of inorganic nature. It would hence seem that the physical adaptation of different portions of the earth 

 to the use and enjoyment of man is a matter so strictly belonging to mightier than human powers that v.'e must accept geographical 

 nature as we find her, and be content with such soils and such skies as she spontaneously offers. Nature and history, the earth and 

 man, stand in the closest relations to each other, and form only one grand harmony. Thus it is apparent that civilization arose in fertile 

 lands and then spread abroad. But it is certain that man has reacted upon organic and inorganic nature, and thereby modified, if not 

 determined, the material structure of his earthly home. " That early civilization in which the food question played so important a part 

 was wonderful. There must always be some commerce, some intercourse, means are continually to be sought. Valleys and islands had 

 every condition favorable to the growth of civilization. Egypt had, by the aid of nature, a rich soil on which the overflowing river 

 spread every year a fruitful loam, where the plow is almost useless; an equable, warm climate, securing to the inhabitants of these 

 fortunate regions plentiful harvests in return for light labor — the most favored spot for early civilization. Being completely protected 

 from enemies, by her isolation, she produced wonderfully, and was well situated to maintain a high civilization. Phoenicia formed an 

 early civilization of the races of two continents mingled, and also by the aid of nature, with the facility of coast line, she became the 

 great commercial nation of the world. Her sails dotted the entire MediteiTanean Sea, her colonies were on its coast, and from her 

 trading posts radiated long routes of land travel, by which articles were conveyed from the interior of the continents to the seaboard. 

 She was the common carrier of the world. The civilization of the above two countries, the one a fertile valley, the other a favorable 

 coast line, influenced the entire Mediterranean region, Carthage and Greece, and Rome and Spain. Greece was once quite densely 

 populated and most highly civilized. Her islands were closely connected to the mainland and had safe harbors within them. She 

 extended her civilization by colonies and conquest. Greece drove the Phoenician from the seas and succeeded to their commerce. 

 Europe is complicated in its geographical structure, linking together various natural featur-s, a vast number of valleys, rivers, 

 harbors, and islands, terminating in peninsulas. The Roman Empire, succeeding Greece, spread its power into fm-ther territory. 

 Then civilization passed to Spain and Gaul, and even Britain. Each of these early civilizations was in turn either overthrown by 

 enemies and surrendered to hopeless desolation, or was at leavSt greatly reduced in its material productiveness and population, especially 

 in commerce. Civilization flowed into the interior of the European continent by way of the Danube, through Bavaria and Bohemia to 

 the Carpathian Mountains, and over a plain of thousands of square miles, including Hungary, Bosnia, and Servia, to the " Iron Gate." 

 The decay of these once flourishing countries is partly due to that class of geographical causes whose action we can neither resist nor 

 guide, and partly also to the direct violence of hostile human force. But it is, in a far greater dcgi-ee, either the result of man's ignorant 

 disregard of the laws of nature, or an incidental consequence of civil war and ecclesiastical tyranny and misrule. Thus, for an early 

 civilization, there must be protection against natural forces and barbarians. Agriculture is the basis of civilization, cultivation of soil 

 permits a dense population. But just as no civilization comes without food, so it does not come without commerce. Forests and moun- 

 tains prevent invasion of enemies, by hindering their approach. Early civilization was an exchange of products between foi-est countries 

 and those having a dry climate, as in the western part of Asia; between those with fertile region, where food could be derived and the 

 more distant and inhospitable regions. In all cases variety of products and available water courses were a necessity. The polar region 

 can never hope to be occupied by man. The Eskimos live in little rooms with no considerable property; in sucii conditions there ia 

 no hope of civilization. Even in the United States there was not suitable food for a large population and for domestic animals, and no 

 advanced- civilization till after the soil had been cleiired and several crops had been produced; then came the foundation — sufficient 

 food for a civilization. Wherever j^opulation has not grown it is because of the food question and of domestic animals. Bat when rail- 

 roads were built and gave facilities for supi)lying food, civilization suddenly developed. In the earliest ages of the world Asia shone 

 alone. She Avas at once the cradle of civilization, and of those nations Avhich v/erc the only representatives of culture, and which carried 

 it, in their day, to the extremities of the world. Asia, its gigantic proportions, the almost infinite divei-sity of its soil, and its central 

 situation rendered it suitable to be the continent of the germ and the root of the immense tree which afterwards, bore such beautiful fruit. 

 But Asia has yielded to I'^uropethe scepter of civilization for two thousand years. At the present day, Europe is still unquestionably 

 the first of the civilized continents. North America has also entered the' list and is advancing with geometrical ratio; for it has 

 not to recommence the work of civilization; civilization was transported thither ready-made. The three continents of the south- 

 ern hemisphere, Africa (except Egypt), Australasia, and South America, have not been the birthplaces of any of the great oi\iIiza- 

 tions which have exercised an influence on the progress of the race. Japan has just been added to high i.iodern civilization 

 of the European sense and is preparing herself to play a part of the first importance. The natural advantages of the Japan Islands 

 arc immense. These islands consist of four large mountainous islands, and comprise many small ones distinguished by their 

 physical condition. This country has a healthy and moderate climate, fertile soil, variety of vegetable and mineral products, and natural 

 facilities for the transportation and distribution of exchangeable commodities, advantages which are not possessed in an equal degree by 

 any other country in the Orient. Its productions are rice, tea, cotton, aud silk, and are the great staples, furnishing the principal food, 

 drink, and clothing of its people. Manufactures, having the benefit of the competition of different countries in supplying raw materials, 

 are the chief features of the present commerce and wealth. These manifold blessings, the temperature of the air, the distribution of the 

 rains, relative disposition of land and water, the plenty of coast lines, the composition of soil, and the raw materials of the manufacturing 

 arts are wholly gratuitous gifts. The native productsof China and Korea were naturalized in these islands, and gradually improved by 

 the art of man, while centuries of persevering labor was expelling the wild vegetation and fitting the earth for the production of a more 



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