Tae changelessness of the East is a common topic. It would belmore correct to speak of the changelessness of Western opinion about the East. The same remarks are being made perpetually about Oriental subjects, the same arguments recur, the same illustrations are forthcoming in periodical criticism in the Senate. The world is gradually waking up to the discovery that far more of its opinions than it would be ready to admit are due to Voltaire. The Philosophical Dictionary is a mine into which many shafts have been sunk. It is not, however, with Voltaire's opinions that we have at present to do. For lucid summary of these the reader is referred to Mr. Morley's brilliant etude on his character and works. It is enough for us to give one very striking example of Voltaire's extraordinary power of concentration.
He gives in a dozen short paragraphs a summary of the History of European intercourse with Japan. It is very interesting to read this now, as we are struck first with the power which can condense the History of centuries into a few epigrams, and, secondly, we cannot fail to be struck with the contrast between the Japan of 1727 and the Japan of 1872. This is the way in which the relations of the Island Empire with the West are characterized "As soon as the Europeans had "cleared the Cape of Good Hope, the "Propaganda flattered itself with sub.
jugating and converting all the neigh-"bouring people of the Eastern seas, "We traded with Asia, sword in hand, "and every nation of the West, by "turns, despatched merchants, soldiers, "and priests." Then follows a few sentences anticipating the celebrated "Buddhist in Trafalgar Square" argument, which has been so often brought forward, and which is indeed as sure to appear in a "liberal" article on China as King Charles's Head was to show itself in poor crazy Mr. Dick's "Memorial." Does not this read like the Duke of Somerset himself "Let us engrave on the turbulent brains of these adventurers the memorable words of the Emperor Yonchin when he drove all the Jesuit missionaries and others from his empire, that they may be written on the gates of all the convents: What would you say if we were to go into your country under the pretence of traffic, and tell your people that your religion is worthless, and that they must absolutely embrace ours."
This "pretence of traffic" has precisely the ring of the orators of whom we heard so much some few years ago, and it is clear whence their inspiration was derived. The only misfortune is that remarks possibly not absolutely untrue in Voltaire's time, with regard to the Latin Church and Japan, are utterly inapplicable to the present day, and to the peculiar relations between England and China to which they were supposed to have reference. The subsequent portion of the short article especially strikes us, as it puts with great clearness the religious state of Japan in the middle of the last century, and then gives us facts whereby to perceive the astounding character of the recent changes in that country.
"There were in the islands of Japan twelve religions, which lived together very peaceably." Now, by the breath of his mouth, the Mikado has merged these various sects into one, There has never, as far as we know, been any event in ecclesiastical history to compare with this bloodless revolution. The promulgation of the Christian Religion by the Emperor Constantine sinks into insignificance by the side of it. It is the most extraordinary event which has ever occurred in any Church, be it in the East or the West. Who would not rejoice if some strong hand would in like manner fuse the various jarring sects of Christendom,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.