Among the many evidences of progress in Japan, none is more remarkable than the rapid growth of a native Press. The Japanese are going to a wild extreme in some of their efforts to overtake Western Nations. Not content with adopting the great features of our civilisation—our discoveries in steam and electricity, and our comparatively enlightened system of Government—they have descended to the ridiculous minutia of hair-outting and dress; and we lately even quoted a proclamation ordering bread to be substituted for rice og an article of diet. Such petty changes, which savour almost of mimicry, are viewed by Foreigners as detract-from the merit of the really great strides which Japan has taken. Wenseang once told Sir Rutherford Alcock that we should bye-and-bye complain of China progressing too fast. There does not seem much immediate danger of the grievance and we can still measure what Japan has done, by contrast with what China is, The two nations were about parallel now, Japan has railways and telegraphs, is working her mines to pay for these, and has an armament which, small as is, would probably enable her to Gefeat her giant neighbour, All this has, naturally, not been done without irrotating the Conservative classes, to be found in every country, who always maintain that what is, is good. But the general intelligence of the country seems to appreciate the innovations; and it is likely that the Press will be an effective agent in conciliating opposition) "andsrestraining the action. of, thie' Government where it is too.rapid or' too irritating. The rapidity with., whith this: mative Press has sprung into existence la marvellous, and not less remarkable is the freedom with which it comments on the Government measures and the acts of individual officials, Here is a complaint by the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.