Yeah, I saw the parallels, too. In fact, this article below certainly emphasizes that point.
However, I must admit that upon first reading it, if it is a sarcastic point condemning the United States, or whether it is a serious look at how the United States can turn the heathen Japanese into Christians.
Part of that is to not fully understanding the climate - the sociology-economic climate of the day. Of not understanding how people are thing of what exactly is going through the mind's of those running the government, or in this case, the press.
There was a time when the Power of The Press meant something. Now it's the power of Social Media. But don;t get me wrong, while I still believe that the majority of the 'information' being bandied about on such things as Facebook and Twitter and even Wikipedia are total codswallop, there is a lot of real news and true information being passed around. The problem, as always, is to separate the wheat from the chaff - what is valuable and what is worthless.
This article is from the January 1, 1853 edition of the Weekly Herald a weekly newspaper from New York, New York that was published between 1836 - 1896). Like a lot of newspaper articles from this era, it is often difficult to to read the print owing to typesetters and inks and printing presses being different from paper to paper. As such, there are a few instances where it was difficult to discern a word - but I did, correctly (patting myself on the head).
As well, there were a couple of instances where I was not able to discern the true meaning the writer meant. I shall discuss those after the article and request aid from anyone out there who may have some arcane knowledge hidden away in the back of their brain. For one term, even Google let me down. That has never happened before, and I must admit to being a little scared. Does that mean that there's a word or phrase out there that is lost to humanity - and only 160 years removed?
Read on:
The Japan Expedition In the Same Point of View
[From La Patrie of Dec. 4]
The expedition which the United States government sends on the coast of Japan, was to have sailed under the command of Commodore Perry.
Conceived at first under the modest form of a friendly mission, partly commercial and partly scientific, the Japanese expedition, in proportion as its preparations advanced, and it has taken paces more and more grand, and it has professively arrived to the proportions of a military force of the first order, such as the empire of Japan never, since the first visit made to it by the Portuguese, has seen directed to its shores.
Thirteen ships of war compose the American fleet sent upon the coast of Japan, of which the following is a table:-
[The armament is here given]
To this number of 3,015 men of a crew, must be added 700 marines, who with the complement of the officers of convoys, savans and artists attached to the expedition, under various titles, give the total figure of 4,000 men and 330 guns, mostly of the largest calibre.
The original pacific character of this expedition is therefore, entirely enfaced before the figures which we have just enumerated.
It is rather a squadron which the United States send against Japan; and if no unforeseen calamity occurs, Japan will before one year, have struck her flag and yielded to the legitimate exigencies of Christian civilization.
[Editor's Note: OMG!]
Before one year, the blood of fifty thousand Christians, put to death during the great persecution of the Japanese Dioclesian--the ferocious Tacïosama--will have obtained the only vengeance for which it has cried to heaven; the Japanese territory will be anew accessible to Christianity and to modern civilization.
And there you have it. As I inserted into that text - OMG! Oh My God! Why? Because.. this newspaper is hoping that within one year of landing in Japan, the United States will have turned Japan into a Christian nation.
Well, in God we trust, right?
The United States of America in the 1850s was, along with being a power-hungry, land-gobbling upstart global power wannabe, also one that believed in the power of God. The Christian God.
And, as the old saying goes, might makes right. Hence the unapologetic salivation at the number of men and arms being taken to Japan to show them (the Japanese) that the U.S. of A. is a-ok.
Yes, the op-ed piece acknowledges the Japan Expedition started out as a commercial and scientific trek, but if the Japanese just took a look at the cool way Christianity has helped America, then it too can and will show Japan the error of its ways. By force, if it has to.
At least, that's what I took out of this unabashed Christian doctrine.
Don't get me wrong... my name is John Andrew Matthew Stephen Joseph. That's pretty damned Christian. Although raised a Roman Catholic, I don't make a big deal about it because I am all for everyone having the right to worship who or what ever they please. If it makes you happy to be happy - then be happy. Me... I'm not much of a church-goer, as I always had too many questions and was always told I needed faith. Me? I like truths. Love and do as you will. St. Augustine. That's my mantra. It doesn't mean I'm correct and everyone else is wrong. Not by a long-shot. It doesn't even mention God(s). It just says 'love'. How can you start a war with that as the main part of a mantra?
The U.S. of A. likes to believe it is a Christian nation built on Christian ideals. Sure, why not? Canada, too. We (Canadians) say 'God save the Queen' (and her fascist regime - if you believe the Sex Pistols), but the U.S. which likes to talk about the religious fanaticism or fervor of other countries forgets it has a a God complex, too.
God Bless America, is a great and powerful song that I recall Kate Smiths belting out at Philadelphia Flyers' hockey games in the 1970s (written by Irving Berlin). Irving? He was Jewish, so was he talking about the vengeful and angry Jewish God that sent down the flood in the Old Testament? Berlin? Is he German? Teutonic?
I know, I know... I'm getting a little crazy. That's what happens when religion enters into a political mix, I think, and in the Japan Expedition, the Weekly Herald seems to believe this is okay. But hey - wait'll the Yanks get a look at the Japanese babes - then we can add sex to the mix of religion and politics. That will be even better, right?
So... I'll get off my moral high horse (because I don't like heights) and put away the soap box I was preaching from until I feel dirty again.
This was, after all the world of the 1850s. Every world power wanted more. The Brits always said that the sun never sets on the British Empire, and because of the way it had acquired country after country, that was actually a correct and brilliant statement.
The U.S, had its own manifest destiny and said famously 54:40 or fight when discussing attacking Canada.
Japan had its own quest for power as it attempted top make Asia in its own image during the first half of the 20th century.The U.S.S.R. and China did too. Italy a long time ago. Germany - don't get me started. Then there's the centuries long Dutch, French and Spanish influence around the world.
Every country is guilty of it. Heck, I just had some folks with the Jehovah's Wittness protection programme come to my front door a few hours ago looking to convert me to save my soul from the eternal damnation of damnation. Unlike the Japanese, I didn't feel like answering the door to get them to leave me alone while I was writing this.
I've read the Bible, the Koran and the Torah. Wonderful books all. Especially when used correctly for love and peace. I've read books on Buddhism. I've looked into becoming a Rosicrucian, read up on the Philadelphians and Quakers and Mennonites, wanted to become an Illuminati (I am too devious even for them) or one of the Knights of Columbus (can't afford the armour), or preferably a Knights Templar! Or a Freemason. You have to pay dues to become a free mason? That doesn't sound right.
Whatever. In the case of the Japan Expedition, it obviously didn't work. Yes, it opened up Japan to commercial prosperity internationally (eventually), and scientifically the U.S. got some decent mapping of the area.... but Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war - not so much.
According to no less an expert that Wikipedia, at present time there are about 509,000 Catholics in 16 dioceses in Japan. And... the patron saints of Japan are Francis Xavier and Peter Baptist. Cool! The bald guy with the gnarly brain powers who leads the X-Men?! I know, I know. But Peter the Baptist? What... John the more famous Baptist was busy?
Anyhow... St. Francis Xavier was the first Jesuit to enter Japan back in 1549.
As for Peter the Baptist... well... in 1593 while negotiations were pending between the Emperor of Japan and the Governor of the Philippine Islands, the Philippine Governor sent Peter Baptist and other Franciscans as his ambassadors to Japan.
They were actually well received by the Emperor of Japan, and established convents, schools, and hospitals and were able to convert a few Japanese.
But - the crap hit the fan on October 20, 1596 after a Spanish vessel of war, the San Felipe, was stranded on the isle of Tosa, it thus, according to Japanese custom, became the property of the Emperor of Japan.
Note that during this time, The Philippines was ruled by Spain.
Now, the Spanish ship captain tried to bully his way through this and claimed that he was a representative of the Spanish king. He then added for good measure that the the missionaries had been sent to prepare for the conquest of the country.
The Japanese Emperor was not amused, and not one to be bullied by a stupid gaijin (outsider) ship's captain. As a show of force, on December 9, 1596, he ordered all the Franciscan missionaries to be imprisoned.
Then, on February 5, 1597, six friars belonging to the First Order St. Francis (Peter Baptist, Martin of the Ascension, Francis Blanco, all priests; Philip of Jesus, a cleric; and Gonsalvo Garzia, Francis of St. Michael, all laybrothers), three Japanese Jesuits (Paul Miki, John Goto and James Kisai) and seventeen native Franciscan Tertiaries were crucified.
As an extra bonus, after being raised up on to their crosses, each were then pierced through their sides with spears.
Huh... it sounds like even back in 1549, the Japanese understood quite a lot about Christianity, killing the invading religious folks by asking WWJD - What would Jesus do?
Okay... enough pontificating.What has any of this got to do with anything?
Take a look at the last paragraph of the newspaper story, specifically the phrase: "Japanese Dioclesian--the ferocious Tacïosama."
I'm not used to looking up words, but I had to this time.
Dioclesian... at first I found reference to the word meaning 'glory'. But then I came across an old play/opera written by Henry Purcell and first produced in 1622... pretty damn early as far as operetta's are concerned... but sure.
Apparently the Dioclesian play is loosely based on the struggle for power in Ancient Rome, featuring the real Roman Emperor Diocletian (244 - 311 AD), who ruled during what is known as the Diocletianic Persecution (303-311 AD), which was the Roman Empire's last, largest and bloodiest official persecution of Christianity.
While the records I read on this persecution suggest only about 3,000 or so were killed, I have no number for those persecuted alone, so I can only assume that IF this is what the Weekly Herald is suggesting when it mentions 50,000 Christians persecuted, it's a best guess only.
As for the term "Tacïosama". This confused the hell out of me even more than Dioclesian. I could find nothing on this word - whether it was a name or a thing.
I wondered if it was a Spanish word - not because of the history lesson provided above, but rather because Tacio looks like a Spanish word. I assumed that 'sama' was a Japanese honorific. And in this case, it still might be.
Then, when I realized that the Spanish could indeed have a hand in this creative word, it was due to the fact that maybe it had something with the way the Spanish converted the New World lubbers in Central and South America.
But then... I wondered about Spain's influence in The Philippines, as they ruled the islands between 1565-1898)... perhaps Tachio was a Filipino name? I still believe that the 'sama' was added to Japan-ify the term.
And... while I still have no clue as to the word origin of Tachio, it does indeed appear to be a Filipino surname. Three cheers and a tiger for me.
Okay... that's enough for me for today. Quantity of quality. Bloody hell... this was the shortest document I've yet to come across, and yet full of the most curious curiosities.
This, and other documents I have come across were nodded in my general direction by Vinny and came from the Newsbank/Readex database of Early American Newspapers (www.readex.com).
Oh, and thank-you Vinny for all of the work I had to put into this. Took a day off and everything, and spent hours in front of a computer doing research when it should have been porn.
Just kidding. Historical research is my porn (these days, at least).
Cheers
Andrew Joseph
PS: The photo above is my own taken in 1992 of the remembrance of the 23 Christian martyrs killed by the Japanese in Nagasaki in 1597. Feel free to use it, but just say it's mine.
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