LIFE AND LETTERS OF JOSEPH HARDY NEESIMA

255/372

APPEAL FOR A UNIVERSITY. 239 est learning rested upon the Christianity which they had despised. Dissatisfied with the results of the government university at Tokyo, plans for an insti­tution independent of the state began to be discussed, promises of money for departments of law and medi­cine were made, and Mr. Neesima was consulted with reference to the incorporation of these departments and the broadening of the curriculum of the Doshisha. With these brighter prospects opening before him he began the realization of his long-cherished plans and publicly announced his purpose. In the spring of 1884, the first of several meetings designed to call public attention to this movement was held in Kyoto. It was attended by the leading officials and business men of the city and was addressed by Dr. Davis, Mr. Neesima and others. In May the following appeal, prepared by Mr. Yamamoto and Mr. N eesima, was issued:-"The recent political changes in Japan have swept away feudalism, for many hundred years the basis of society. Under the steadily increasing influence of theso changes the transformation of society has been so great that we seem to live in a new Japan. On every side are those who insist upon the improvement of our political institutions, our educational methods, our commerce, and our industries. 1\r e heartily agree with them in the importance of these things, but when we examine the present condition of affairs we find one cause for sorrow. Do you ask what that cause is? It is that there does not exist in Japan a uni ver­sity which, teaching the new science, is also founded upon Christian morality. This is the foundation which our civilization needs. In natural advantages Japan is not inferior to Europe or America. Why

※このページを正しく表示するにはFlashPlayer10.2以上が必要です