One of the few statements of Neesima that were published in print. It clearly shows his educational philosophy. To be precise, however, it is technically a collaborative work of Neesima (aged 45) who provided the materials and Tokutomi Iichiro (Soho, aged 25) who wrote the final version. Neesima’s argument begins with the importance of a private university and moral education and finishes with the importance of cultivating people who might be called “the conscience of the nation”. My desire to establish a private university was no sudden whim, and for its fulfillment I have already spent countless days of labor and struggle. At last my plan is matured, and the time has come to appeal to the nation for their help. If I do not take this opportunity I feel that the chance to realize my hopes would be lost forever. So I am impelled to publish this statement of my aims for such a university, together with some account of what has already been accomplished to this end. Over twenty years ago, the feudal government, distressed by pressure from abroad and unrest at home, was in its last days. At this time, with a burning desire to go abroad to pursue my studies, I left my clan (Annaka) and made my way to Hakodate. I defiance of the law forbidding our countrymen to leave Japan, I got myself taken secretly aboard an American sailing vessel. This was on the night of June 14 (solar calendar July 17), 1864. On the ship I was assigned to the hard tasks of an ordinary seaman, but after about a year I reached Boston. There I was befriended by a generous citizen, with whose aid I entered Amherst College and later Andover Theological Seminary. These studies occupied some ten years. 〔Education is the basis of civilization〕 During this time I made careful observations of American institutions, also I sought out many leading citizens and listened to their arguments. Thus I learned that American civilization was not the result of chance nor a sudden growth; it was rather due to the education which had developed the country as a whole. Believing thus that education was the chief factor in building up a nation, I decided to devote my whole life to furthering this great enterprise. Appendix 2. “The Aim in Establishing Doshisha University” November 1888 (Meiji 21)
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