Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-26
NOT TO BE ADMIRED.
An Uncomplimentary View Of the
Character Of the Japanese
TIE TRUTH ISE'f IN THEM.
While Chinaman's Word Is aosd Ysu
Heed Bend From the jap,
UNBORN HATRED OF TIE PoREIsssR
New York World, !

New York world.l
1t may safely be taken for granted that
when St. Paul described the Cretau, m
being the greatest liars in the world he vas
ignorant of the existence either of Japan or
of the japanese. The latter are without en-
ception the most artistic and picturesque
liars of the universe. Their lies are as in.
tricats and as elaborate Is their marvellous
embroideries, and the groundwork upon
which they are based is of 20 himsy q nature
as to be almost imperceptibla
They are incapable Of making Q thorouah.
ly truthful or honest statement, even II they
try their utmost to do so, and ara 30 entirely
untrustworthy that ons cannot even belisys
the contrary Of what they say. There is
something in the very air that is conducive
to lying, and these peculiar atmospheric
conditions appear to have exercised con.
siderable influence upon the American and
European writers about the "Land of the
Rising Sum-" Not one of them has dared
or cared to portray the Japanese as they
really are.
Arnold and Bousquet Disagree.
1t Is significant. however, that those vhs
have spent the longest time in Japan give
the least tattering account Of its people, and
the contrast between the degree Of enthusi.
asm displayed by Sir Edwin Arnold in his
series Of "Japonica" articles published in
Scrt6ner's Magazine and that shown BY II,
Bousquet In his essays on Japan in the Paris
Heuue des Del1 Mondes is exceedIngly in.
struetive. Sir Edwin spent ten months and
M. Bousquet, to whose services the Mikado's
Government is indebted for its new legal
code. ten years in Japan. While Sir Edwin
describes the people as the delight of his
soul" and as the most fearless" "self.
respecting" ''loftv-minded," generous"
honorable" and "high-charactsred" nation
In the world, M. Bousquet Is compelled, in
the Reuue des Deux Mondss, to admit that
the tenn permanent of his Japanese friends is
without the requisite amount Of equilib-
rium;" that their minds are "like ships
without ballast, driven hither and thlthsr
by each gust of wind," that they have
much intelligence, Yivaclty and talent"
but mo thoroughness or perseverance, and
only few principles"
In. short, he practically confesseu that
which everybody who has lived auy length
OF time in Japan knows to be the truth.
namely, that the Japanese, though occa.
slonaIly brilliant, are essentially superficial
and without the slightest depth of knowl-
edge, heart or character.
stin Worship Mice and Foxes
Civilization, such as we undersrsnd II, In
based upon Christianity and is the result Of
growth and gradual evolution during .
period OF 20 centuries. The eJapaness fondly
imagine that they can attain the same degree
of occidental civilization during o period Of
twice 20 years. They worship no less than
5000, 900 divinities, including the sun-god-
dess Amaterasu, the Fox God and the
White Mouse God.
Possibly it is owing to their Worship Of n
fox as god that the commercial morality
Of the japanese is SO exceedingly low. This
statement may appear harsh, but It is abun-
dantly indorsed and oorroborated in the
official dispatches of the foreign Consuls
resident in Japan. Thus the published re-
ports Of the Vienna Foreign Office contain
q dispatch from the Austro.H b hungarian Con-
sui at Yokohama, In which he refers with
some bitterness to the difficulties Of busi-
ness relations with the Japanese. owing 10
the lack Of development Of their morxl
qualities" He deplores their objection to
straightforward dealing" and declares that
they are wanting in tenacity, uprightness
and in the most elementary notions of COM
mercial honor"
Doesn't Compare with the Chinanan.
It is well known throughout the East that
il Chinese merchant can only be induced
to make q verbal engagement or promise,
no written contract or bond il necessary,
whereas It is absolutely impossible ever to
place any reliance in the engagements Of
the Japanese man Of business, no matter
what precautions may be adopted.
It is no eX2ggeration to assert that the
condition of the foreign settlements in
Japan is just as precarious-and indeed
even more so-than in the days, II years
sgo, when both the English and the French
maintained rseimsnts of In
santry and batteries Of artillery at Yoke
hama for the protection of their citizens.
The Chinese in Japan are treated with In
initely greater respect, consideration and
ieference than the white races. No China-
nan has ever been assailed or attacked in
Japan, whereas there are scores and scores
# cases where white men have been as
aulted and even murdered. Only . year
.go an American professor, Mr.. Large, was
,rutally murdered at Toxic by joi-haters
without any attempt having been made to
punish his sssassins.
Death for Foreign Affiliations
Moreover, since the Inauguration Of the
present regime, in 1867, which made its en-
rance into Toxic with the war cry Of
death to the foreigners" on its lips, 0kubo,
Iori, Iwakura, Okuma and other great
lignitaries of the realm have been either as
assinated or dangerously wounded for dis
,laying too great amisbility to the 'jOi."
The Mikado traces his descent In direct
Inc from the gods, and only few months
go the editor of one Of the principal Toxic
ally newspapers was condemned to . long
erm of penal servitude for sacrilege COM
nitted in referring in jocular manner to
His Msjesty's ancestor, the Emperor Jimmu,
rhose reign was cotemporaneous with that
{ Julius Cesar at home. And although
he present Mikado condeseeuded to wear
ourt mourning for his good cousin" the
ate King of Portugal, and to address EN-
error William, of Germany, as brother"
et he still maintained his divine right 10
aise deserving men to the ranks Of the
aints and even Of gods.
ARTHUB B. ALLIBoNA