New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-26
THE REAL JAPAN.
ACTUAL JAPANESE PROGRESS.

AJtpANFSE MANNERS. MORALS, ADMlNlSTRA-
in.fsted from Photographs by the author sv0. PIP.
3G4 Charles scibnerS sohSD
The author of this book had unusual opportuni-
tics for acquiring information concerning the actual
facts of that very modern progrcssive-or at least
,.volutionarv-movcment which has made Japan
tho sonrcc and centre of so much interest He has
mod thcse opportunitcS wisely and well, and has
avon his readers what no other work on Japan
affords namely series of clearly drawn pictures
\, the country and people as they appear to-day, and
as they are affected by the changes which have
been occurring with bewildcrng rapidity of late
wears The japanese are the most flexible people in
the world, or they could not have adapted them
selves as they have done, and with 80 little appar-
cn friction 10 the composite system of government
which has taken the place Of their ancient institu-
tions. No doubt the events which resulted in the
ruin of the principal Damios and the elimination
Of the usurping Shotgun prepared the way for the
innovations which were 10 follow. But while
there seems at present To he certain reactionary
tendency the real wonder is that there has been
so little resistance to the new ideas: and the real
danger is lest the enthusiasm of the leading minds
of Japan for Western institutions and Ideas Shout
lead them too far, and cause them to destroy or
abandon forms of national life which far exceed in
hcauty, delightful ness and ethical elevation any
thing the West can offer as substitutes.
Mr. Norman, we are glad TO note, is entirely OF
this way of thinking. and it is that which should
nc most mistakenly urged upon the japanese them
selves For nothing can he farther from the truth
than the notion that japan was somi-barbarous
country when Western nations broke down the
barriers that isolated her She then possessed
civilization in some respects superior TO that which
tie West has attained with all it's energy and all
It's KNOWLEDGE Indeed. IL is serious question
whether, 40 regards most OF the conditions which
make life worth living, the mas of the japanese
peo2le were not ctcr of than the mass OF any
Western nation IT the period referred to. 30 lar
as the higher and finer eementa Of civilization are
concerned, moreover Japan may challenge the
world. for nowhere else can be found anything 10
compare with the gentlencss, courtesy lSlndhhess
and absence of rough and coarse manners which
characterize, not only the educated class Dut as a
rule the poorest of the poor. in that country Now,
II is evident that the national training which has
produced these results-whch has practically pro-
0uced q nation of gentlemen and ladies-has moth
ing in common with barbarsm Another deeply
significant fact very srikingly illustrated by MI
Norman in his account of japanese prisons ana
convict labor is the remarkable aptitude OF all
The japanese for art work Certainly no such
system Of prison discipline could be introduced
into any other country under the sun as has Deen
successfully established there. For all prisoners
classified according 10 Inclr cdpucltlcS III
III sc prisons and no difficulty is found in teaching
them the most delicate processes of art work,
such A. carving on ivory and wood, the making OF
coisonne work and almost every class of line and
exact art production The sureness OF hand and
cyc the delicacy Of manipulation, and above all The
taste, which characterize japanese art, are III
short the possession of class alone, but OF the
whole Nation: and of what Western people.
however advanced the same be said?
The new institutions of Japan are in such
working order that they frequently excel their
models The prisons are admirably arranged, ana
their sanitation is perfect The police system
patterned after that of France is apparently rather
too complicated, and embraces too wide field OF
observation and inquisiton. The manners of the
japanese policeman. however, are irreproachabie
and according to Mr. Norman, they make arrests
With deprecatory and bland regard for the feel
ines Of the prisoner which would be simply gro
,fs1ue elsewhere but in Japan is considered SIM
ply decorous and proper. The author has an
amusing chapter or japanese Journalism, winch az
present labors under very serious drawbacks, inc
chief OF which are mechanical. and arise from 'he
intricate redundancy Of the Chinese characters
uscd in printing. Nevertheless the interviewer
la, become a fixed feature of japanese lourhal-
i'm, and H., performs his functions with thor
,,,rhnees which leaves nothing to desire were Ills
;,,,rprcttion of foreign expressions somewhat less
uiyod The vernacuar press is as yet IN the
cIrvsalis state and the Government mas hoV
v,t learned 20 put aside wholly the ola rcpres'iNe
n,licy. But with constitutional government. anu
.bc free Parliament the press must develop ana
become more useful TO the country Ihah ]" h"'
hitherto been. 4, ,ou ,bo
Wr Norman dwclls at much length upon tle
uiN.arv status OF Japan, and the lniormo,Io. nv
is able u bring forward conclMsiNeS shom5 4ha
,Ir rulers Of the country luHE aPPiehc."u III
d.nonrs which the future may expose them TO- anu
,hn ;mnerous necessity of taking timely precau-
sons For they realize that Japan Is the Key vi
10 Pacific in the event OF war between west
rrn Powers--between England ana RUSSIA, lor
oxnmnIc-and that China is always, ana now
o'nX than ever a shadow and menace 10 her
weaker nrighbor Therefore, Japan has TOT WEARS
hocn arminr and organizing navy ana an army
cauoblr OF coping with Western ships ana rlnes.
NJ Norman was permitted to inspect the navy
wards arscnals and armS-iacores nin q, Ianan
from wide experience that the resources OF japan
in all these matters are really Formidable, anu her
army and navy efficient. She can moDlilze 0o;,,
600 trocps all drilled and disciplined ana an
armed with q rife much resembling the lHpcI
arm Her navy is already powerful. carrying tle
best modern guns She has irOnclads m IN cope
will all hut the cavicSt Of their kind. her coast
Notifications are being constantly STRENGTHENED
and extended She is now weak in cavalry alone
and as the topography Of the country affords little
Cor scouting and vdette service. perhaps this de-
fciency is not Of great consequence here IS MOTH
ing aggressive in the policy Of Japan bur she per-
crives-and the Treaty Powers have Taught her
this-tlat II she is 10 obtain justice from the West,
IL she is 10 secure recognition as civilized Power
IL 81" is maintain her independence,
she must he In n position 70 fight If need he, as
well as 10 negotiate Her treatment by the Great
,ntisfaction to know that the United States have
less TO answer for than the European Powers.