The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-26

the fox as a god that the commercial
morality Of the japanese is 50 exceedingly
low. The reputation of the fox Tor non
esty and honorable dealing IS about on a
par with that of the average japanese
merchant. This statement may appear
harsh, but it is abundantly corroborated
IN the onclal dispatches of the foreign
consuls resident in Japan. Thus, the pub
hshed reports Of the Vienna foreign ONCE
contain a dispatch from the Austro-
hungarian consul at Hokohama
IN which he refers with
some bitterness to the difficulties
OF business relations with the japanese
! owing to the lack Of development OF
/ their moral qualities" He deplores their
objection TO straightforward dealing"
ana declares that they are wanting IN
tenaclty, uprlghtness and in the most ele-
/ mentary notions of commercial honor"
he concludes the document by comparing
them-greatly to their Disadvantage
with Inc Chinese, among whose mer-
chants dishonesty is extremely rare. IL
is Wen known throughout the east that II
a chinese merchant can only be induced
10 make verbal engagement or promise,
no written contract or bond IS necessary,
whereas 1t is absolutely impossible to
place any reliance in the engagement of
the japanese man of business, no matter
what precautions may be adopted. Even
the american and European bankers and
merchants established in Japan invarla-
Oily make point of selecting Cinnamon as
their compradOrs, factors, cashiers and
tellers, cases of dishonesty on tier part
Delng almost entirely unknown, whereas
no one would ever dream Of appointing a
Japanese 10 any such place of trust.
/ am perfectly aware that these asser-
lions will call forth protests and express
IONS OF dissent on the part of those many
enthusiasts about Japan, who would lead
the unlnltiated TO believe that its inhabi-
tants are the most amlable gentle and in
offensive race on the face of the globe,
that their distinguishing trait is an inor-
dlnate love of foreign people and of for
elgn Ways-a popular impression strength
ened moreover by the amiable and sub
dued manners of the Japanese whom we
meet here and in Europe, so far more
peasant IN every way than the surly ana
ENJOYABLE attitude of the lOw-class Chin
ese, who lnfest the big cities OF America,
and convey so false an impression of their
moro high bred coInpatriots It home.
Moreover, this erroneous impression con-
corning the Japanese has been in a great
measure confirmed by the numerous books
which have been published about
the Land of the Rising Sun"
one of the writers has either dared or
cared to portray the laps as they really
are, and each seems to have been led by
one consideration or another to describe
this queer yellow race as if seen through
rose-colOred glasses. 1t is significant,
however, that those who have spent the
longest time In Japan give the least fat
terlng account of its people, and the con-
test between the degree of enthusiasm
displayed by Sir Edwin Arnold in his
series of ''Japonica" articles published in
"Scrl bper' s . and that shown by M.
Bousquet, in his remarkable essays on
Japan in the Paris Revue des Deux
Mondes" is exceedingly instructive. Sir
Edwin spent ten months, and Nj. Bouquet,
to whose services the mikado is indebted
for the new legal code. ten years in Japan.
Both are men of considerable eminence in
the scientific and literary world, and are
equally anxious. though for different
reasons, to write nothing but pleasant and
agreeable things about the "Dai
Nippon" While Sir Edwin describes
the people as THE delight of my SOUL
and as the most fearless, self respecting,
lofty minded, generous, honorable and
high charactered nation in the world
M. Bousquet is compelled in the Revue
des DeuX Mondes" to admit that the tenn
permanent of his Japanese friends is with
out the requisite amount of equilibrium )"
that their minds are like ships without
ballast, driven hither and thither by each
gust of wind, and that they have ''much
intelligence, vivacity and talent, but mo
thoreughness or perseverance of, prin-
ciple. In short, he practically confesses
that which everybody who has lived for
any length of time in Japan knows to be
the truth, namely that the Japanese,
though occasionally brilliant, are essen
TALLY superficial and without the slight
est depth of knowledge heart or moral
character.
Had Sir Edwin Arnold pro
longed his stay in Japan-had he
been younger and consequently
less susceptible to the charms of the Mus
NEE whom he invests not only with
"semi-augelic grace and sweetness" but
also with all the fascination and charm
of her SEX it is probable that his ac-
count of the people would have possessed
greater analogy to that of NJ. BouSquet,
and III consequence been nearer the truth.
When, therefore, hear people in this
country describing the Japanese as the
yankees of the Orient | sometimes ask
| myself whether they realize the true
| character of the people whom they are
pleased to regard as their Asiatic count
erpart. for my part can see no resem-
blance between the two, for in America
love of truth prevails, whereas St. Paul
was evidently ignorant of the existence of
either Japan or Of the Japanese when he
described the Cretans as being the
greatest liars in the world. True, they
are the most picturesque and artistic
liars in the universe Their lies are as
intricate and as elaborate as their
| marvellous embroideries. I would
| certainly never dream of saying that
about the Americans
MINERS IN THE HOSPITALS.
Dangerous Work Leads to Shocking