Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-20
PRoGR ESS IN JAPAN
Counsellor Stevens Interesting Lecture at
Metzerdtt Hall Last Night.
Her Struggles I'm Peace and Victories
in War I'M rh@ Endeavor to BE
Recognixsd BY Other Nations.

Mr.. Durham White Stevens counsellor of
the Japanese legation, who was for sixteen
years in the diplomatic service of the Unit
ed States in J4panl lectured to a distin-
guished audience at Metzerott Hall last
evening on Japan" Three members of
the Chinese legation were conspicuous in
the audience. Mr.. Stevens said that Japan
has always had a peculiar interest for the
student and the traveller. He spoke Of 1t
as the land of the chrysanthemum, and of
the lotus, of the stately pine and the
graceful bamboo; the home of arts that
are at once beautiful and unique and the
land where feudal romance, dating almost
from the time of Charlemagne, has been
cceval with the telegraph and the railroad.
He said that it has now won for itself
new place in the world. 1t has proved, by
arms and men, that it is nation worthy
of the worlds respect, not to be lightly
dismissed from the calculations of those
powers which have hitherto arrogated to
themselves the right to regulate the affairs
of the orient And yet to those of u.s."
he said, who have known Japan for years,
who have witnessed her efforts to adopt
and to utilize all that is best in modern
civilization, the thought that she has risen
in the worlds estimation by war rather
than by the paths of peaceful endeavor is
not without an element of sadness.
Her Recent Victories In War.
1--WE have seen her struggles and her
sacrifices to earn the worlds regard and
have rejoiced at her partial success.
Nevertheless we have felt certain that she
deserved more than has been conceded to
her, for her friends know that her efforts
have been prompted by a sincere and an
honest desire to gain for herself and for all
her people the benefits which western ma
lions enjoy. Now suddenly, after years OF
patient toll and steady endeayor, she
stands revealed by the lurid light of war,
and the truth bursts upon the world that
in the far east there Is a nation capable of
great things, as we occidentals understand
great things No friend of Japan need re-
greet that the truth concerning her should
be known. But every one who has studied
her course during the past thirty years
must confess to some surprise that 1t
needed the present startling and tragic
episode TO prove what Japan really Is.
Stin we cannot complain IL by any means
the world awakens to the knowledge Of the
fact that Japan has gained victories In
peace greater than those of war; that she
has advanced far upon the paths of nation
al progress, and has justly earned for herself
a place in the esteem and the respect or
sister nations"
Review of Japan's Progress.
The lecturer then gave an interesting re-
view Of the wonderful progress of Japan
during the past thirty years, in the course
of which he took occasion to speak of the
wonderful natural beauty of the country
and the many Improvements that have been
made there. He gave brief description
of the system Of consular jurisdiction, and
of the conditions upon which the foreign
settlements were established in Japan. He
also spoke of the habits and customs of the
Japanese people, and paid high tribute
to their patriotism, kindness of heart and
general politeness. THE struggle between
Japan and China" he said, lis in epitome
battle to the death between the ancient
uyht Nh haS ha ont
and rendered it impervious to change, and
the spirit of modern progress. 1t is the
logical result of those domestic changes
which has transformed Japan. In a meas
ure it owes it's origin, no doubt, to differ
ences In natior al character, but back of all
that, some clash of the kind between the
two nations has been inevitable for the
last twenty years. That Japan was pre-
pared for the conflict Is due not alone to
the martial valor of her people, but even
more to the fact that during these years
she has been perfecting herself in the ways
of peace, as well as In the lessons of war,
and has been absorbing what she could of
those things which have given western ma
tions superiority over their less favored
or less energetic brethren.
Prediction as to Her Future.
'If we judge the future of Japan by the
past-by what she has accomplished for
the intellectual, the moral and the material
improvement of her people, our forecast
must be most sanguine. Admitting that
accomplishment is justly a measure of re-
ward, Japan cannot be far from the goal
of her ambition, which is recognition as a
member of the family of nations, fully en-
titled to the enjoyment of all those rights
and privileges which independent common
wealths regard inalienabe prerogatives
of national sovereignty. The criticisms
against Japan are not general, and are
based on prejudice rather than on knowl-
edge. Certainly Japan finds no censure In
the minds of the American people, from
whom her claims have always received
generous appreciation. When in the no dis
tant future Japan attains the goal of her
ambition, it must always be a gratifying re-
Election to every American that it was his
country which first brought her into touch
with the world and which first displayed
a cordial, a helpful and a practical SYM
pathy with the aspirations and with the
efforts with the land of the rising SUM-"