New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-28

hourdless ambitions may not presently prove
more troublesome to England and Russia and us
than the suuineness of China MI Norman gives
excellent reasons for believing that no very ener-
getic policy was likely 10 have D"en adopted by
China even hal she been let alone by Japan.
From the letharGy " uncoun'd centuries there
,,,. ~, ,r,hab.lity If her awakng. But it IS sup
posed that Japan he kept in order by the joint
compulsion Of England and Russia. ana that her
eynloeiyc energies. thus disciplined, will IN the
lopg run tend to clyilze and not to harbarize 50
much ~ Asia as IS permitted T. come within the
sphere # her influence
We'll and good And with this agreeable pros
u,,, before Ms. we are all expected to forget the
origin and true history Of the Japanese attack
unon China and not To- critic.se policy Of fla
Grant aggression war long prepared and de-
Ijb4ra.eIy undertaken for the purpose of con-
quest with but slender diplomatic or political
pretexts for military action Results arr every
thing and victory is the true test Of motives. and
the vital piincipl" Of public l!w Tine was
when. a, least in Europe this view might haN"
been held immoral. even ath"istic But Asia
* not Europe The paradoxcs u tine one are the
moral axioms Of the other.
Should there be. however. readers Of Nr. Nor
man who do not share t. the fun his raptuTc'
over Japan they might find 1t worth while |"
In
governmental and administrative and Parlia-
-, ,c g., ranan Mr. Norman tolls us
,t,, 1o,.,,.. 10 go will bear COMPARISON with any
e., xi.,.,,.a Il may he so bu, her present codes
or. 80 rur,rean origin. The IawmaEirc machin"
=, Mr. rrz,,.s uoa.s h. described IN terms which
mas, ,,u give rls. :, doubt whcthcr such ma
chine IS IN truth capable ~ turning ont codes
which Ii,al those Of JUstinian or OF livingstone
r nr,yij guarantees for personal liberty cotnpar-
olI. 8, tbos. ~ England or IF America. Europe,
o,d I..gIard espcciallv Is beginning to under
s,o,, ,Lo working If the American Constitution
wall orouob T., hesitate before. preicrring 10 that
co. ,,,,or.or NJ Rapubiiolu liberty the mongre
v,.,,,,,.rtal ana TINS lar very Imperfec,ly sue
c.s.fnl devices - Japanese statesmen for graft
ING the political ideas Of the West on an Oriental
race v,h ose political education is still embryonic
A. >.r,,o,,s ey,ltat,on over the military or-
eanzatin of Japan ~ easier to Justify. and he has
,.',h h,,,, ,,r.,, h,d, Of Eurouean opinion The
c,,,nairn has been studied and Landed by the
,,,st c,,,,e,.nt military critics in the world. the
Germans II is agreed that the japanese are
masters IF tactics; understand mobllizinS and
moving very considerable forces by land ana sea-
and have sound conceptions OF strategy To inter
that the japanese army would b" ma''h I'r
equal European forces is 10 ~ very FAST II may
he but its triumph over the ragged haitalions 81
China does not quite prove It. Every word which
Mr. Norman SAYS OF the dsorganizauon ana III
efficiency Of the Chinese forces and nobody has
drawn a more vivid picture detracis from the
credit due their japanese conqueroTs and lowers
the value OF the test that has been applied u IN"
japanese generals and soldiers and the War De
partment generally. But Mr.. Norman's enthnsi-
asm Is capable II siill higher nights. II" a'cep'S
AL the japanese bulletins az pure gospel N''
in one single instance cries No. mas Inc oil" IA
report 10y the responsible JaPahe'' '''"''"'''''
been shown to d"VlAte by Il man "''"''" ANN
the exact truth 50 far as ID" co"' I"sS'o'S Mn"
st." Even Napoleons bulletins were NOT 'N"' ~
models or truthful accuracy. Yet MS ""'''"i'
reputation still stands high. But perhaps We MT
TO consider Count Oyaina ana Mdrshai f"ih'E"'"
AS Waehlngtous rather than NAp'le'H' me
lyrical note I'm Mr.. Norrnau's japanese pages
rises highest II all ia the remark that the japan
es- PATRIOTISM and enthusiasm f'r the war sprung
from their belief-the Jdpan"s" i'""i"p''S III
any rate said so-that Is result, was To Dee the
carving OF Japanes" enlightenment INTO th'
darkest country Of Asia.
,,.,. .,.,,.o, md o,os,..Il, theory comes ll,,
o.ru.,or With IN. awful FAC. ~ the -FOUR lays
.r % chimes. AZ PORT Arthur. Count own
- IT, ,.,Lt,,, 90, .r closing his ayes. MI
:. r,.,, ts ,is,ross.l "a we'll h, may b.. uy that
h,..,.,, tie has fh. fairness =, oNu that 10 is
,,.,snl. ,o disregard the evidence Yet t. him
tho ,oo,un, IL .'bevoud comprehension" and. In
dad "aln,.s, uriuarlnahle" lie sees. ~ course.
o d,m,l,,. - r.copciling tho 'whol-salc slaugh-
,o ~, ,,rar,,..d C,bineqe' with his own conception
3D., Japanes. civilization Ull h. ever really re-
,.,. 80, ,h. probability that the national charar-
ter - 40 900 900 81 people was r~yolutouizcd IN
a generation. or ask himself whether an Asiaue
race was likely - cx rhauge over night iis Views
Of morals for those OF Europe? The progress ~
Japan. i,s advance in the methods and arts -
which we think civilization II a marvellous thing.
I'm, IS f. after all. other than int"ilectual2 IL
there much evidence that r. is moral or religious!
Putting such questions aside. th"re remain