The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-29
LAUDABLE,
Japan Anxious to Reach Goal
of Civilization.
VIII Do All Within Her Power to Sup
ply Necessities.

New YORK, April 2s-The Japanese
minister at Washington publishes in the
May number of The North American Re-
view. issued today. a statement regarding
the future Of Japan. which at the present
moment is foremosrln tho public eye.
He acknowledges that the japanese have
received from the United States proof OF q
spirit Of altruism rare. IL not unique. in
the intercourse Of nations, but he points
out that the interest which Americans
have hitherto taken In the East has been
In the main sentimental. He thinks there
are signs, however, that this Is now
happily giving way to the distinct recog-
niCion OF the fact that no Western power
has greater or more vital interest In East
ern affairs than the United States.
Mr. kurino thinks that the great advan-
tages achieved In the struggle with China
must DO regarded either as the ultimate
aim OF the japanese people or as the con-
summation OF their hopes. III they rave
recently attracted the worlds notice b.
their martial prowess, it Is simply because
war Is spectacular. But In truth the Jap
enese are animated by the wish to show
that they are capable Of triumphs In peace
as well as victorious In war. In fact, the
military affairs have been developed only
as an indispensable adjunct to the ma
tional warfare.
Mr.. Kurino shows how the military
power OF the country grow out of the legis-
lation which provided for general con-
scription among all classes Of Japanese.
This spread abroad among the people at
large a lively and patriotic interest In the
army and navy.
The March Of Progress.
The most significant event which has
occurred In recent years In Japan is the
establishment OF u constitutional and par
liamentary form Of government Some Of
the critics Of Japan have assumed that
this step was the result, IL not Of a sudden
whim, at least Of a resolve hastily taken
and quickly carried into execution. Here,
however, the critics nave gone astray.
The regime Of the Shioguns was one un-
der which the mikado and the people al.
ready had suffered. The emperor had been
deprived OF the direct control Of the EN-.
pire, and the people had suffered under o
despotism which had concerned itself with
the most trivial affairs Of private life. On
the downfall of the S~hiogunate In 1863 the
Emperor assumed the power of the preroga-
tive of honor, and assured u the people
n fuller measure of personal liberty and n
more direct participation In the affairs Of
the government. The most careful efforts
were made TO determine In what manner
the constitutional government could DO
best acted on.
Various changes In the methods OF ad-
ministering public affairs were made In
the years intervening between his ma
testy's declaration of his intention to pro-
mulgate n constitution and establish a
parliament and It's contamination of that
purpose. Prefecturate and municipal AS.
semblies were established, each having a
certain control Of local affairs and serving
TO educate the people In the exercise Of
their franchises, and q was not until 1890
that the constitution and the parliament
became accomplished facts. The expert
mental stage has now been passed and
constitutional government Is now one of
the recognized institutions of the country.
The patriotic passport which the parlia.
ment has rendered TO the government ut
home and abroad is the best possible |
evidence that that body Is capable Of exer.
cising Its ~prerogativesA
Whatever the result of the new order Of
things may be, 1t will only affect the peo-
pie who are engaged with a problem involv-
ing solely their own welfare and trying
to work IL out for their own best good. |
The adoption of Western civilization and
modern progress have not been inspired by
the desire for novelty, but by the purpose
TO take advantage OF whatever was best
adapted to supply the necessities of ma
tional development.
Old Trophies A~brogated.
One OF the most significant factors to be
taken into account in any forecast of the
future of Japanis the change In the treaty
relations existing between Japan and the
Western powers. The conditions from
which the old treaties resulted nave en-.
tirely~ disappeared. The difficulty has been
in the presumed necessity for main
tanning tne jurisdiction at capitulations
which absolved foreigners from trial In
Japan by native courts and punishment |
under native law, and were rendered
necessary, rs Mr.. Marcy stated, by the
fact that cruel and unusual punishment
was inflicted under the laws Of most
Oriental countries.
Certainly for the last 20 years there has
been no necessity In Japan for such PROV.
sions, and yet, instead of being relaxed
with the lessening need, they have, IL any
thing, been trengthened and increased
In point of fact, foreign life and property
Is as safe in every part of Japan as il
would be In London or New York. Com.
plete systems OF codlfled laws, based upon
the best methods. arc In successful opera.
ton, while the judiciary is not only com
petent and educated, but entirely indie.
pendent OF executive control.