The times., 1899-07-16

misunderstanding. 1t would seem entirely
unnecessary to a Japanse to oppose fof-
eigner who expressed strong religious feel
ings In talking to him, and there has until
lately been no objection TO the rite OF
baptism among the lower classes Now
that general education is making ii clear 10
the ignorant that this rite carries with 1t
some obligation TO change their religious
methods, there is a growing distaste among
even the poorer japanese to call themselves
Christians.
Mr.. Ransome's book will probably stir up
much the same sort of hornets nest that
"Yone Santo" did ten years ago, when 1t
comes to be read by the missionary socie-
ties. He practically corroborates the as
sertion of DR.. House, author of the above
novel, that most of the methods of the
Protestant missionaries are unwise and that
they do not understand the japanese char
acter or how to do their work. One of the
things which initiates most strongly
against Protestant missions in Japan is the
continual squabbling among the mission
aries themselves. Mr.. Ransome says,
among other things:
The conviction that the interests of Christi
anity being msused by the missionaries is so
strong that many of the leading Protestant for
eigners maintain that the Roman Catholics are
the only body OF workers who effecting
anese. The for this is very plain. All
the missionaries sent out by the Roman Church
are thoroughly educated men; they also form a
band between whose members there is no sign
of discussion They work in their way,
conscienti0usly. systematically and without os-
tentation; living the lives Of the people ex-
tremely inadequate pay, and the example afforded
by the lives Of the priests and the sisters is ac-
comprising results in those parts of Japan, u.s.
ually rather remote ones, and always in ex-
tremely poor districts, where they carry on
their work.
Then he goes on to explain that the
Protestant missionaries are as a rule well
paid; that they sometimes carry on mer-
camille enterprises-in other words, specu
late thriftily with their savings-that they
have their own society and their own
houses. and a considerable amount of in
fluence in the land, so that their lot can
not be regarded as hard one.
After describing some of the social ard
industrial features of the country, the
author goes on to discuss international
relations and the possible future of Japan.
Some political writers have regarded the
increase of Japan's navy as an indication
that the nation was as the paragraphers
express it, spelling for a fight" but Mr..
Ransome's idea is rather that this is her
only practicable means of defence should
she be attacked by Russia or any other
fences of the country are adequate, he is
not in position TO say much about them,
for while the japanese Government proved
very obliging in allowing him to see what
he wanted to see, there were other things
which it was thought best that he should
not see. and he was asked not to write
in a detailed manner on the subject
He repudiates the idea that Japan ever
had any serious designs on the Hawaiian
Islands, or, indeed, that she has any def
mite purpose of colonization anywhere. In
conclusion, he says that while the Japa
nese recognize the value of some foreign
institutions, they consider that they on
their part are comforting some obligation
by admitting the foreigner to all parts of
their empire on an equal footing with
themselves He expresses the hope that
eventually the recent treaties between
Great Britain and Japan will lead to
better mutual understanding, and, indeed,
the purpose of his whole book is to pro-
mote such an understanding. His last
word to the reader expresses the hope that
in the undermining of this Oriental empire
all of the virtues OF the old regime may
not be lost. Altogether, this is the most
comprehensive and scientific analysis of
the japanese people which has yet ap-
peared. (New York: Harper & Bros. $1,000