The evening times., 1899-03-09
Progress i'm Japan.

Progress in Japan.
1t is reported that the people of Japan
are beginning to rebel against the heavy
taxes which have been imposed on them
in order to pay for modern warlike equip
ment, and that the government is about
to retrench. One or two newspapers in
this country are using the news as an ar
gument against American expansion. This
only shows how very much in need of ar
guments these journals are.
Japan has made truly marvellous prog
ress in the direction of Western ciyiliza-
tion during the last few years. She has
assmilated with lightninglke rapidity
customs and methods as different from
her own as the MCngol is different from
the Saxon She has tried on nearly ey-
cry institution of English and American
life in turn, and selected for permanent
wear those which she found suited to her
own nature. How far this process of as
similation would go no one has been able
10 tell with any certainty. Ii looked at
Cne time as if Japan were about TO lose all
her characteristic traits and become mere
~ copy Oh lnt western nations, anu llOI
a very good copy. at that. Lovers of
beauty and poetry mourned for the change
but TO the Occidental eye il seemed inevi-
table. The people have laid aside many
of the traditions of the C!d-time aristoc-
racy-and tradition means much more to
an Oriental than it can to European
they have adopted European dress TO some
SfudViDp English
ture. and using American machinery. 1t
has been feared that they would lose the
power of creating their unique and in
comparable bronzeS, their exquisite and
dreamlike porcelains. and pictures, and
fabrics. This would have been a loss to
the world which could not be made up by
any gain which could result 10 anyone
from their adoption of Western manners
and customs
Lafcadio Hearn, however, thinks that
nothing of the sort is likely to happen,
and ne knows the Japanese better than
any other Occidental has known them. be-
cause he is thoroughly in sympathy with
the national life. He declares that the
rapidity with which they have adopted
some foreign customs and implements
means only that they have found these
useful in the preservation Of their own ra
/ cai life and ideals; that by apparently
/ yielding TO the current of Western thought
/ they have really become more powerful,
inasmuch as they have added 10 their own
/ innate strength ability TO cope with for
eign nations on their own ground. 1t is
his idea that the Japanese. with a quick
instinct of self-preservation, have mas
tered the art of elf-defence after the
Western plan. but that their patriotic feel
ing is stronger than ever before, and that
should any foreign nation ever try 10 sub
jugate them il would be necessary to eX-
terminate the entire population; they could
not be conquered.
These things are of interest in view of
our recent Oriental acquisitions. We shall
be likely TO have more or less 10 do with
the Japanese in the immediate future and
it is rather important that the character
of the nation should be understood in this
country. Quick witted, adaptable enter
prising. they have sometimes been called
the Yankees of the Orient" 1t is quite
possible that they may render US service
a. ScAAN ihAdlN Unit II bit uttlucull COI-
fused state of things in Eastern Asia is not
soon disentangled.
As fer the policy of retrenchment which
the Japanese government is said to have
adopted, that is simply proof of the
quality which Hearn points out as peculiar
10 the nation-the ability TO stop at the
right time. II has been extremely wise of
the Japanese to increase their army and
their fleet as rapidly as possible during the
past generation: it has given them pres
tige, and il gave them the victory in the
war with China, but to carry this policy
so far that the people would be ove.sur-
dened with taxation would be very fool
ish indeed, and the sagacious little island
ers have no idea of making such a mis-
take. The country is small, the people
are poor; they need at present only the
means of defending their own coasts This
country is rich and powerful and the ex-
tent of its coast is great; it is simple econ
omy for us to have feet which will be
entirely equal TO any task which may
arise. There is no parallel at all between
our case and that of Japan.