New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-17


pages are the convictions and hopes of cult
waited and patriotic gentleman. His pride in
Japan is nourished alike by her past ana ner
present; Of her future he has no doubts. Inc
long duration Of the Empire, he says. is one OF
the most marvellous things in the history OF the
world. adding that when IT first saw the light
all the European countries Of to-day still slept
in the entrais of chaos" China is more ancient
he admits. but has changed her masters as she
might have changed her clothes; she is "a
cemetery OF empires" whereas japan Is living
to-day under the same dynasty that controlIeo
the destinies Of the people more than twenty
ive hundred years ago. Mr.. Hitomi Is con-
strained to show, however that the State mas
suffered infinite vicissitudes. The considerable
portion OF his book that deals with the political
history of the country exhibits national oscil-
lation, through long periods of time, between the
tyranny of effective Imperial regime-often
benevolent, but none the less despotic-and that
of a feudal system which limited greatly the
Mikado's power without increasing popular free
dom.
A certain sense Of neatness is instructive in
the people, and much in this book implies that
the trait has a wide significance. The Japanese
are orderly, conservative; they like things done
with seemliness and method. But the co-ordi-
mating faculty has not until very recently
waited on their governmental policy with any
very satisfactory results. Their political genius
the period which eliminated in the restoration
OF the Imperial family to the legitimate exercise
Of its powers n 1868, when contact with the
West had become pressing and productive
Commodore Perry's mission in 1858 did much to
accelerate the movement But prior to the
transformation of the Emperor from kind OF
hgurehead for the rule of the shogunate into a
monarch in fact well in name, Japan
seems to have been at odds with herself, The
no apaip nd again seized authority
had to reckon with the jealousies of intriguing
and powerful mobiles; at times the ruling class
has been enfeebled by luxury, and from the
long procession of administrations summarized
by Mr. Hitom constructive ideals Of govern
ment took centuries to emerge. Against this
lack Of statecraft Mr. Hitomi set the cour-
age and good faith Of the Japanese. and their
social rehnements. THE ancient japanese had
neither rights liberty" he observes. but
they had afectionate father lin the Mikadol
whose unique was for their well being 1t
is worthy of remark, he continues. that the
Imperial family has always protected the liberal
arts. 1T is the foot of the throne that paint
rg. sculpture, architecture and the art OF
lacquer have borne their best fruits" The in
PRODUCTION of Western ideas has fostered the
growth Of political aptitude-for all that the
essential insularity of the Japanese nature has
made the curtanent of the foreigners privi-
leges a frequent party cry-and. as everybody
knows the present state of the nation is full Of
hope for the advocate Of constitutional forms.
The rights of the people are generously
recognized. In 1868 the Mikado made various
excellent promises-among them one indicating
that affairs of state would be decided with care
full consideration Of public opinion-and the
stituGon promulgated in 1889 is beyond doubt
sufficiently democratic document. What the
japanese may ultimately make of it depends OF
course. less upon the terms of the instrument
itself than upon the resources of the national
character. On this head we have already
ceived encouraging information from more than
one alien writer. Mr.. Hitomi omits to describe
the educational system of the country, which
is an Indispensable guide to the general dis
position Of people. but he has valuable
notes on other matters. Religion to which he
gives many pages, is in ambiguous situation.
Shintoisr1 has lost its hold; the precepts of
Buddha have philosophical rather than re-
lgious influence among the educated classes,
and, while the latter recognize the necessity for
religious ideals in the mass of the population,
they themselves content 10 follow reason
and conscience" The important things they
maintain, national morality love of country
fidelity to the sovereign. filial piety matrimonial
harmony. respect for the aged, friendship be-
tween children. the cult of the dead and so on
These principles instilled into the young
japanese mind and heart before they have
passed finally from out the nursery doors and
they are preached in family life ever afterward
Christianity has made converts of course and
there are no fewer than $4,000 natives at pres
ent identified with the Roman Catholic Protes-
tant and Greek churches; but the further propa-
cation of the faith while unobstructed by any
official antagonisnl. must necessarily be retarded
by the spirit of apathy everywhere abroad Re-
ligion is not, as II was, says Mr. Hitomi a
source of progress in every domain of national
activity.
Turning to the arts he testifes to the LOYALTY
Of the people to the traditional style OF the coun-
try in wooden dwellings, and to their facility in
the employment OF those picturesque motives
familiar to all in photographs There is a
tendency to design public buildings not of a
religious character. after European models
While Japan is revealing in the possession of
new machinery and arms, while she is making
eager use OF the skill and inventiveness OF Euro
peans whom she pays handsomely to give her
instruction. her people like to signs of all
this activity in department buildings Offices and
shcIs resembling those of the outside world
Western costume Is also being adopted more
and more In Government and high social circles
But the japanese at home preserve the tastes
OF their ancestors: they still build their private
houses in the old style. sites of the natural
charm beloved by all classes for centuries; they
still cultivate their gardens and wear the ma
tonal garb. Art literature music and the
drama adorn their lives. and though in the
fabrication OF lacquer. the peculiar glory OF the
race modern commcrcialism and the greed for
gain is lowering the standard, we are assured
that the very men who are scamping their work
are really masters of their art and may some
day take time to revive the splendid traditions
of the past In every direction the artistic i'm
pulses Of the nation show vitality
Mr.. Hitomi has some brief but interesting
passages on the manners Of the Japanese. on