The Washington times., 1902-07-20


she then sustained at the hands Of
China. upon Korean soil, and for three
centuries revenge had been as fixed an
idea in the bosom of Japanese patriots
as it has been for the last quarter of
century in a not dlssimilar case in Ell
rope
Lord Curzon's False Ideas.
How did Lord Curzon become i'm
pressed with such an idea? The Japa
nese invasion OF Korea in 1892 '9S Is re-
membered as one of the greatest
achievements ever accomplished by ia
pan in her long history, and is as dear to
all her school children as the war of
lI16 to the American, Franco German
war to the German. or Waterloo and
Trafalgar to the English. 1t is as though
some one should say that the glorious
War of Independence was a great humll
iation to the United States.
Thus has Japan been grossly mis-
| represented to outsiders by those who
assumed to be studying on the inside
Mr.. Pierre Beaulieu. in his book. THE
Awakening of the East" describes very
1
prevailed in Europe before and after
| the China-Japan war.
Indeed, who could be expected to be-
lieve that the home of the Geisha and
| of all sorts of dwarf trees ard sea gar
/ dens could possibly acclmate the smoky
/ industry, the strict militarism, and the
matter of fact judicial system Of our civ
| ilization. AS well express such a trans
formation in a world of butterflies as in
the empire OF the Mikado. One eminent
writer declared that the Japan OF to-
day is but a bad translation" and an
other says. II find Japan a sort of amaze
mis- dwarf. l know that she is of ante
| diluvian antiquity, but for all that | can
not help thinking this little odd mummy,
bedecking herself in the trappings of
Western civilization, supremely ridicu-
lous."
Proved Her Rank Among Nations.
These were the opinions held not only
by the casual visitors to Japan, but also
country. When Europe beheld the tri
umphaDt achievements of the Japanese
army, she had to confess that Japan was
not quite the butterfly she had imagined.
and began to study with greater atten-
tion the remarkable work which had
been accomplished in that country. The
real progress of Japan having been un-
known for so many years. it was great
surprise when she stepped upon the
stage OF the world in 1894 and showed
her national power.
This fact was we'll illustrated by an
impartial statement made by Surgeon
Col. W. Taylor. British military attache
| during the China-Japan war:
Surprised the World.
''It was in no sense an eXaggeration to
say that the progress made by Japan in
recent years, and more especially in the
organization of her army and navy, was
unknown to Western nations up to the
| date wien the late war with China broke
out That she possessed a military ser
vice of a certain strength and made UP
of different branches considered neces-
sary parts of modern army was doubt
| less known to the intelligence depart
ment of the European nations. Not one
of these had the slightest idea of the
high state of efficiency to which the mill
itary organizations had been Srought,
nor OF the splendid discipline. hardihood.
] ana bravery OF Int SOlIieTS vi WHICH tue
Japanese army was composed.
Nor was it appreciated that Japan
had physicians and surgeons of the high
est standing, some Of whom were plo-
neers III meteorological and ether
branches OF scientific research. The ef
feet OF their organization was such that
there was no nation in the world-not
even ,rmany-to whom Japan could no;
teach many lessons. So perfect and COM
plete was her system Of medical ser
vice -
Commands Worlds Respect.
It is an undentable fact that since the
China-Japan war. Japan has been more
favorably regarded by the outside world
in general. u-
Many books have been written on the
subject. and as n nation she has COM
manded admiration and respect where
before the war her name was a subject
of pity and ridlcule. Yet. on the whole,
those who have written their observa-
tlons OF Japan have treated the subject
very superficially, and the author is yet
TO come who will take his observation
from the standpoint of scholar.
Mr.. Beresford the originator of the
open door policy OF China visited
Japan in 1899 and stayed one week and
six days. During his stay he visited the
naval and mercantile docks, the ar
senals, prisons. schools and factories.
He then wrote book filled with such
complimentary phrases as ''No country
turns out better work, This is most
remarkable production in the world"
Are as sweet and clean as possible.
Nothing could be more perfect than
the system of teaching and training in
Japan" etc.
Mr.: Beresfo-d is one of the most
notable men in the British empire, and
all Englishmen regard him with pride
and admiration. Then how can he thus