The Colfax chronicle., 1903-12-19
SOCIALISM IN JAPAN.
lfevers I'm Ancient Doctrines
Of the Nation.

The vigorous manner In which the
police authorities recently prevented
the holding Of a gigantic labor meetins
organized by the Niroku Shimpo has
given rise to a considerable amount OF
journalistic criticism, says the Japan
Times of Toxic. Why the police took
this apparently high-handed measure
We do not know for certain, as no ofYicial
explanation has been given. 1t is, how.
ever. suggested In more than one quar-
ter that the police interfered with the
Niroku's project because they had rea.
son to suspect the promoters of the
meeting Of socialistic aims. This sug.
gestion has an air Of probability In
view Of the preponderance of avowe6
socialists among those who were to
speak at a lecture meeting which the
disappointed projectors Of the labor
meeting proposed to hold afterward
and which was also suppressed by the
police. II this explanation be trust
worthy, we should think that the DO,
lice were extremely ill-advised in in
terfering with the carrying out of the
Niroku's labor gathering and lecture
meeting. II it was the socialistic bug
bear that frightened the police into the
summary procedure in question. we ara
inclined to believe that their excited
fancy conjured up danger which had
no substantial existence. Socialistic
doctrines have, it is true, found lodg-
ment In section of the educated class
and their votaries appear to be increas.
Ing In number and Importance
These doctrines occasionally find ex.
preston in the columns Of the Rodo
Sekai. the Niroku, the Yorozu, and a
few other organs, as well as from the
popular platform. With all this appar.
ent practical vitality, we may safely
state that socialism is in this country
still In the stage of academic discus
sion and that the day when 1t will as
sumo practical significance is as yet, II
such day is ever to come, in the far
distant future. So far as the mass OF
the people are concerned they show az
yet no sign Of fundamental discomfort
with the present social order. This Is
so not because they are less intelligent
than people of the same class In the oc-
cident, but because the conditions Of
life among us are such that there Il
little occasion for them to wish for any
radical change In the social constitiu-
ton. Happily or unhappily, according
to the way in which the matter is looked |
1T, the struggle for existence here has
none OF that sharp and unfeeling inten-
sity which is calculated to engender in |
the breasts of its unfortunate victims in
The west deep and sullen hostility tc |
he present order of things.
Society here has for centuries beer
on principles fundamental
y different from those obtaining In the
vest Our society is more communistlc
n its character than theirs, and we are
more forbearing with and helpful to
zach other than the European peoples.
t Is true that since the introduction Of
occidental civilization great changes are
aking place in our conditions of life, but
mid all these changes the fundamental
of our social organization
till remains intact and is not likely to be
ully effaced, although 1t will probably
e modified more or less owing to the new
Influences at work. Under these cir
1t seems to us that socialistic
octrines may spread among us and may
ossibly benefit us in various ways, but
re not likely to lead to popular agita-
ions of character inimical to the public
rider and tranquility. Ifanything tends
, promote the growth of such dangers,
may possibly be. It is to be feared. cases
unnecessary oficial interference like
nat under consideration.