The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-11-10
JAPAN's GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

JAPAN'S GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
: Baron Kentaro Kancko, of the house
of peers of Japan, who is at present in
this country, contributes an article to
the November number of the North
American Review entitled, 1.-The yell
low Peril Is the Golden Opportunity for
Japan" Baron Kancko scouts the idea
that the supremacy of Japan in, Asia
would involve peril to Europeans,
either in the sense that Europeans
would be. excluded from Asia, or that
the Asiatic races would combine in ag-
gressive action against the western
nations. He notes, with satisfaction,
that a change has taken place in the
sentiments of the world toward Japan.
Not very long ago, Europe and America
were patronizing Japan, patting her
on the back, and encouraging her in
her efforts to master the secrets of
modern civilization; but the Japanese,
purpose to win for their country
recognized place among the powers,
observed that no nation was really re-
spected by it's neighbors unless it was
feared by them; they, therefore, set
themselves to the task of creating eff
fective instrument of offense and de-
Tense, and it was only when they had
practically demonstrated the high eff
cheney of these instruments that the
cry of yellow PERIL was raised, just
as the cry American Peril was raised
when the American industrial invasion
of Europe took place. While Japan cam
not afford to forget the arts Of war,
however, she has truly at heart the in
guarded by her armaments; and her
national aspirations as shown by the
whole course of her modern history are
to introduce to the long-neglected east
the blessings of western civilization.
The baron says:
For a thousand years or more after
the introduction of Chinese culture,
which became merged in her ethnic life,
Japan had the good fortune to possess
an Oriental civilization of her own, en-
bodied in language, art, customs and
institutions. But, after the visit of
Commodore Perry, in 1853, following the
example set us by our ancestors when
they introduced Chinese IDEAS we
turned to the west for culture and
science, and thus the laws, the philos
ophy, the religion and art of Occidental
civilization were engrafted upon our
institutions. The Japanese mind is
earnestly engaged in moulding into one
the two forms of culture, the Oriental
and the Occidental, it's ambition being
to harmonic them, even as Rome har-
monized the militarism of the northern
tribes, with the culture of the southern
races of Europe. \
Such, then, is the ultimate 7aspira-
ton, the browning ambition, q of the
Japanese race. BY reconciling and in
ter assimilating the two civilizations,
Japan hopes to introduce western cul-
ture and science into the continent of
Asia, and thus to open up for the ben
eft of the world, with equal privilege,
for every nation, and peace assured to
all, the teeming wealth of the Chinese
empire. Nothing less than an aim thus
ideal and lofty is what Japan 5aspires
to realize; and should fortune not for
sake her. she will be content with
nothing less. In the light, therefore, of
what has been said, the alarm about
yellow Peril takes on the character of
a golden opportunity for Europe and
America to become acquainted with the
real strength and ambitions Of Japan.
The same cry, moreover, intended to
work us injury and disgrace, provides
Japan with a golden opportunity to
show the world that selfish ambition
has no part in the aspirations of her
people,