The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-06
The Modern Ideas of Japan.
A French Writer Declares japanese
Civilization a Delusion.

An article by NJ. Felicien Challaye,
in the Revue de Paris on modern
japanese civilization is evidently an
attempt to prove to the Western
World that if It thinks Japan civilized
IN any modern sense, it has been
fooled. The arguments are made with
that amusing naivate so Characteristic
of the Frenchman who is engaged in
a piece of special pleading which he
thinks nobody will doubt. Keen as
the Gallo sense of humor Is in some
things. it is possible for Frenchmeu
to be as unconseiously funny as any
Auglo-Saxon uttering solemn alb
surdities.
NJ. ChaIlaye thinks modern Japa-
nese civilization a worldwide delu-
sion, and explains at length the rea-
sons which led Japan to adopt some
features of Western material devel
opment. He says that when, fifty
years ago, Japan was forced to open
her ports to Western ships, she quick
~ perceived that whatever SUPERIOR
ty she might have in moral, religious.
and artistic life over other Oriental
countries. she could not hope to re
tain independence without knowledge
Of warfare and Of modern industries.
He says:
The japanese OWNED that under a foreign
master. they would be compelled 70 change
their mode ~ life which they hold 50 dear. to
r-nouuce their customs, the originality Of their
tastes and sentiments. To preserve their an
cicnt civilization they desired TO remain indie
pendent. To remain independent, they desired
20 become powerful. To become powerful they
determined 10 initiate in certain respects this
Western civilization that was being imposed
upon them by force.
Again, he says:
Beneath a European costume the japanese
have maintained their ancient charactcristics
endurance the spirit OF discipline, the spirit Of
sacrifice. devotion 20 the fathcrlan9. and con-
temnt Tor death.
BY their astute course the japanese
have, NJ. Challaye goes on TO explain.
actually won for themselves a place
among modern nations. and have sue
ceeded in being represented at Euro
pean courts. They have. in short.
fooled the world, or the world would
never have allowed them to gain such
favor. In spite of all their railroads
and warships and printing presses
and modern politics, they persist in
remaining japanese. not European.
This Is the grievance which causes NJ. /
Challaye to exhibit Indignation and
surprise 80 naive and so entertaining.
II Is probably true that the Japa
nese have put on modern usageS as 4
garment, the better to accomplish the
work which they have planned to do.
II Is undoubtedly true that the ma
tlonal character is essentially I'M
changed. But there is nothing 10 be
cross about in all this. Would Napo-
leon have been greater or more admir-
able If he had been an Englishman, or
would Bismarck have gained ANYTHING
by turning into Frenchman? Would
the people Of any European country
gain anything in particular by giving
up the essential national character
and taking that of some other natione
What did anybody expect the Japa-
nese to do?
it Is yet a debatable point whether
japanese civilization Is not in some
points the superior Of our own.
Whether II Is or not, it belongs 70
them, and they have a right to IT so
long as they interfere with the rights
Of no other country. We, who arc
now conceding the Federal Govern |
ment Of our own country has no right /
to stop lynching in the South. trust |
government in the East, or Mormon /
ism in Utah, certainly cannot consist /