The Washington times., 1904-02-29

An English naval officer. fresh from
the Far East. was talking about the OFF,
GERS of the japanese navy Excellent
little chaps" he said; keen as mus
tard. Theyf were always at it. always
anxious to learn The only thing about
them was that when they thought you
wern't looking they would pick up
things you had not shown them and try
to find out the secret
If those Japanese officers had known it
they would have gone to the ends OF the
earth to remove so dubious an impress
sion. for in the traditions Of the Japa-
nese fighting class honor is more than
life, says w. X. Holt In the London
Express" ''Bushido," their code OF hon
or, was the religion OF the SamuraL Lit
orally translated. the word ''samuraf
means military knightways. the path
the fighting man must tread in his daily
life as in his vocation
End of Feudal System.
All this came nominasly to an end
with the downfall of the feudaI system
In 1870. The samurai-the knightly class
between the mobiles and the plebeians-
ceased to exist as an exclusive caste
after the edict prohibiting the wearing
OF swords. They began to intermarry
with the plebeians and to engage. in
trade. Bushido was no longer the only
rule Of life, providing for all it's shift
ing changes. Chivalry-which is class
privilege at its best-could not live in a
democratic atmosphere.
Every Japanese, be he noble or ple-
beian. must now serve his term IN the
army. Nor are the officers an ex-
elusive caste. for promotion is open to
every man who will take the trouble
TO earn IL. But IL happens In the Japan
csc army as il happens in the English
and the German-while every private
soldier is free to become an officer. the
great bulk of the officers do as a matter
or fact, come from a restricted section
In England. it is the upper and upper
middle class; In Japan it is the samurai
-samurai still, whatevet the edicts and
the constitutions may say
And, in the very fiber of their being
the traditions OF Bushido remain. Those
who are not less than thirty-five years
old We're taught 1t at their mothers
knee. and many of the younger men.
coming Of the same warrior stock. are
imbued with the principles of the code.
Principles on Trial.
VIII these principles count for any
thing in battle? Native enthusiasts
think they will DR.. Nitobe. who has
written wonderful little exposition of
japanese thought C'BushidO. the Soul OF
JAPAN, protests against the assertion
that Japan beat the Chinese by means
Of Murata guns ana krupp cannon. moi
What won the battles on the YaIu, in
Korea, and Manchuria was the ghosts
OF our fathers, guiding our hands and
beating in our hearts. They are not deac.
those ghosts. the spirits OF our warIike
ancestors. Scratch a japanese of the
most advanced ideas, and he will show a
samurai"
The samurai began his training at a
very tender age. Young children were
sent among utter strangers with mes
sages to deliver; they We're made to
rise before the sun, and TO walk TO their
teachers with bare feet in the cold Of
winter; small boys were taken To see
executions, and sent back alone to the
place by night. 10 leave mark on the
decapitated head. Sometimes they were
made TO go without food. and taught
that a samurai should not be ashamed
10 go hungry. Sef-control, courage, for
utude, loyalty We're the cardinal viz
tues