The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-04-01

idTe 50 ina the government
has forbidden their further publica-
ltion. The rule has been now estab-
Ilished that while the two countries
ARE in a state of peace no songs d.
lrectly denouncing the empire of the
lczar are to go forth. But songs at
Itacking no n in particular can still
be chanted, and the individual is al
lowed to imagine whom they are
laimed at.
Here is a nice simple old song, now
Sung by children, and enjoying much
popularity. Please imagine a party
Iof smiling, cherubic youths and maid
ems, in those bright clothes which in
Japan are largely confined to children,
singing it:
Kill! Kill, Kill:
Kill until the sword breaks
Kill! Kill. Kill!
Here is another. in similar strain:
iRevenge! Revenge!
How cheerful and happy are we.
I'VE AVE conquered the enemy.
We have killed them all,
How joyous! How cheerful!
Wen kill all our Mikado's enemies as
we'll.
lOur Emperor, our nation, and our
parents,
They are all waiting for our triumph.
bravo, flag of the Rising Sun, as you
Shake you folds in the air.
The Desperate Japs.
Another song, an "Old Battle
IFfeld," touches a pathetic strain. the
Sword with the frost glistening on it,
grasses waving over the graves like
the old flag. These die" it con-
icludes," but the names of the he
Iroes who persisted on the field will
survive through eternity"
Most of the songs make reference
ito h Japanese flag, and the emblem
lof the nation, the Rising Sun, is used
lby the poets in a hundred ways to
Itypify how Japan is rising over ana
ic%onquering the world.
Death is commonly spoken of as a
desirable thing, when it comes in the
performance of duty. Don't mind
whether it is death or life; obey the
emperor and go ahead" says n
Song. Death on the battle field be-
fore surrender" is the refrain of an
other. And this is not all empty talk.
ITO the Japanese soldier and sailor
surrender is still disgrace almost be-
lyond atonement.
This was brought strlkingly before
me a few days back. 1 was travelling
i'm a Japanese ship, and as we had
been some days out at sea we a no
means of knowing whether war had
broken out or not. In ase of war
there was at least a possibility of our
Ibeing intercepted by a Russian cruis-
Ter. IF we 10 run into a Russian
warship," the captain said, we've
lgot to escape or go down. If I talked
iof hauling Town the flag, the very
l%coolieS in the engine would kill
me. You do not surrender a Japa-
Inese ship" And despite modern the
t0riaa thic ic ndnt,hta6Tu tho H,;oht
Esprit for a supreme fighting man.
Some Prohibited Songs.
Here is another song, striking the
same note:
$50 our elder brother is dead,
land our younger brother, he is dead,
too.
What, all our brothers are killed
the hands of the enemy!
Then let us go out and fight them,
For though we all die,
Yet must we obey the commands Of
h Emperor.
Our sword is not long enough to strike
down the enemy
Then let us knock him down and kill
him.
The prohibited songs are charged
with the bitterest abuse of Russia.
liar o papers or were printed sep
Iarately and sold by hawkers in the
streets. Here is a typical one:
Cut off h wings of the Eagle to
lpreServe peace in the Far East. The
Eagle can fly a long way, but the Ris-
ing Sun will illumine the whole globe.
THE Eagles talons are very sharp, but
Ionce the Japanese sword is taken out
Iof its scabbard the Eagle will be
Idriven off the Far East. When h
Eagles cad is cut off, Russia will be
sorry that she fought with Japan.
To Russia
Even more typical is the following:
BellicoSe RuSsiai You always break
1.-THE peace of the Far East. In the
name of Heaven and humanity, Ja-
Ipan must cut you Down.
Cowardly Russia! In the name Of
lpeace you stole the lands which ia
ipan bought with the blood of her
lsons.
Braggart Russia. the thief of the
lworid! You faunt your eagle flight
lboaStingly. Your car called a peace
lconference; you break the peace.
Poor Russia, You are like a blin
serpent. History repeats itself. The
lRoman Eagle. ruined and d~isgraced.
lis the forecast of the fate of this Eagle.
Foolish RussiaI Divided at home.
ihow a YOU hope to conquer anoth-
Ter land? You are like a group Of
lcrows. (This is a supreme insult. The
flock of crows represents, in japanese
popular similtude. the acme OF BRAIN
llessness and cowardice.)
The same poet declares. Go ahead.
!go ahead our bravoe! Our flag Of