The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1904-06-17
The japanese Spirit.

n WrlteI III tue WoIio WIN
has gathered together a number of
an ecdotes or incidents which give
so me light on the spirit Of the
Japanese people. The heroism Of
the soldiers and sailors Of japan
has long been recognized, but 1t Is
doubtful II there has been a full
understanding Of the feeling Of
patriotism which permeates every
class of the population. It Is raid
that when Admiral Togo called for
volunteers to navigate the fire
ships which he was sending
against the Russian fleet at Port
Arthur, every man In the fleet re-
spondcd, some writing applica-
tons In their own blood for the
privilege of going to almost certain
death. When the fire ships were
doing their work at the mouth Of
the harbor, Lieutenant Hiroso
leaped from his own sinking ship
to the deck Of a Russian torpedo
boat and died there fighting hand
! to hand, when he might have gone
to n Japanese boat close at hand.
In close conflicts the Japanese
show a heroism that Is really
sublime, though often II Is object
less and foolish.
A Japanese woman In Korea
who was married to Russian, found
out that he was q spy, and, though
she loved him dearly, she betrayed
him. "a western woman, II she
wo uld have done this at ALL" says
the Worlds Work writer, "would
probably have killed herself
afterwards; but the Japanese con-
sidcrcd 1t n duty, and she did not
hesitate" A Japanese murderer
condemned to die had a dollar left
Of some money sent him by friends.
His jailor suggested that he use
the money for n good supper on
the last night of his life. But he
asked II he might send the dollar
to the war fund, and did SO. "The
excessive war taxes which have
already caused much suffering
among the poor, are paid cheer
fully. Many Japanese men,
physically unfit to go to war, have
committed suicide in their in
to nsc disappointment" A story
Is told OF a Japanese youth who
was excused from service because
he was needed In the support OF
of his mother. When the mother
h card OF 1t, she sent for the boy,
bade him an a~fYectionatc goodby
and then killed herself. He went
to the war rejoicing.
To their bravery the Japs have
added magnanimity. 1t will be
noticed that in all the reports
coming out Of Toxic the Japanese
speak respectfully OF their adver-
saries, telling of their courage and
stubborn fighting. When Admiral
Makaroff went down with his ship,
the Japanese organized n pro-
cession in which they carried a
thousand white lanterns, and on
/, o ne OF their banners they inscrib.
ed: "Wc sorrow unquenchably
for the brave Russian Admiral
Makarof."
: "What, then" asks the World'i
! Work, sis this spirit9 1t Is no
only the spirit Of self-sacrifice, sc
common among Orientals, but {
determination TO serve the country
in every condition Of life an6
fortune. The Individual examples
= OF bravery may not win the war
u but they show the kind Of people
. the Japanese are. And what Il
. true of them in war will be true o
u them in other enterprises when thu
war Is over, when they take theiI
new and larger place in worlt
q affairs. Whatever psychological
puzzles they may present, they
!" have shown themselves a people
Of very high spirit, indeed
Kansas City Journal.