Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-22
SHOULD JAPAN WIN.

| favor he DtllcNtS Jdpdhtht NlNNVlS
means that western civilization Is plac-
ed In peril
The assumption OF those who take
this view Is, that Japan as the master
of ASIA would teach the millions OF
China the art Of warfare, and with
them overrun the world
Against thls,it Is argued that the dan
ger OF the Chinese becoming a menace
10 the rest OF the world, with or with
out the aid OF Japan, Is not great The
| Chinese are not warllke race. Nor
would the development OF the country
be menace to commerce. On the con-
trary, a well developed China would,
II Is argued, furnish the best market
for the manufacturing and trading ma
tions Those who argue In this man
ner scorn the idea that victorious ia
pan would be a menace.
We believe II ls Idle to discuss what
n country will do under certain con-
| tingencies. Japan has shown marvel
Gus progress during the few years she
has filled a place in the general pro-
cesslon OF civilization 1t cannot be
concluded from this, however, that ia
pan, as a world power would be one OF
| the standard bearers OF western civil
izatlon. The japanese, In fact are not
| free from contempt for much Of that
In which the occident glorles. They
have faith In their own destiny as ma
ton, and they would, no doubt, use
their power and influence for the fur
therance OF their own views and asplr-
atoms.
A French writer. NJ. Weulersse has
recently given TO the world valuable
study Of the japanese character. lie
says their enthusiastic patriotism is
due TO the education they receive in the
schools. BY an imperial rescript, pa
trlotlsm, in the form OF respect for an
cestors and devotion TO the imperial
house, Is made the foundation Of NOR
allty. The rescrIpt. as quoted by the
french author says In part;
"Our ancestors have given the state
broad foundation in which the virtues
We're deeply implanted; and our sub
jects, by the unanlmity Of their great
loyalty and their filial Affection have
practised them with perfect obedience
through all the ages, Such is the es-
sence Of the national policy, and such
also the true principle Of our system Of
education. You, Our well-beloyed SUBJ
jects must be devoted sons. affection
ate brothers, loving husbands and
wives, and faithful friends. Conduct
yourselves with modesty and be kind
10 all Develop your Intellectual fac
ultles; perfect your characters by
amassng knowledge and acquiring a
| profession. Work also for the public
| Interest," devote yourselves TO public
| affairs, Respect the Constitution, obey
| the laws of the country, and In case Of
necessity sacrifice yourselves with a
willing heart 10 the public good.
give also q hearty support to Our
| Imperial Dynasty, eternal as the uni
| verse. Then you Will not only be Our
| very loyal subjects but you will be
| able to demonstrate the noble charac-
| ter Of your ancestors.
Such is the testament left us by
our Ancestors and It must likewise be
| observed by their descendants and sub.
jects. These principles are perfect
for all time and Of universal applca.
| ton. Ii is Our desire TO keep them In
our heart In common accord with you,
Our subjects, to the end that We may
ever possess these virtues"
As n result Of this training the Jap.
anese consider themselves ruled by an
emperor without rival" Their his
tory and geography are framed with
the view Of impresslng upon the young
mind Japan's immense greatness ~
Weulersee says he has seen teacher
mark the Llaotung Peninsula IN black
on the map Of China as part Of the
| ancient japanese empire which the new
| Japan must reconquer, He has seen
another teacher make his pupils go
barefoot IN the snow TO tougher their
feet for the approaching conquest of
SberIa He, further quotes a few Of
the doctrines taught the japanese
| youth,
I'm truth the history Of our country
constitutes our holy book and our NOR
| al code"
"This system Of morals Is applicable
| TO all the countries OF the world"
"Our sacred book IN our hIstory-sa-
cred and perfect-the model OF morality
for all tlme-without the slightest blem-
ish,"
"rhe words OF our emperors, founded
upon the instructions bequeathed them
by their imperial ancestors, are Of the
same nature as the heavens and the |
earth. Being the law for all beneath |
the sky and the great rule for all the
ages, they are not TO be called In ques-
tion like the dogmas established by |
men,
The following. quoted from an ele-
mentary textbook, throws much light
on japanese sentiments
our great Nippon governed by her
wise emperor Is superior to all the |
countries of the world. I'm foreign |
countries there came prophets, who |
preached morality to men, and In those |
countries men remained cruel and COW |
ardly In Japan there have been no |
prophets; but our people are kind, be- |
cause our soil and our climate naturally |
predispose men to goodness
And again IN the same textbook:
"The japanese Is guided by the love |
of virtue, whereas the vile European
seeks only sensual pleasures"
Japan Is not to blame for her devo.
ton to her own institutions and tradI- |
tons, 1t would be Idle to deny that |
much OF western civilization is rotten.
ness but badly concealed, and deserving
of oriental contempt. But It Is neces. |
sary to remember that Japan Is hardly |
more IN unity with the civilization Sf |
the occident than Russia II, though she |
has adopted MS much Of 1t as she thought
useful for her own purposes. II this Is |
remembered the fear Of future "yel. |
low peril, II Japan and China combine.
Ia seen to be not entirely without foun- |
dalton, II may not come Victory may
not make the people lose their senses. |
| Rut tho boqsibllitu ,e p,t a.. l.. q.