The Monte Vista journal., 1905-08-26
japanese Keep Secrets


The minds Of the greatest naval and
military strategists Of the world are
now Intensely interested in solving the
problem of the phenomenal successes
of Japan in the Far Eastern conflict.
The overwhelming victory In the
Strait Of Tsushima, annihilating one
of the finest fleets OF modern times.
requires an explanation. II is easy to
say that Rojestvensky simply placed
himself In the hands of Togo, and the
result could not have been other than
as 1t was. This. however. does not
explain why the brilliant Russian ad.
miral sailed into the trap with appar.
entity open eyes. AS matter OF fact,
he did not know there was trap, for
he imagined, or was led to believe.
that the japanese feet was miles
away from its actual position. This
again but adds to the mystery.
The question now Is not as to the
superior fighting ability OF the Japan.
csc, but how the imperial government
was able successfully to accomplish
the unprecedented fact OF keeping its
own people and the rest OF the world
for more than two months in absolute
ignorance of the plans and where
abouts of the combined naval forces
of the empire. As one somewhat ia.
miliar with the enigmatical features OF
Japanese character, believe that In
accounting for this marvellous strate.
gle achievement large place must
be given to the persistent esotericism
which forms SO marked q characters.
tic Of the whole nation.
In Japan esotericism Il fine art
Here In the West the word reminds u,
only of Buddhistic cults or the occult
vasaries OF the late Madam Blatvat.
sky. but in japan the word stands for
life itself. A not incopsiderable ex-
perience among the natives OF Dai
Nippon leads me to the conviction that
they always have secrets to keep, and
that none knows better how to keep
them. The humblest citizen OF Toxic
Is absolutely silent on any question
he deems none OF the foreigners bust
ness. and there is everywhere among
the people persistent and inscrutable
thought the foreigner may disapprove
This obtains more SO on questions un.
der the ban OF the censor.
No ofYense In the category OF crime
is deemed worthy Of more condixn
punishment than the giving away Of
secrets, or even intermeddling with
them. One OF the greatest Ministers
OF State. Viscount Mort, who had
graced the once Of Plenipotentiarya q;
the Court Of St. James and also a.
Minister At Washington. was stabbed
to death by = government clerk for
daring to push aside with his cane q
curtain that guarded the secret cham.
Der where only q priest might gaze
ON the repose Of the imperial ance 3.
tors. In Japan the secrets OF the
dead are as inviolable as these Of the
living.
Due 70 Two Influences.
This csOteric tendency OF the Japa
nese mind. which has played so coz
spicuous and important q part In thei,
past social and political history and Ia
their recent victories over Russia, ID
due to two influences that for centu
rles have been running as q united
stream through the minds Of the pso
pie. bearing them on tts way.
Il 10 undoubtedly. Arst OF all. q char
acteristic inherited from China. where
from the remote past. BY the instltu
lions Of guiids AID other secret bands
the inner life OF the people becomes
largely . mystery 10 the foreigner. and
he 10 hen nothias but Q white
devil" There Il stands ~ . wall tina,
no intrudlna curiosity mas yet been
able to pierce. International hoaest,