Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-09-22
From the washington Star.

kAtN B@OBA0 Va NAANF &R1& ~ - ~
ticularly the Americans and the Brit
ish, have been continuously applaud
ing the little brown men for their
bravery, their naval and military skill,
and, in particular, their self repression
under circumstance such as might
make the staidest people do foolish
things.
In fact there has been a continuous
flood Of general praise for the Japanese,
They are sure, II is said, to be a most
important world power In the future,
Not only this, but their power Is GER
tain to be exercised for the good OF all
mankind. They represent the western
civilization In the eastern a OF the
world. They stand for occidental prog
ress as opposed to oriental conserva-
tism.
From the very beginning of the pres
ent war, however, there have been a
few discordant notes In h generally
approving chorus. Here and there a
voice OF protest has been raised. Oc-
~casionally some one has inquired
whether, after all. 1t was going to be
better for the world with the Japanese
as yictors than with the Russians.
Along with this dissenting query there
was for awhile a considerable number
of people who thought that perhaps the
Japanese might not win after all.
Wait and see" said they, walt UNI
til the Russians get their second wind
Ever since the passing OF the hope
for Russian victory h chorus OF dis
sent from the general satisfaction over
Japan's uniform victories has been
growing, and many minds are now be-
ing turned inquiringly toward the prob
able outcome.
View OF the Pessinists.
1t Is held by those OF pessimistic
mental attitude regarding the situa-
ton that While Japan does actually
stand for progress, II Is now for prog
ress of a wholly materialistic and sell
fish sort.
. That Japan cares only for Japan n
not at all for the rest Of the world.
That the little brown men are not
worrying their heads a bit about the
preservation OF American rad In the
orient, or the spread of Christianity
among the heather.
That they will be quite satisfied IL
they are able to take care OF their own
interests in the orient; and
That, IL necessary, the splendid naval
and military lighting forces they have
built up will be turned against any OF
the occidental nations which may OBJ
tect to the Japanese methods OF garner
ing the fruits of their victory; that,
In fact, they will be ever ready to pick
a quarrel with any of the western ma
lions which does not conduct itself in
the far east along lines that are en-
tirely satisfactory to them.
Some. even. have declared 1t more
than probable tina the Japanese are
likely, some time, to u against the
United states.
They foresee the OF the far
east absorbed gradually but surely by
the Japanese, They foresee the Jap
anese islands dotted with manufac-
tories, their ambient skies clouded with
the smoke of chimneys, and The ORR
entail market for foreign manufacturers
not only in Japan, but In China n
elsewhere, practically wiped out.
They foresee the japanese distrust
OF foreigners growing in intensity from
year to year, until finally their chances
in chrysanthemum land shall be cut
down to little or nothing.
They foresee coming opposition to the
Christian mission. They foresee ia
pans eager hand stretched out toward
the Philippines. They foresee a gen.
eral readjustment of affairs in the
orient to the advantage solely of the
Japs. And they believe that stimu-
lated by Japan's example and under
Japanese guidance. China will awake.
Awakened, she will close the open
door, to the celestial empire for good
and all.
III plCSCilN SlAllCSC coyNONN ca
American goods is pointed out as only
the beginning OF this movement.
1t is never well to give too much
heed to the pessimists, but there are
some things about Japan and the jap
anese hat are not altogether pleasant
when viewed from the western stand
point.
1t is a curious thing that almost all
the correspondents who went to Japan
in fha Machining nf tho yUar with PUG
STA came away d~isgruntled and full of
resentment, because OF their treat
ment. They did not complain that they
had been treated impolitely; the Jap
anese have never been charged with a
lack OF surface courtesy. But. as no
reader can well have forgotten, the cor
respondents charged the laps with
downright, vulgar lying, not once, but
over and over again, when the truth
would have o as well, or better.
The charge made by the correspond
ents that the Japanese are common
liars Is not a new one. 1t has been
made by the majority of the men who
have dealt with them In business ever
since Japan was opened to outside
trade. Pleasure tourists have general
ly been fairly well satisfied with the
truth as old by the Japs. but men who
buy from them and sell to them are al
ways singing another song.
Japanese apologists admit that there
is some foundation for the charge OF
general untruthfulness against them.
The Marquis Ito himself has admitted
1t. But in an interview published the
wide world over two or three years
ago he said 1t ought not to be taken too
seriously. a the Japanese Yner-
chants are gradually learning to tell
the truth. In effect, he said that I'm the
circumstances II was a wonderful thing
that they are not bigger liars tbs
they are. Until some time in the nine
ties. he explained, the merchant class
had belonged to almost the lowest So
eial grade in all Japan, only the out
casts n beggars standing lower.
Even the servants were higher social
ly tina the merchants In the old days.
The latter were the butt OF every one,
almost compelled, In order to survive
at all, to resort to every kind of deceit.
Their prices continually beaten down,
no matter how low, they were obliged
TO put them far too nigh at the start.
and then lie like thieves until each sale
was completed. But he say the situa-
ton has improved. Following the ex-
ample set by occidental people, the
Japanese have given a higher social
grade to their commercial classes, many
men whose families have been noble
for many generations having become
traders, and little by little the honesty
OF the Japanese merchant Is looking up
in the market.
Another excuse for the Japanese mer-
chants proverbial untruthfulness is put
forward by another Japanese authority,
who recognizes the fact as frankly as
the Marquis Ito.
He says that the equally proverbial
p~oliteness of the Jap Is at fault. He is
so constituted that he cannot bear to
see any one undergoing personal dis
comfort. In particular. II Is his nature
to wish his guest to enjoy himself To