The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-09-08
NO JAPANESE REVOLUTION.

The proclaining of martial law at Toxic means that victorious
Japan as well as vanquished Russia has internal troubles with which
she must deal promptly and prudently, but effectively. While they
present a serious aspect they are dangerous neither to the stability
OF the present dynasty nor to the future peace and prosperity of the
rnikados empire. They do not mean revolution because they arc but
manifestations of dissatisfaction and chagrin, which, having no just
or reasonable cause. are only temporary and will soon pass and be
forgotten. Those who see in the present outbreak what they inter
pref as al unmistakable forerunner of revolt in the army and revolu-
ton among the people, possess only superficial knowledge CT the
modern japanese and their system of government.
Even if it be admitted, as contended by those who take a pessi-
nistic view of the present situation and future developments, that
the army is drunk with power and the people irrtated and angry
because of the terms accorded Russia in the peace settlement, it still
remains indisprtable that no people in the world are under better dis
cipine as a nation than are the Japanese of today. Loyalty to the
nikado is a part of their religion; it has been bred in the bone of the
present generation of japanese, by preceding generations of wise and
far-seeing statesmen who, upon the ruins of a turbulent and chaotic
feudalism built the foundations of a nationaism too strong and en-
during to be overthrown.
In Japan loyalty to the mikado is the allinspiring and supreme
sentiment; to it there is nothing superior. 1t is the handspring of
national purpose and Of individual action, and upon this loyalty isl
based that wonderful patriotism that has given Japan an army as
magnihcently effective as the world has ever seen and a people so
united and selfsacrifcing that they bear the strains and burdens of
a gigantic war not merely uncomplainingly but with checrfulness
and enthusiasm. BY this loyalty and patriotism there has been born
an individual discipline and a national discipline that is as marvellous
as it is new in an Asiatic people.
The Japanese national spirit neither compromises nor temporzes
with the fomenters of anarchy or revolution; with irresistible power
1T moves at once to suppression n humiliation. When the Japanese
government was preparing for the wr with China in 1894 the diet
betrayed hostility to the ministry and was promptly dissolved. 1t
was succeeded by another house of representatives antagonistic to-
n government n that, too, was dissolved. POLITICAL parties hostile
to the policy Of the government were formed, but they were COM
PEELED to dissolve and reorganize. When opposition newspapers pro-
tested they we're suppressed.
A month after war had been declared another election was held
and the house Of representatives then chosen unanimously endorsed
the governments war program. The peace treaty with China nego-
tated IN 1895 was even more unpopular than the peace of Portsmouth
now appears to be. Then as now the popular demand was for a con-
tnuation OF the "a and then followed a bitter and stormy agitation
against the signing of the treaty Of peace. At the outset encourage
nnent was given the agitation by the government for the effect it would
have On Russia, France and Germany; but when the terms had been
arranged the government put a end to what seemed a menacine u-
rising, suppressed hfty-hve newspapers and so adroitly used the situa-
lion as to actually unite all parties represented in the diet in its sup
port and to create a national sentiment in favor Of preparine for
another war. 1t was this sentiment that carried the Japanese into
the conflict with Russia with that spirit of unity LOYALTY and enthusi-
aan that brought the laurels and the material rewards Of victory.
The present turbulence, therefore, will not develop into revolu-
ton, but will be Quoted efectuary, and Japan will proceed in peace
TO gather 4he substantial fruits which her enlarged sphere of influence
and her enhanced prestige among the nations will abundantly
provide.