The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-04

lIndglHeu Wnen ieaQen missiles moved
down his comrades long before the
spears could be- brought into use. But /
this young man who attempted in 1864
to measure spear against rife. betook
himself to theS study of the military
methods OF the foreigners, and in the
recent war with Russia he has been
chief of the general, staff Of the Jap
anese army-an army which in equip
ment, in preparation and in provision
for sick and wounded as well as in it's
exploits upon the battlefield, has as
tonished the world. Count Okumu said
that the progress made in the army and
in the navy was paralleledsb by the prog
ress made in other directions.
Peace. Not War Wanted
While there are here abundant prep
arations for war, there is prevalent
desire for peace. Notwithstanding
Japan has most efficient army and
navy, and Notwithstanding. the natural
exultation over their success at arms,
the Japanese, as 1 have, met them, are
strongly inclined toward peace. Sew
eral times in introducing me the pre-
siding officer has referred in terms of
generous appreciation to the action OF
our president in bringing about the
recent treaty of peace. The wars
against China and Russia have been
regarded by the people as defensive
wars, and it will be remembered that
the civil war of 1874 was simply a
suppression by the government of an
attempt to invade Korea. General
Saigo raised his army for the purpose
of conquering Korea, but the govern
ment met the insurrectionists with an
army large enoughito completely over
whelm the forces Of the famous gen
eral. @ =. is. ,~*.'' -..~~
The Anglo-Japanese alliance is every
where defended as guarantee Of
peace. I met yesterday japanese OF
some local prominence. He proposes
| the establishment Of an international
| peace society, and in earnest language
sets forth the horrors of war and the
material, as well as the moral, argu-
ments in favor Of peace. ..-
| Upon no element Of Japanese soci-
ETY. has the rising sun Of higher civ
ilization shed it's rays. more be-
nignantly than upon woman. The po-
sition of the mother was an, honored
one when she became the head of the
family, :butv while The children cared
for both parents with a generous ilial
devotion, the wife and daughter were
under the almost absolute power Of
the husband and father. Marriages
were arranged by the parents, and the
young people were allowed to see each
| other after the match was agreed upon
Theoretically, each had the right to pro
| test, if dissatisfied, but practically the
girl IS protest amounted to nothing.
Mother-in-Law Joke There, Too.
The wife was not only the servant
of the husband, but might also be the
servant Of the mother-in-law-the
mother-in-law joke being here on the
daughter-in-law instead Of the son-in
law. The fact that the husband was
permitted to keep as many concubines
as he desired still further lowered Tho
status of women. The daughters were
often sold into prostitution to relieve
the indebtedness of the father, ant
while this custom is on the decline
there are still thousands of Japanese
girls whose virtue is made q matte
of merchandise in accordance with thi
ancient custom. There is recorded
among the decisions of Coka, some
, times called the Japanese Solomon
who lived three centuries ago, a cas-
in which the release Of. a young WON
; an from. a. house of ill-fame was tn,
} central feature. The report of tn
, judges decree shows discriminatin.
} mind as well as devotion to justice