New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-27
1seraru GIeapiHgS from the Var
IN the Far East.

-,r.7 JAPAN. A study Of National Emeieg,cy,
FoTSW25o e etc By ~ A iiSd s ste sv 90
Rose22SS-' ;ss The John Lane Company.
RISEN sun. BY Baron suyematsu. Svo.
ID vi $50. J. 7. button Co.
~,p N THE FAR EAST. lao4--o5. By the
FHE ~, MA- 5c6-respondent Of THE Times" with
Alt,..os' -hotogravure illustra lions and thirty
s f'co maya
has nothing 10 complain Of IN the treat
~ her Anglican admirers and apologists.
r., BARON Suyematsu, who was a sort Of
N"a-..+sd press agent for his country during
S'--..nt conflict with Russia. is more eulo-
De ,lippon than are AIr. Stead and the mil
e--S s.-resrondeut OF THE Times" writing Of
u. .o,-rr-'s progress and accomplishments in
p and war Mt Steads book is obviously
q, his former volume, Japan by the Jap
In that work II will be remembered,
= .5,-or gathered together a great mass Of
u -, contributions and public documents, by
So, authorities in Japan, on almost every
- -s,stine 10 the political. economic and So
,,,s If the nation. The book buIked largely.
,.orrsd evidences Of hasty compilation and
s-s.,rste editorial scrutiny. It lacked bal
and abouuded in errors due mainly. per
- - faulty translation and TO insufficient
4-Lsr,son-faul-s which were frankly pointed
:, the editor by the reviewers. Il was Of
-r~. more as q source" publication, a work Of
,.-.,cs than as a volume 10 be read through
s,,-7 beginning 20 end.
7, &c as q source publication that Mr.. stead
-, treated Il IN hts present volume. He has
..-ss-7Iv dirested and assimilated the contents,
"a under much the same general heads has
--sssrted in his own words, supplemented by
..--5ant quotations. the information he had
-.+bs-sd together IN his earlier work. One does
=, Ink for critical discrimination and even
t,r5s5 weighing ~ evidence from 50 pronounced
,-r-opbile Is M stead. He bOrrOws the tone
~ Great Japan" from that Of the contributors
"a Japan by the japanese" along with the in
e-i-stIo1 and material for his own book. He
goes even further. and seeks % controvert the
admissions Of certain japanese shortcomings
-~s6s By eminent japanese themselves. Every
thing n his eyes. i'm Japan is good, and most
tHiBgs are better there than elsewhere. Yet, al
lowing for this bias the book is valuable for it's
Information, and inspiring in lessons. not the
less So perhaps from the fact that the motives
ard actions Of the people have been idealized.
We may question the entire accuracy. of the au-
th0rs estimate Of the japanese character in
lie following paragraph. but it is impossible 70
avoid agreeing with his conclusions, so far as
they apply 70 ourselves:
To The japanese patriotism is q part u their life
- az ~. - -l less l----
national efficiency -u every department q the ma
ulzi and. since ibis demand is made by the whole
L 80 ----9 ----e 81 po5 -.--o-., hs.-el--
res N-ere every citizen. however humble is de-
tsrrirel nor ouIy ~ ha etele-t frr hts eor:nrgve
secure thar national efficiency Il is r-- 10 be won
ds-sd ar mar remarkable results are achieved Ma
rs National s--lca-IE ana cor ms reason u for
nc ether. II IS instructive - study their demon
which has enabled -le- p. become the most ef-
f-ert nation ~ tie world
W. Stead's enthusiasm has unconsciousIy or
lgnorant,y led him 70 put the cart before the
horse II one IF his statements IN the foregoing
quotation, since. as Baron Suye1natsu points
cut pride q country" so far from resulting
from patriotism, Is IN fact its cause. Pride Of
country the japanese have always had, but
pstriotism-since until lately, there was moth
Ing 10 cal Il tor-h-has been q recent growth
Baron SuyemaJsu was sent 10 England two days
after the breaking out Of the war with the dis
tnct object o. promoting good VIII between the
Western nations and Japan. He made many ad-
dresses and contributed largely 10 the periodical
press o. Great Britain and the Continent IN
Intolerance Of this aim. He was also one Of the
contributors % 1-r. Stead.s Japan by the Jap
Easse." He covered wide range OF topics IN his
writings and speeches touching Oh many phases
japanese life and policy. The volume now
Ela3 is compiled from these public and pub
41sd ut-erarces. The authors attitude IS.
ia-1ray. a. least as partial rs Mr.. Stead's, and
TIE same time his announcements are more
ilihoriatiFe. His opinions may readily be dis
counted, bur his statements Of historic facts and
lA calculations q political events are based
-pon az intimate personal knowledge Of the
workings and motives Of japanese statecraft.
Parting with the inception Of the situation OF
;'isis n the Far East and the commencement Of
re War,' Baron SUyeuatsu reviews with minute
SFIcu-artty the course Of diplomatic procedure
WHICH resulted ID open rupture and immediate
lasuAues, defending his country's action
iga'1si the criticism that the Russian feet was
E-scked without due warning, and taking ad-
'Salsge u rs unpreparedness. However we
nay Judge the act the case Of Japan is pre-
iaated with admirable FEASIBILITY and the mar
mailing Of facts IS done with perspicuous under
iAHoing. Following UP these chapters IN re-
Bs-c 70 events G-tecedeut 70 the war, the author
EoeaTors 10 explain how Japan's reserve Of
va energy 81 resistance 10 aggression" has
Dssa The outcome Of its temperament and its
1orll and Intellectual training" and to make
Isar hlstorcal'y n what these consist The
l-lu and concluding portion Of the volume
Isaa q the relations Of the japanese govern
-'at With foreign powers such special subjects
: ne question % indemnity. and more general
EXCAVATIONS ss % the course which destiny has
-S'so ior japan n the history Of Asia Writing
ne subject q patriotism. Baron Suyematsu
.-aes out with great clarity the development Of
- virtue IN Japan and the reasons for the con-
s.'-'us lack q & IN China In his chapter on
ara Teaching he says:
a. seafdiral points o. Oriental ethics are loyalty
49, peLE. OF these two filial piety takes
t,s.slsIce ~ China but greater stress Is laid IN