The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-09-29
THE SEAMEN
Of JAPAN
Why Their Countrymen
Are Proud of
Them.

Editor Advertiser: The moment of
the enthusiastic delight with which the
countrymen of the illustrious Togo have
received their national training ship
Anegawa seems not an uniting time
to call to mind the fact that about a
third of the population of these islands
is Japanese largely of the laboring
class, and who. as a rule, in an orderly
and considerate way help to develop
the resources of the Territory. and
without whose work in our fields and
factories, both of cane and pineapples,
there would be little occupation for men
Of any calling or race. 1t seems not
inopportune to remember these facts
and also to take note of certain other
characteristics that we who think toll
erably often of "the man with the hoe"
are not SO likely to dwell upon, but of
which it is well to bear in mind, thus
giving ourselves a wider and juster
appreciation of those who are SO greatly
helping to forward the prosperity of
Hawaii. Happy is Dali Nippon to have
such sons. Fortunate the country that
has them for allies, and also fortunate
the community that, not Of itself hav-
ing numbers for the work it has in
hand, has men in it's midst so strong
of arm and willing of mind to assist
in the cultivation of its fields and in
the intelligent working of its fac
tories.
Let me quote from an article on
Admiral Togo appearing in a New
York magazine OF last month, which.
apart~from natural national pride
our japanese population may well have
in the first advent of one of their ships
since the great war with the Northern
Giant, may help many to understand
the evident devotion and delight that
has drawn them from their occupations
to gaze upon their Anegawa and pay
respect to captain, officers and crew
THE japanese have, for the men who
defend their country, what French
writer calls LIE genie de Iamour,' and
anyone who had only witnessed the love
the great military commanders would
imagine that affection and gratitude
could go no further. But the feeling
for their sailors transcends this senti- :
grave pride of even the youngest Of
ficer in the navy is something wonder
full to see; he wears his uniform as if
the garment had come to him straight
from the hands of heavenly minister's;
he models his speech on the clear Sat
suma lines, scorning the softening slur
of the Tokyo dialect, which pronounces
the great Admirars name 'To-ngo' in
stead of Togo. Each lad seems
to feel that the spirit of Hirose, the
dead hero, is watching him, and that
there is but one standard to strive
after, that of Togo the living pattern
of naval greatness The bluejackets
are as. proud and happy in their pro-
fession as the officers. An Englishman
who spent some time on one of the
battleships during the war, writes that
the men are uniformly smiling and
cheerful: that there are no punish
ments, for none are ever needed
The sea is Japan's best bulwark and
Japan's greatest danger, and we can
not worder that the people, recogniz-
ing this, and beholding the high moral
standards as well as the magnificent
efficiency of the navy, should cherish
that service more deeply than the be
loved military one. The old Japanese
saving must now hold good forever
verify .Sea-water is the blood OF
JaDan," CHARLES F. HART.
Honolulu, September %, 1906.
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