New-York tribune., 1907-12-12
Literary Nee0s and Criticism.

lecturer at one of state universities. author
of an able treatise on the Powers OF the Amer
lean People" it is evident that any comparison
he makes of the temper and ideals Of the two
nations will bear a certain authority. It is
unfortunate that a volume written with so
serious purpose, and intended-to judge by
the division - the text into numbered sections
for careful study should be marred with dis
tressing color Embellishments on every page.
suggesting only another trite venture in the
field of 'tea-house and cherry blossom Iitera-
ture.
DR.. Myakawa takes up such topics as 'Relg-
ions in Japan" The Japanese Moral (sic) Eth
les" --Feudalism in Japan" ''Triumphs of Amer
lean Diplomacy Japanese Industrial Develop
ment. japanese Constitutional Government"
He attacks each subject historically, and shows,
often with effectiveness, how the present has
come out OF the past. Writing of the older civ
iIization, he points out that the military class,
the highest of the social castles, had the respon-
sibility OF educating as well as of protecting
the people. Later the duty of military service
imposed all. Thus it gradually came
about that
The ideal and conception Of Bushido, or soldiers
way. inculcated into the unwritten moral codes
imam Felisen. IT Suiste and anmatet S I the
japanese 50 that without being a true Rushi he
cannot q religious person. Japanese dorl.s-
tic and military pride and emulation has been the
la
tonal character, and the Bushido. solde-ly zeal
ard selfsacrcing fidelity of the Japanese soldiers,
embodieS the highest conception of japanese in
dividuality.
IN another chapter an interesting contrast is
made between this ideal and that of the Anglo
Saxon. American progress is objective or in
dividualiStic he says; japanese progress is
Subjective passive In old times each Jap
anese having his social status once and for all
allotted 10 him. submitted to his chief without
resistance, assuming authority 20 be providen-
tial" Now that caste distinctions lowered.
and chances for advancement are open to all,
reasoned philosophy takes the place Of blind
submission; but it Is philosophy which recog
nizes the utility of the old system, and retains,
practically. the fundamental principle OF it: that
each smaller social unit is possessed by a larger
unit-which, in turn. is typlfied in the person of
the Emperor. The American citizen has for
his incentive the hope of gain and profit for his
individual effort while the japanese citizen,
imbued with the ancient spirit Of reverential
loyalty, is ready to sacrifice everything, to exert
every effort within his power, for the advantage
of the Emperor-the State.
a chapter on can-Japanese War"
which is likely TO attract special attention
just now. adduces ten reasons against the pos
sibility Of such an occurrence. The authors
argument that the japanese are not a warlike
people; that It is Western powers that have
driven them against their will into war, is es-
pecially deserving of consideration. If Dr. MI
yakawa had enlisted some Occidental assistance
in the editing of his text we should not have
had such a statement this While desiring
the realization of such a prediction, we must
remember that a pyramid rises only from It's
own ashes" or this: such a convulsive though
beneficial cataclasm (sicl) as led TO the eXtinc-
tion OF the Shogunate. as to interrupt and
revolutionize the continuity of a persistent
course of events, must have concomitant prec-
edent and result from an accumulated predis-
position, just or unjust'-whatever that may