Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-21
OF WORLD wilde INTEREST
THE GREAT CONMONER OF JAPAN
BY FREDERIC J.-HAsklN

ed home and said: THE reading or the
declaration of Independence when l
was, a boy made such an impress upon
my soul that the doctrines proclaimed
by 1t have ever been my guiding rule in
life"
In view of this it is not strange that
Count Okuma should admire the great
American Democrat, Thomas Jefferson.
When he learned that the declaration
of independence had been written by
Jefferson he set about studying the
career of that statesman. He read sev-
eral biographies and some extracts
from Jefferson's own writings and be-
came familiar with his principles.
Three years ago William Jennings
Bryan was the guest of Count OlSuma
and the conversation fell on Jefferson.
When Mr.. Bryan went back to the
United States he sent Count Okuma a
complete collection of Jeffersoniana,
which now occupies q position of hon
or in the old counts library.
The influence of Jefferson upon
Okuma's life is marked AS Jefferson
in his old days placed the University
of Virginia above every work of. his
life as his most worthy deed, 50 Count
Okuma Is prouder of his position as
founder of Waseda university than he
is of all his political accomplishments.
Waseda university is 9s the very gates
OF Count Okuma's beautiful mansion
grounds, just as the University of Vir-
ginia was at the gates of Monticello.
But when Count Okuma looks out
upon his school he sees an Institution
In which 5000 young men are being
brought into the light of the higher
education, while Jefferson could not
have counted that .aany University
students in the whole nation in his
time.
In the concluding chapter of Count
Okuma's recent work, Fifty Years of
New Japan" he frankly says that the
Japanese nation is not yet arrived Il.
the level of civilization enjoyed by the
other great nations. lie declares that
japan IS still at school and must stay
OH at its studies until the tasks are
all finished. Then, he thinks, -Js.san
viii he the equal of any nation TN
EARTH While recognizing the inferior
ity in st tcomplishmsnt, he denies that
tbs is Inherent or permanent There
fGre h. is opposed, heart and soul, to
the oGI anese government adopting q
Lo,iey by which it pledges itself 10
accept as right the mandate of an
other na ton that japanese people shall
not go where they please, pust IS for
eigners are allowed to come and go
III JaL9n.
1t was In support of this doctrine of
national pride and dignity that Count
Okuma voiced the anti-American sem
timent which stirred Japan a year ago,
although he used the issue to ham
mer the heads of the cabinet. Now
that the issue is no longer to be used
as a political cry. Okuma and all his
followers have ceased to talk. Count
Okuma declares, as all Japanese will
daniarn that tho TTntfad GtafaQ Ia
Japan's best friend and that trouble
between them is unthinkable. But
Count Okuma adds, as other Japanese
do not, that the United States must
treat Japan as an equal in every re-
spect. When asked to address himself
to American newspaper readers he
said:
Japan came into the community of
nations by the Introduction and under
the guidance of the United States,
which fact we appreciate. We were
taught by the United States, and we
are still learning from America. But
the Americans should remember the
words Of the ancient philosopher who
declared that to teach, one must learn.
The United States should study the
condition of her pupil, Japan. We
learn from them, and they should
learn from us that they may the bet
ter understand us. Nowadays the
American understanding of the Jap
anese people is imperfect. In the
American newspapers there Is talk of
war between their country and ours.
In Japan one never hears OF such
thing, except as it is repeated from
American and European newspapers.
The whole trouble is due to the fact
that the American people do not un-
derstand japan, and are therefore
willing to pay heed to the sensational
newspapers The Japanese people are
a peaceable people and want no
trouble. There is now some sentimen-
tai excitement against the Japanese,
but It is only temporary: it will grad
ually die out and will be settled with
out difficulty. In time even the labor
element in America will get over its
apprehension and will admit that the
Japanese are not a dangerous element.
In the meantime the yellow journals
are responsible for keeping alive the
agitation"
But with all his peaceful talk, Count
Okuma holds that q Japanese man is
equal of any man and that the dig
nifty of the nation requires that he be
SO treated. If any one dares to ques-
tion him he will turn to that old docu-
ment which set his soul on fire fifty
wears ago and quote: I'VE hold these
truths to be self-evident that all men
are created equal; that they are en-
dowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights; that among these
are life. liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness."
Tomorrow-Popular Government in Japan.