Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-19
DEFENDER OF JAPAN
Returned Missionary Praises
People and Their Ways.
ARE GRATEFUL TO AMERICA
Amazed at Belief in This Country Of
Hostile Purposes.
SPEAKS LANGUAGE OF LAND
Rev. Arthur v. Bryan Has Had I'm
usual Opportunities for Study
frf and Observation.
ARE GRATEFUL TO AMERICA
SPEAKS LANGUAGE OF LAND

Public opinion in Japan. more espe-
cialy as it relates to the United States,
has been given variety of interpreta-
tions. The view on this subject OF man
who knows the language and has lived
for number of years in that country
with exceptional opportunities for meet
Ing all classes of people and OF becoming
familiar with their thought are naturally
mot only of interest but of value
Rev. Arthur V. Bryan. a representative
,of-the board of foreign missions Of the
Presbyterian Church In Japan, who has
been in the city visiting his brother. w.
b. Bryan. talked in an interesting fash
Ton about Japan and the sentiment of the
people toward this country.
THE widespread suspicion of Japan
which | have met in talks with indtvtd-
uals since my return from the orient"
he said. 1.-THE strong anti-Japanese feeling
which I hear on all sides. fills me with
anna cement. especially when l remember
the sympathy expressed for japan dur
ing the late Russo-Japan war. Have the
japanese done anything since the war to
warrant this change of feeling toward
them? I have been in Japan for num-
her OF years during which time ! have
lived almost entirely among the people in
places of isolation. where ! have met
very few Europeans. In my work among
F.Aa L
fneet.alf classes. but especially the middle
and lower classes. In my travels among
strangers i have been made doubly well
COZ e because / am an American citizen.
Japanese People Grateful.
II have been told times without number
OF the feeling Of gratitude they have for
the leading Of their people in the path
of civilization and OF the sympathy of
In so many ways. Even when there was
resentment among the people during
the discussion of the school question In
San Francisco. the calm and patience of
the people we're surprising. Even then
INV ministrations in and outside the
church were acceptable to the people, and
our relations were the most friendly
In japan the Strengthening of the
Army and the increase of ornaments are
but In keeping with a great progress In
education and other things that will aid
In the temporal uplift Of the people The
notion OF a design to wrest from us our
island possessions IL but delusion. and
does not in any way COMFORT with the
dignity and respect Of nation which has
forged it's way during the past fifty years.
to the position OF a f4rst-ciass power and
made wonderful progress in material civ
ilization.
Chinese Well Treated.
II have been a resident OF Port Arthur,
Manchuria. for the past two years. and
] have been impressed during this time
of the good intentions Of Japan, in Man.
j. churia. l have seen. the care of the Jap
. snese government fer tire Chinese as
well as for us own people In teaching
hygiene. in establishing schools. In caring
for the sick and diseased and In dis
pensary and hospital. where no fee Is
taken from a Chinaman. Protection to
1fe and property IL assured to the China
man as 10 the japanese. have walked
the streets In Port Arthur and i have
seen many evidences OF a friendly feeling
and Of an earnest desire to do In Man.,
doing for its own people on the main
land
=. In justice to a people who have treated
me with kindness and who are earnestly
q matter OF justice TO them to try and
show how kindly they feel toward Amer
: lea. In saying all this I do not mean to
gloss over defects which are well known
=. 10 the world. I have had many JaDanese
speak to me in evident commentator OF
such virtues, Of the business integrity or
tire Chinese. Of their invioiability of
business contract. There has been graft.
too in official circles. but the govern
ment is honestly trying to ferret out and
punish. Not only has such punishment
been melted out to the participants I'm
recent sugar monopoly, but a few years
school superintendent, and 1t went up
as high as a governor who had taken
part In a text book scandai.
Seek Improved Morality.
..'rhe morality in the schools has been
under discussion in the newspapers. and
the minister Of education has sought va
rious methods OF improvements along
these and similar lines. The Japanese are
neither angels, as some writer's have tried
to make them out. nor are they demons;
as others assert them to be, but they all
participate in a human nature which
binds us In a great brotherhood sym
pathetic attitude toward the people OF
Japan. as shown from the besinning by
our government. will do more for Amer
ica's influence i'm Japan than all English
diplomacy or Germany's commerce
Though Japan has borrowed In many
ways from all Of Europe, yet her ideais
seem to be more Of those she sees in
"Whcn the door OF our western coast is
shut In the faces of those who would
come here to labor and improve their
condition the tide seems to turn TO Man.
churia and Korea, but the feeling in ia
. pan IL still toward America. from which
! she receives so much OF inspiration. and
IL il ours to help that wonderfully inter-
esting people by setting before them
standard OF Righteousness and justice that
they may hold before them as mirror. in
which, seeing their Qefects. tney Will De
all the more ready to abandon them We
often hear 1t said that. flushed with the
victory over Russia. the Japanese are
getting bumptious and aggressive, but II
does not seem 30. a. we see their desire
to still learn from other nations.
Study Of Foreign Languages.
1.-The army authorities have issued in
structions TO their oficers encouraging
the study OF foreign languages. offering
as a reward. based on examinations. the
sending abroad for further study and re-
search those who do well. The Japanese
welcome any criticism which is just and
fair. but do not relish that which simply
fnds fault.
THE fulsome admiration of Sir Edwin
s Arnold and Lafcadio Hearn who painted
conditions In too roseate hues. did not
really please the japanese: neither are
the anti-Japanese writer's true revealers
Of the Japanese attitude toward other
nations Japan has for many years been
the .cynosure OF all nations-at times too
highly praised. at other intervals painted
In too. lurid colors.
The friendly foreigner has a good op-
portunity to criticise and applaud, and
such criticism is often sought FOR when
~ nHP