The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-11-17
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education, in customs and manners,
as well as in literature and art. In
other words, the whole social organ
ism has thrilled with the pangs of a
new birth at the contract of New
World. The old order of things
has passed away and the new order
is emerging. If we look back to the
conditions of Japan forty years ago
we realize that they have undergone
great revolutionary panorama, and
in the course of half century have
undergone changes and notifications
which elsewhere have filled two or
three centuries of history.
The astonishing changes which
have occurred in New Japan have
been due on one hand to the new
national movement resulting part
ly from amalgamation of the various
forces at work in the country itself,
and on the other to the pressure
from without which compelled the
throwing open of the country to
foreign intercourse and thus precip-
itating the expansion of the national
movement. The creation of New
Japan may be said, therefore, to be
chiefly due to the influence of for
eign civilization. There are very
few departments of life in Japan
which have not been profoundly
affected by the influence of Western
civilization. During the time of
feudal Japan, the Dutch were the
first to introduce the light of foreign
civilization. But since the growth
of New Japan the study Of the Eng
lish language has prevailed, and it
is through the English language
that they have acquired economic
/ social, and educational knowledge.
| The development of constitutional
government in Japan is largely due
to their having taken as a model
the constitution of the United States.
i Now indeed Japan after many
struggles and difficulties at home
and abroad, and as the result of
strenuous exertion from the intro
duction of the New civilization has,
fortunately succeeded in taking her
place among the world powers and
| has been recognized as such by the
, United States and all other great
powers. AS an Eastern empire Ja-
3 pan may still have further struggles
| to face, but Japan's ideals are, brief
ly speaking, to maintain harmonious
s relations with the United States and
I other powers, and to contribute as a
e nation towards the peace of the
/ world by the practice of justice and
s humanity.
4 Japan has, in little less than ten
v years, engaged in two great wars
: with foreign countries and in addi-
e tion to the extraordinary strain to
e which these wars have subjected
/ them, state expenditure has ad-
n vanced by leaps and bounds in order
a to cope with the expansion and
j. growth of the country at home and
abroad, and extremely heavy finan.
/ cial burdens have been placed upo1
d the people. But there are still ma
a ny tasks before Japan requiring
e further expenditures such 8 tht
n completion of means of communica
Il tion, the reconstruction of cities
/ the repair of harbors, the provision
It of water works and drainage, tn,
y improvement of sanitary equipment
8, and many other undertakings 0
s. public utility in the cities and pro
l. vinces.
d The burden of taxation is necessa
y rily is bound to increase in ever,
r direction and prices have risen &C
cordingly, and there are signs tha
e Japan will encounter grave difficul
E. ties in the high cost of living
ID Sooner or later Japan will have t
d. grapp!e with and solve that socia
a, problem known as the labor ques
re ton, with which the United State
is already SO painfully familiar
ut The subject of financial adjustmen
n, the expansion of industries, the ad
l. vancement of education, and othe
le social problems all require furthe
n development. Japan has not "
ne reaped the benefits of the civilizs
be tion she has adopted from the MOI
in advanced nations.