New-York tribune., 1910-02-02
EDUCATION In JAPAN
HEIR BARON KIKUCHI
Justice Rrescer Taunts. Peace
and Yarns Wdrmongers.


University of Kyoto and formerly Minister
of Fducation of Japan. spoke before the
Civic Forum at Carnegie Hall last night on
.s-rba New Jansn. Its Intellectual ana
Moral Deyelopment' Baron kikuehi, wpo
is a graduate of Cambridge University,
came to this country especially to deliver
his address last night. having been CHOSEN
for that mission by Count konura MIN
lister of Foreign Affairs. because or his
standing in the empire as an eoucator-
The DISTINGUISHED Japanese visitor aehV-
cred an eiaborately prepared exposition Oh
the history, development and advancement
,f tie co1ntrv-s educational system, which
had it's greatest impetus, he said. from the
visit of Commodore Perry to Japan.
Justice David J. Brewer, of the United
states Supreme Court, who presloed al
the meeting had something to say IN ms
Introductory remarks about the hot-headed
men in this country and in Japan VINO are
striving to bring war between the TWO
nations" But the jurist expressed ms
pleasure that the highest thoughts OF ooth
people were for peace.
1T would be strange indeed, said JUS
tioe Brewer. IF that Oriental nation
should in the great movement for peace
go before us who profess to believe in the
Pr1nCe or ES5CS anu tc ibHt tAiO '0'-N'
song of the Angels of Bethlehem. The
thoughtful men of this and other coun-
tries see that the great question before
the world is question of international
peace
Among our public men, they who stay
the building of ironclads and check the
spread of the fierce military and naval
fever before q quarter of century has
passed will be recognized as benefactors
of this nation as well as of the world,
while they who are striving to increase
the number of our ironclads and to keep
alive the longing for the pride. pomp and
circumstance of glorious war will find
themselves in the ssckcloth and ashes of
4 too late repentance
HINTS AT PEACE COURT.
Justice Brewer said that he believed the
trainers of the Constitution in creating
supreme judicial tribunal looked forward to
the time when some similar great tribunal
should he organized to settle all disputes
between the nations when the Judge ana
not the soldier should he the final arblter."
He added:
Surely we cannot afford for one moment
to think of war with any nation, least
of all with ono like Japan. We are not
rejoice in her prosperity. We wish to see
her prosperous as the result of honorable
business competition, to grow in knowledge
and wisdom and in power"
When Baron Kikuchi took his place at
the reading table after'a glowing introduc
ton by Justice Brewer the audience. which
included many of his own countrymen,
gave him hearty greeting. He told of the
n Itch Of Pr,d11iSn1 and
of the adoption of the Chinese civilization
III the sixth and seventh centuries Of the
Christian era. But he said the ''Yamato
Damashii." or Japanese spirit, was never
affected by either of these influences. De-
scrihing period of a little over two CEN
turies before the coming of Commodore
Perry, Baron kilSuchi said that the Coun-
try enjoyed complete tranquility under the
rule of the Shoguns Of the Tokugawa
family. He continued:
Up to the beginning of the Tokugawa
Shogunate Buddhist temples were almost
the only places where people could obtain
any learning; even SONS of great military
chiefs were taught in temples. and they
continued to he schools for common people
until later period. Soon after the estab-
lishment of peace and order provisions began
to he made by ShogunS and DaimyoS for the
education of their retainers The education
of Samuras III those days consisted of
the study of Chinese classics and training
in military arts.
DESIRE FOR KNOWLEDGE.
Baron Kikuchi said that the publication
in IVA of the first book of anatomy in
Dutch, started an eager desire for foreign
knowledge. and was part of the intellectual
revolutionary movement which occurred
toward the latter part Of the eighteenth
century.
He said that the country was ripe for a
change when Commodore Perry appeared in
the country, and he told also of the new
era that opened for Japan in 1865 with the
accession of the present Emperor.
The visitor said. in telling Of the Japanese
system:
Both boys and girls may enter technical
eraI of various grades, at different periods
of their education. or they may enter pri-
Vete schools. only few of which can he rec
commended. for they have scarcely any en-
dowment and tuition fees cannot be very
high in Japan.
poor country. having so many things TO
ACCOMPLISH our schools, colleges and uni
versifies have but Sorry buildings and
eoutpment not TO he compared with the
magnificent tones of yours; we have no
roiIlionaires to endoW our eduCa tiOnal iusti-
tutions. and parents. although always most
desirous 10 give their children best edu-
cation. cannot mostly afford to pay large
amount for 1t; our great problem Is TO try
10 secure maximum efficiency with mini
mum cost, but we have so often TO he con-
tent with what we can get, although We
know that could do much better If We
could have more means.