New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-13
ORIENTAL DEVELOPMENTS
Influences and Tendencies in
Asia.

Professor Reinsch's book is serious
and seriously valuable contribution TO
| the study Of q phase OF world history
in the making that, so he asserts, VIII
surpass In scope and magnitude Oh
/ tts consequences even the greatest
crises OF the past. He begins by stlli
further demolishing the vanishing ira
dition OF the impossible gulf between
| East and West-a tradition most popu-
larly expressed In Kiplings famous
line. which at most but emphasizes
I what our author expresses in FAR ar
| ferent form and in far different light:
We might almost regard it as fantasy
/ OF Providence that II should nave desls-
mated, from among all western races; inc
| one inherently least ideologlcairlehassS
| SpiritUcl-to guide the destinies OF I'M
mother OF beliefs. thoughts ana imaglh-
| ngs. il may perhaps De 5aid uia' 81
| erudite and imaginative nation wouid
| have been too much appalled, by me TASK
| before IL; with the impulse 10 STUDY anu
understand the inhnlte compleS,m i nsu
! the strldent dishe rmonies OF indian IRE,
| Il might not have combined the cool
power OF will necessary to rule. luc
! English have relied but little on science
| or imagination; INSTINCT ~ %" ,Ssn,
selves by everywhere remaining them
/ selves, and allowing subject peoples 10 %
likewise Whilo the French were making
| an ardent campaign for Gaihc clNiiiIat'pi'
| and while Germans were marVelllns at
! the profundity OF Indian thought, thp
| English drank teddy and ruled the world
The authors penetration to our com
mon human nature that lies below the
differences between East ana west, ~
! WehddschdRung. and the environment
from which il has 10 largely sprung. Is
an exceptionally able and searching
piece of work. lie reaches no ultimate
| conclusions; he aims at none. lie
merely proves how far the East has
already gone in turning to a philosophy
OF action, energy and individuaiism.
! These ancient nations. the existence
OF whose solidarity. In the sense OF the
solidarity Of the nations Of the white
race. Professor Reinsch disproves. have
come 10 the conclusion that their own
PHILOSOPHERS, their own religions. suftce
for their higher cultural purposes, but
that for practical, material ends, West
crn science may give them much Of
value. The immense technical mas
terry ~ the West IS admitted It's moral
grandeur. the sincerity Of It's rules OF
conduct, the validity OF It's philosophi-
cal IDEALS are doubted \ revival Of
! buddhism IL pcrccptble in China anI
Japan, rs in India.
Tho book studies IN succession the
present situation In India, China and
japan. India furnishes tho most dis
quieting problom-for the English. at
least, a problem growing in complex
fly with the growth OF education that
may In time tax the resources Of the
rulers OF the country, who set, accord
ing 20 Professor Reinsch. have done
and are doing their sturdy weli-mean-
ing British best. The present tendency
OF affairs IN China, he holds. seems 20
indicate that our generation f. 10 Wit
ness a repetition Of the marvel Of the
Japanese restoration. and that move
ment will take place IN China which IN
rapidity and thOroughness may even
excel that remarkable transformation
The dangers Of such a movement OF
such u giganEc scale in a country
where stability Of social and political
Institutions has through thousands ~
Years risen almost TO the sacredncss o.
a religion. can be imagined II not fore
seen, but Professor R"insch sees a
safeguard IN the character OF the Chi
nese. and IN the quality ~ the Chinese
mind. which, Uy traditional training.
has been best prepared among the pco-
pies OF the Orient for the acceptance
Of the scientific positivism OF tho West
Japan, tho leader Of the Far Eastern
rennscenco. far In the van. IS threat
ened by the tagging growth Of an CT
gained public opinion. The new en-
pire IL remarkable. chiefly. on account
of the effective organization Of its gov
ernmental authority. The hope OF POO
ular control raised by the creation IL
a Japanese parliament has not been
realized. The state Is In fact. not only
military and bureaucratic, but monop-
olistic as well. a formidable govern
ment machine is In course Of crel-
ton. II gives consistency and strength
to the empires foreign policies, but "it
remains very doubtful whether the
principle Of authority alone can ever
be a safe basis for state life"