Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-03-13

matter entirely of Federal control. The
reason why so many OF our people
felt a degree of resentment over what
has happened in California was that
they believed many Japanese who had
lived in that State for SO long time
many of them Christians-had done a
part in building up the commonwealth,
and, that it was not matter
of even economic justice for them to
be deprived of rights they have en-
joyed, and which they had earned.
II have been a Christian since 1877"
said Mr. Sato, in answer to question.
christianity has made great progress
in Japan in the last twenty years.
With the spread of modern education
people have come to feel the need or
religion. Under the enlightenment or
the age the faith of their forefathers
will not stand up. 1t becomes lost. 1t
is not a religion that will stand the
test of reason. So that one result OF
education in Japan has been that
young men have lost their religion,
and, at the same time, they feel the
need of a religion that will stand the
test. You see, in Japan we have been
so fortunate as to make much materi-
al progress in the last fifty years. and
people have come to realize that at the
base of any progress in modern civili-
"a ton there must be something which
insures a lasting progress-in other
words, true spirit of civilization.
Therefore they have come to study
Christianity, and there is no longer op-
position to the spread of the doctrines
of Christianity in the empire.
Until about twenty years ago such
opposition was very marked. Filial pi-
ETY., or the worship of ones ancestors,
was the base of the religion of the
people. Confucianism-not as relig-
ion, but as a system of moral philoso-
phy-was much studied, and practiced.
Now the educated man wants more.
Christian sects in Japan are coming
more and more together in their COM
mon purpose of pushing the cause of
Christianity At the same time it is
worth mentioning that the type OF
missionary who is coming to Japan
has changed. AS the young japanese
have become highly educated and have
learned to think for themselves. it is
| necessary to send men Of the highest
education and standing over there.
The old type of missionary, the man
with little education, cannot cope with
the situation in present-day Japan.
I'm our country social distinctions
| are not determined by wealth. Nova
| days, as a man becomes more and
more educated. he rises in the social
scale and If he is a scholar he is
much more respected than a man of
mere wealth.
TT might be we'll to point out that in
Japan we owe a great deal in our edu-
cational system to Americans who may
/ no q home
We had Dr. Murray of Albany as ad
| visor to our department OF education%
when we were reorganizing our agri-
cultural and common schools, and Pro-
/ fessor NJ NJ Scott of Virginia was a
| teaching in our normal schools. His In
| fuence has been great. because he
| taught many of the teachers who have
| since gone out to teach in the common
| schools. He rendered us good service
| in the esta blishment of our common
| schools. / studied English under him.
He now lives in Hawaii. and there
| met him when on my way over here.
! 1t was the first time I had seen him
since 1876 and l had the pleasure Of
| telling him that at banquet given
| me in Toxic on the eve of my depart
| ure the minister of education mad re-
| ferred to the service he had rendered
| japan. Professor Scott was affected to
| tears.
"The economic situation In Japan is
| improving" said Professor Sato, in an
swer to a question. I'VE now have
| actually a surplus in the treasury;
that is to say, our income exceeds the
| amount demanded by the budget. l
| think If the Government continues to
be economically administered, We shall
! soon be able 10 pay off our debts. don't
| think il is likely that programme OF
| larger expenditure for the army and
navy will go through. 1t is ridiculous
| for Japan TO think of supporting big
ger armament, and that is the way
the majority of people think
Parliament is now in session, ana
| there is a strong belief that the rate
of taxation will be decreased, and that
I will mean a betterment in the econom-
| ic condition Of the country. / under
stand you are having your first expe-
rience with the income tax. 1t is an
| old story in Japan. But II we
| had such a large exemption as you
| have here a very small proportion OF
the people would have to pay the tax
Formerly there was an exemption oil
only 800 yen Cs15o), but now this has
|
much as 500 yen. The exemption varies
| In that and in the rate OF taxation
distinction is made between earned
and unearned income.
do you know, in Washington l ran
| across quite a good number of people
I used to know over here thirty years
ago Commissioner of Education Clay
| ton and I used to rosm together In
! Baltimore. DIR. Ramage of the Depart
ment of Justice was a classHate OF
mine. At the Carnegie Institution
| saw DR.. Jameson. who was an assist
ant professor at Johns Hopkins when
I was there. Governor Yeager OF Por-
| TO Rico. whom accidentally ran
| across in Washington, was class
mate. This coming back after almost
thirty years has given me great deal
| of pleasure