The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-01

friendly forces are falling into the
scale pans on either side, in which
every utterance has effect for good or
bad in creating the bodies OF public
opinion that will determine future action.
DIR. Mabie throws the weight OF his liter
airy influence into the scale OF enllght-
eminent, understanding and harmony.
II Is conceivable that Japan under
stands us better than we understand
her. She has certainly had abundant
demonstration of the intolerant, and,
one would suppose, quite intolerable
arrogance of Western superiority"
Our Yellow Peril can never cut so deep
into our national consciousness as her
White Peril has cut into hers. Can It
be because the West actually is "su-
perior"? Or may the Occidental con-
sciousness OF mission" prove, con-
fronted with SO fine n civilization as
Japan's, an unacknowledged inferior
dellcacy kindness and respectworthi-
ness? But the question Of superiority
IL little more than an echo now: Japan,
cherlshing her own greatness, does not
jealousy rival ours: and in the greater
bulk. no doubt, American sentiment
toward Japan Ii developing pro-
nouncedly into a genuine feeling OF re-
spect without the preliminary trouble
breeding stage Of fear. But we are
pleased TO find the author laying stress.
amid all the phantom terrors with which
sensationalists beset the situation. upon
one very definite, comprehensive and
easily removable flaw in our under
standing OF Japan: the failure 20 real
lie that Japan differs radically from
the other countries OF the East in It's
possession Of a sensitive national con-
seriousness and OF n thorough and mi
mute social and political organization"
The second member is in some re-
spects possibly Cbut hardly fruitfully)
debatable: the first carries weight
That peculiar constituencies OF the ma
tional consciousness, its composite per-
, sonality. once properly recognized.
would put an end 20 our habit OF
Jumping the Asiatics and open the
way to greater readiness TO do as we
would be done by. We would like Japan
70 hold US IN her regard just a little
above the rest Of the white world, as
little more generous, a little more
dependable, a little more worth while
as a friend than any nation OF Eu-
rope-Europe, which lies between her
land and ours, with land barriers plus
an ocean separating us from her or
her west, while to the east she has ar
open water highway direct to OUT
shores. II should be a channel OF
| friendship, not Of fear and hatred. Thai
/ would be fine and heneflcent recipro-
city by which we might. in pledge Of
the Justice Of our own claim. give decent
| 80 hAI To, 10 na ~
! guard OF modernism in the Orient.
In the first stage Of Occidental &C
quaintance with Japan the romance Of
discovery gave It piquancy; Japan was
the land OF a strange and beautiful ar
tistc culture In the second stage th'
entrance OF an Oriental Power into tn,
theatre of world politics was disquet-
| Ing to Occidental chancelleries, posinf
new and difficult problems on the an
Gent fulcrum, balance OF power" OF
which rests precariously the intricate
matter OF international comfy, and. ,
newer element. the adjustment OF quit
dissimilar civilizations. Also, Japar
had a modern army and navy to com
plicate-rather, to pose the problem
And now a third stage is near at hand
Japan has been peculiarly hospitabl
to alien ideas, and that should promis
pleasant rapprochement; but he
genius has been vtrile and persistent,
and that led her people into reactionar.
tendencies, repugnance to the new con
facts. wherein may be discerned podde'
the seeds II not OF international con
fiict. at least Of threat OF II.
The old Japan is no more and neve
can be again: but Il Is well for tn
world II the new Japan is 20 be stiI
Japan, and not an occidentalized orr
ent, n deposit OF English or America,
influence upon the ancient base o
character. In Dr. Mabie's eloquent an
tithesis. Il IS far easier for the Yves
to understand Japanese skill than Jap
anese character, Japanese Industry an
sagacity In practical affairs than Japa
nese art, the Japanese facility In adapta
ton than the persistence and power q
the Japanese genius" tnquestionahl
whatever hostility toward the Japanes
there may be in this country rests upo
no natural and indomitable antagonisn
but upon ignorance. upon the spiri
that animates the California Jap hate
when he asks one who dares utter !
his formidable presence good wor
for Japan: Would you want you
daughter to marry n Jap?"
Fast is East, and West IL West,
and the twain have mot.