The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1917-12-18
Has Troubles of Her Own.

From all accounts Japan is making money
hand over fist as as a result of the world
war. The Japs, even though allies of Great
Britain, have had little or no fighting to do,
and have been able to keep their warships
near home or no further from home than
out on the Pacific, and Japan has been SELL
ing war supplies to Russia at good prices for
| the past two years, dispOsing of much stuff
that Japan did not want to keep. The gov
eminent of the Mikado, as well as Japanese
bankers, has also been lending money to
Russia, and it is said that, all in all, Japan
is the greatest gamer in material way by
the war-many people and firms there wax
ing enormously rich. But it will not sur
prise thoughtful people to hear that this
great wave Of prosperity in Japan is being
enjoyed chiefly by comparatively small ele-
ment Of the populace there, being the peo-
pie manufacturing war supplies and who are
able to speculate in war necessities. There
seems to be reliable evidence that the mass
es of the people are in rather strained con-
dition, taxes being unusually high, and but
for the large yield of rice this year food
would also be at excessive figures. Indeed
the situation in the Land of the Rising Sun
is said to be of nature to arouse much of
concern on the part of the governing and
wealthier classes-leading to a state of
thought on the part of the masses, the com
mon people, that indicated distrust of the
government and perhaps of menace to the
prestige the emperor has always enjoyed
with virtually all the people of Nippon. for
the emperor traces his descent back in an
unbroken line of ancestors nearly twenty
five hundred years. That one family has fur
nlshed the rulers of Japan during all those
years. 1t was a member of that same family
that ruled there long before Jesus of Naza-
reth was born, and it is easy to understand
IN what degree of reverence and loyalty the
average native of the country holds the rul-
era reverence that regards him as scarce
ly, if any, less than divine. But with uni
versal education In Japan (for there is alb
solutely no Ilhterarcy there) and remark
able progress mentally and materially for
half century it is not surprising is some of
the old traditions and ideals may be some
what in danger
That the government realizes the trend
of opinion, coupled with the strained condi-
ton of the masses, finds evidence in the fact
that there is earnest effort to increase rev.
erence in the minds of the common people
for the ancient religion of the country
known as Shintoism. This is not religion
IN the sense that we use that word here for
it is rather a cult and ethical in nature. but
it has strong hold on the minds and esteem
OF the masses. One of its features is rever-
ence for ancestors, and also for the Mikado
as the representative of constituted author
lty. The government, it is said, is diligent
IN encouraging renewal of loyalty to the
Shinto faith, for in effect it would be in
! creased loyalty to the ruling power and the
government
This is just one of the signs Of the times
in Japan, but it shows how the wind is blow
ing over there. To speak figuratively, it
shows that the government, having to deal
with people disconnected and depressed BY
! nigh taxes and hard times, is not neglecting
effort to induce people to more of content
ment and confidence in those who rule. They
have wise men in control in Nippon, and
that country, even if loyal to the Entente
allies, may be trusted to make the most out
of the war in which its part as yet has been
all to its own advantage, or at least the ad-
vantage of an important element there