Evening star., 1925-06-28

parents are Mr. anu MTs. d. NHdiics
Mcclure.
pan, does not necessarily mean Latin
and Greek Our written language,
you know, is not by alphabet. but by
ideograph. OF these characters we
have some 10 900, so that our students
generally have little time to spend
upon the Greek and Roman languages
and literature. However, our educa-
tional ideals are high and our faith in
humanistic culture second to none"
You favor aristocratic leadership"
eff you mean leadership by the best.
yes. And the whole of society can
and ought to aspire and strive to be
of the best. Upon the real aristocracy,
the intellectual and moral nobleSSe, OF
a community, one need not say, rest
especial obligations of leadership and
public duty
Growth of Democracy in Japan.
cratic?"
Undoubtedly. Possibly our people
are disposed to go ahead too rapidly.
There is little conservatism in Japan
no such repugnance to change as is
found in England. If a thing seems
good to the Japanese they say, Let us
adopt ii at once They are prone to
be too quick to reject the old and take
the new. We now have universal suf-
frage and shall see how it works. If
there are dangers I have no great
fears. Predisposed to advance swiftly,
our people are not destructionists.
They are loyal to the throne, proud of
their traditions and passionately de-
voted to the vision of a useful and
honorable place for their empire in
the family of free and peaceful ma,
tions.
Freedom, I think, we understand.
We understand it is not anarchy or
license. We understand. on the con-
trary. that anarchy and license ami
hllate freedom. This realization is inn
bedded in the Japanese consciousness.
Therefore, | am not alarmed by the
strongly progressive nature of our citi-
Zens. 1 am not alarmed by their new
enthusiasm for individual liberty and
responsibility. l am not afraid of uni
VerSal suffrage. / am persuaded our
liberties will deepen our loyalty and
invigorate our patriotism. For, after
all. how can a man be truly loyal,
truly patriotic, unless he be free?"
Japanese Like Other People.
DO you discover, now and again,
neutrality-suspicious. of japanese charac-
ter?"
NlScount hato chuckled.
Il read in books some interesting
observations on Japanese life," said
he. Il read in English and in Ameri-
can books that Japanese babies never
cry. Those of us who have japanese
babies know better. / read in books
that the Japanese people are always
cheerful. In reality, of course, they
are like their babies in that when they
have something to be glad about they
are glad, and when they have some
thing to be sad about they are sad.
We have pleasant and unpleasant peo-
pie, Strong-minded and feeble minded
people. wise men and fools, saints and
rogues. In external fermentation we
are more or less different from other
sections of humanity, but in internal
pigmentation we seem to be about the
same
You believe mankind to be spirit.
ually of one kim"
II do"
do you believe in .interracial mar
riage?"
II do not
And your reason?"
Because l think the overwhelming
weight of advantage and happiness lies
on the side of racial integrity. Biolog-
ical consequences do not seem to me
to be the main consideration. 1t is not
chiefly question of physiology or an
imality. 1t Is a sociological and psy-
Geological question. 1t is a question
of emotion and mentality, of where
and how one lives, of countless asso-
ciative subtleties. 1t is human ques-
ton
You would preserve Japanese CIV
ilization by preserving the Japanese?"
Yes. We feel our civilization, so
preserved, has its own distinct value
for, and its own distinct place in, the
life Of the world. Japan never will
use her power as a weapon Of selfish
aggreSsion-the most stupid act a na-
ton can commit-but for the preserva-
ton of her Japanese heritage she will
make any sacrifice. To the perfection
of this heritage our sister nations have
contributed much. These contribu-
tions we gladly acknowledge. OHr one
desire is to go forward in equal honor
with those nations, each placing it's
special gifts at the service of ALL
Mirroring Statesman's Mind.
Our conversation, to me of absorb
ing interest, was at an end It had
been uninterrupted and had lasted two
hours. Viscount Kato accompa MED
me into the large hallway adjoining
the drawing room and stood smiling
and bowling, in the charming Japanese
way, until / was gone. 1 felt I had
been in the presence of a man whose
words were a faithful mirror Of his
mind. 1 could understand why Lord
Grey took pleasure in his company
and had every confidence in his char
| acter, and why Viscount Kato's am.
bassadorial work In England, where
he laid the foundations of Anglo Jap
anese friendship, ranks high in the
diplomatic annals of Japan.
How long he will occupy the great
| position of prime minister of the Japa-
! nese Empire I dare not predict. But
| do venture the prophecy that so long
as he remains prime minister his acts
will not belle the foregoing exposition
of his views. Viscount Kato admits
| that Japan has fools as well as wise
men. 1 think he is one of the wise