New Britain herald., 1929-02-15

and less on those of tradition ana le- gend than is Japan s
 As an example of the Japanese situ' o+ior one may exar'ine t'e Re"""- struction Bureau appointed by the Jap anese government after the disastrous earthouake of 1928. This bureau had the idealistic and patriotic duty ol ie- storing a devastated natlon-nea'ine the wounds of the fatherland and rear ing beautiful structure on the asnes of an ancient pyre. It was Ike tne phoenix which swings proudly above the Royal carriage, thing to make ! Japan rise from her own ashes more wonderful and more noble than ever before.
 The bureau accomplished it's work. The government investigated that work. And it found that the new Japan was, in many instances. hollow nockery. Inferior materials had been used in reconstruction. Pinch penny methods had been applied, and the reconstruct. ed area may stand little while. It cannot last.
 Graft is given as the reason for this But the reconstruction officials who preyed upon the very life blood of the nation are but few among many. Some observers declare that today the Empire itself is hollow shell-an empty pretense. It shows in the shops, in the busy marts and in the wares of of the street peddlers. Everywhere one finds gilt and tinsel, and behind the gilt and tinsel is decay.
 But one must dig down even under this condition to come upon true un. derstanding of the problem. The graft and corruption is unfortunate, but even so it is superficial. The late Emperor of Japan recognized the true situation and the importance of throwing his empire open to the culture of other peoples.
 His enlic.tened reign had . most important effect upon Japan. From . mysterious, backward Oriental nation this great empire started to assume its proper place in the family of nations The absorption of Western culture is not thing which might be accom-. plished at moments notice.
 Education of the Japanese people was sadly needed, and this was under. taken. Gradually the situation changed. Most of the mystery disap- peared. although the picturesqueness remained. Business particularly bene. fitted from this enlightened policy, and Japanese firms found themselves pros. porous.
 Naturally graft followed. Corrup- ton has always appeared to be the bed. fellow of prosperity and expansion. But tho evil forces which crept in through the door left open by progress now find themselves sandwiched be. tween two powerful forces. On the one hand is the principle of expansion and advancement founded by the last ruler. There is no question of its soundness, and the new ruler has given every assurance that he will continue and further this policy.
 But on the other side the forces of corruption found the great movement set on foot by the education of the Japanese people themselves. This movement, looking toward the en. franchisement of Japanese women, for one thing, must inevitably prove . cleansing factor and an implacable enemy of corruption in government and in private life. For the noncs the graft remains however.
 What can be done? The "rising daughter" offers the first answer to that question. For she is the symbol of newness which may change the whole history of the Empire.