JAPAN'S INTENTIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 237, 4 October 1894, Page 9

JAPAN'S INTENTIONS.

THE MIKADO'S MISSION.

THE "REFORMATION OF CHINA."

The recant utterances, of soma of the Japanese newspapers throw some light on tlio question of Japan's intentions in the present war with China. A leading Japaneso paper, the " Hocki Sbitnbun," says that the result of the war will ba extremely beuefical to China ; "it will rudely awaken China out of her torpor,of many centuries," and ' Japan's object, it declares, is "to go straight to Peking, and by the terms dictated to the Chinese Government to influence the future of the whole Chinese nation.1' " After reducing the* Chinese Government to submission," adds the "Hochi Shiintun," "if it should prove incapable of inaugurating a' now epoch ot progress and improvement, Japan ehould take upon herself the responsibility of undertaking the reform of China." This largo order Japan appears to not have the smallest doubt of. its capacity to carry out. Another journal, the " Kokkai," believes that in doing this it is destined to open a new chapter in the history of the East. "It is the mission of Japan, as the most civilised nationm Asia," says the " Kokkai," " to undertake the reform, not only of Corea, but also of China, and, by leading them in the rigbb direction, to resist the onward inarch of tho aggressive Powers of the Weet." The "Fiji Shimpo," another metropolitan journal of Japan, says that China ought to have been more civilised than Japan, from having been trading with European nations long before Japan was opened to foveign intercourse, and homilises, therefore, on the unfitnesa of the Colestial. " But the course of events," it adds, " no longer permits the Chinese to indulge their Conservative tendencies ; and even if they bo incnpablo of spontaneous exertion, their regeneration will be undertaken by force applied from outside." This interest in the welfare and reformation of China on the parb of the vernacular press of Japan is a very strong factor in the prosecution of the present war.

CHINESE AND JAPANESE.

Mr Douglas Sladen, in a recent: uumber of " St. James's Gazette," wrote as follows on the Chinese and Japanese nations:— " The Japanese, though inferior in physical strength, are much more courageous than the Chinese, both in defying the perils of the sea and in defying cold steel. Slashing their enemies to pieces with their long swords, or themselves to pieces with their short sword if the day went against them (by the cheerful process known aa ' harakiri'), had been the tradition of Japanese soldiers from time immemorial to the day when they took up bayonet and Gatling. Their soldiers were all samurai, or gentlemen, whoso only occupations were figbtiDgtind writing poetry. Reading the history of Japan is like reading the 'Morfco d'Arthur.', Only the Japanese knight introduced into real life the Quixotic theories of chivalry ; and when he could no longer livo with grace promptly killed himself, regardless of the disabilities io inflicted on hiiS family, which were probably established to prevent suicide becoming too universal. Such a people, however, rests under a disadvantage when pitted against a practical nation like China.' Its national pride would forbid its employing the red-haired barbarian who can 'account for' so many Asiatics; while the Chinaman might gleefully send a telegram to a Chiuose head centre in Singapore or Australia, where there are hundreds of white daredevils willing to go to the devil in any mortal way if they are well enough paid. There are only two points on which the Japanese and Chinese agree—their hatred of foreigners and their contempt for Christianity. And even in these pleasing particulars they have their differences. For the Japanese hates the Englishman more than any other foreigner, and the Chinaman likes him better. On the other band, of all nations the English are the most impatient of Japanese arrogance, and have to bear the responsibility of blocking treaty-revision until the Japanese courts afford a genuine security for the persons and business transactions of foreigners, the Germans and Americana having temporized by sayine that they will consent whenever the English do. *

" As to religion, the Japanese assume an air of amused tolerance,, and try Christianity in a light-hearted eorb of way. A Japanese will try anything until something: more interesting coraeß along. The chief bribe the missionaries can offer to either is learning English. The coveted post of hotel-waiter or station-master, and a hundred other easy and honourable employments are open to the native who can talk English—especially in Japan, where names of stations, railway tickets, postage stamps, and everything elEe are printed in English, a3 well as Japanese. The youthful Jap or Pigtail therefore attends the missionary school till he Unowa enough English to become a waiter. There is a capital ' chestdud' told in Shanghai of a missionary's mosfc promising convert suddenly forsaking him. The missionary met and asked him why he did not come any more. ' Me savee enough In-gil-is now; me no care aboub Amelilcan man Jesus Ki-lit-se.' Nothing will convince the practical-minded Chinese that the founder of Christianity was not an American. They are sure that the Americans would not take so much trouble aboub it) if he were not."