Manawatu Herald. [Established Ang. 27, 1904.] THURSDAY, SEPT., 22, 1904. The New Japan.

Manawatu Herald, 22 September 1904, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. [Established Ang. 27, 1904.] THURSDAY, SEPT., 22, 1904. The New Japan.

A praiseworthy desire on the part of the more highly educated classes in Japan to explain to the peoples of Great Britain and America more particularly what are the sentiments and aims of their own nation, both in the time present and in that which is to come, is prompting their man

of letters to address themselves to the Anglo-Saxon world through its own press. Count Okrnna does so in the pages of the “ Monthly Review,” where he tells us tha. ' ! own race, which is, like the Bril an amalgam of many races, fr in the west, south and north, has, from time immemorial, been always disposed to mingle with other nations ; and that it has ever contained within itself the germs of liberalism, and has never condemned the customs, laws, religion or literature of other peop'es. On the contrary, it ao cepted those of China, when brought to it by the Koreans, Buddhism and Confucianism having met with the widest toleration. When Xavier commenced his missionary work in Japan, in the middle of the sixteenth century, he was heartily welcomed, and “ bad the Portuguese missionaries confined their energy to religious enterprises only Japan Oottld easily have been transformed into a Christian country.” Enjoying an immunity from foreign invasion for 2500 years, Japan “ naturally has no prejudice against other nations, and consequently its nationalism has no narrow selfish meaning,” and this war has been forced upon, and not sought by it, so that “it is a purely defensive one. When it is concluded,” observes the Cbttnt, “ the whole world Will be surprised to see, as after the war with China, that not a trace of enmity nr ftny ill feeling exists towards our temporary enemy. Not even towards the Russians shall we cease to possess the feeling of amity which comes from confidence in our own strength, and from the fact that through 2500 years of our history we have never known a defeat ; and as in the past, so in the future, it will be our sole guide, in our efforts to attain a high stage of western civilisation.”