JAPAN

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 45, 19 January 1912, Page 17

JAPAN

From a political point of view the present tendencies in Japan iiro for tin: oompleto deuiocratisation of the rigltfs of the people. Though ite progress might not be such as to satisfy all the young enthusiastic hope for, still thoro is no mistaking that the things are tending in the right directions. The condition of economic thraldom of the masses is intolerable, and there is nothing more important at the present time than to preach, the gospel of freedom and of economic emancipation. But here the- people arc so backward in recognising any right in thornsolves, the upper classes are so clever and cunning in keeping down tho masses; second, tho'persecution by tho government—though tliis may be only ■i temporary reaction of the Kotoku .■•a-si' , —is such that nothing can be donein this direction ; third, the distinction between the rich and the poor in Japan is not so pronounced as in America and Europe ; fourth, the people are so accustomed to oppression and abject condnions 'if existence that they do not complain of their miserable lot, evfui though tiie rich may grow richer at Uifir j fittii, I'll-. , p<'O[i!*', because of their traditional sentiment of loyalty to their ruler, shun tho movement for their own emancipation. Such being tho case, their awakening cannot be expected for some time to come, and the conditions of the lower classes will grow from bad to worse. It is to be hoped that the comrades will remember this condition of Japan and consider the ways and means for the liberation of tlifl Japanese working-classes, and for the advancement of their happiness. — •industrial Worker."