THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1907. THE PATRIOTISM OF JAPAN.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8412, 29 April 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1907. THE PATRIOTISM OF JAPAN.

Patriotism, if the word is used in the Western sense, is totally inadequate to cover all that it implies to a Japanese mind, writes Mr Archibald K. Colquhoun, in the Monthly Review. Taken in the Japanese sense, itmay well be regarded as a religion, since it possesses the essentials of any true religion—the recognition of supreme power controlling the affairs of marl, the practice of certain rites of prayer and praise, and conformity with rules of life. Patriotism means loyalty not in any limited sense, but to the family (dead and living), to the clan or community, and to the State as the larger family. It covers a range of obligations which constitute an unwritten, but binding code of morals. It involves acquiescence in the ethical code of the "wajr," without which no patriot can hope to be a worthy son of his country. At the same time it carries with it that sense of moral responsibility, not only for himself, but for the State of which he is a unit, which is such'an extraordinary inspiration to the patriot, and inspires him to such heights of self-sacrifice. The lives spent in the pi'actice of patriotism do not always lie in the more showy paths of personal bravery. They are to be seen in the class-room, in the factory, in the Government office, in

every department of modern life and work where the modern Japanese is striving, without hope of personal reward, pecuniary or otherwise, to urge forward the developme nt of his country. The genuine nature of this inspiration, the lofty character of its ideal cannot be denied; but the whole fabric res ts on a foundation of semimythical beliefs and antiquated social customs which will now have to stand the shock of contact and rivalry with the forces of democracy. Japan has deliberately adopted a course which commits her to competition with Western nations, and competition is a cruel master. The ethical basis of Japanese life must be shaken by it, and the conditions it imposes destroy for ever the ancient civilisation founded on mutual responsibility and forbearance. The ' extremes of poverty and wealth *nd | the other disquieting and inevitable accompaniments of advanced indusi trialism are already making their appearance. The most dangerous disintegrating factor, however, will be the doctrine of |individualism, and it remains to be seen whether the peculiar form of patriotism in Japan, which makes it synonymous with religion, can be adjusted to make it fit in with this essentially Western and highly infectious doctrine.

THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION,

That eternal question, the half-holi-day question, is again causing trouble throughout the land, more or less, and it will continue to do so unless Parliament displays in connection with the matter a little more backbone than it has done in previous years. A deputation of New Plymouth shopkeepers recently waited on the Hon. J. Carroll, and the Ministerial reply was to the effect that whatever might be the principle of Parliament's legislation, the objective was never intended to be tyrannical. Quite so; and the Minister might have' said with equal truth that when enacting the compulsory half-holiday legislation Parliament did not have in view the creation of a great amount of unnecessary friction, and, had Mr Carroll really wanted to be very candid, he might have explained that the supine attitude of Parliament must be considered largely responsible for the unfortunate friction that occurs every now and then. Of course, there are some employers who are opposed to a half-holiday on any day of the week —"there's a black sheep in every flock"—but the fact of the matter really is that 'since the compulsory half-holiday has been tried both employers and employed have benefited by it, and, we think, that employers generally would be quite as much opposed to doing away with the half-holiday, as employees would be were any suggestion of the kind made. What is required is regulation, and where communities cannot agree as to what day in the week to decide upon, Parliament should provide a remedy whereby their minds will be made up for them. Of course, no half-holiday can be universally observed; there are exceptions to the best of rules,'but aiji improvement on the present state of affairs could easily be effected. It would, probably, cause a good deal of dissatisfaction if one and the same day in the week on which to observe the half-holiday were the law throughout the land, but the absurdity and the inconvenience caused thereby of some business places in a town closing on one day in the week and other places on another day should be put an end to. Each community or district, it wouid probably be found better if districts could be arranged, should observe their half-holiday on the\ same day in the week. i

"THE NORTHERN APPROACH."

That portion of the main road, which is known as "the Northern approach" is once more in a most disgraceful condition, and furnishes a striking example of the patience of the public generally. Day after day a largje number of people are- put to inconvenience, to say the least, owing to the almost impassable nature of the road, and yet there is no strong outburst of feeling against the local authorities who not only allow such a state of affairs to continue, but do not seem disposed to make any effort to effect an improvement. How long, we may ask, is the Northern approach question going to drag on? An improvement must be effected some day. In order to allow public opinion a good long time in which to make its influence felt, let us say that an improvement will be effected ten years hence, but why not now? Is the problem so complicated, so intricate, so extraordinarily unfathomable that absolutely nothing can be done? If it is claimed that this is the position of affairs we have yet to be convinced of the fact. We believe that a vigorous agitation continued for any. length of time would result satisfactorily. If some prominent resident, or residents, at Lansdowne were to take the matter up with a little energy, or with what is commonly known as "go," the Northern approach question—great as it is—might be solved. Masterton residents would certainly sympathise and co-operate with Lansdowne, and a united effort but, taking

warning from the fate of Mr Dombey, let it be an effort—would possibly result in success being achieved.