The Japanese as an Illustration
We come to the Japanese as an illustration of unification of the races, because they have put themselves before the world as entitled to consideration as much as any other race. Inasmuch as they are rapidly becoming a world power, and have the warships and guns to back up their pretensions, the nations of the earth feel justified in considering their claims.
Whence they come nobody knows, not even their own learned men. They originated somewhere in the past, but not ancient past, or they would have been heard of, but may be a cross among the Turanian tribes. They are small men and dark, which lends truth to this theory.
With their origin we have nothing to do, because their rise and progress is something men now living have witnessed and stand amazed at its suddenness and at the height to which these small men have attained.
They are a brilliant example of what education and civilization backed by intense persistence and energy will accomplish in taking advantage of opportunity.
They were given an opportunity to enter the ranks of civilization, but they refused the offer. Then, trade and commerce urged and then forced it upon them, and seeing that they had to progress, they took hold of opportunities, and now, never let the smallest opportunity pass by them. When an opportunity does not present itself they go to meet it or make one to suit themselves. They are giving the world a bad scare by their persistence and clamors for equality with every other nation and peoples, due, perhaps, to their newness as a nation and the probability that they may relapse into barbarism should they get the upperhand with restraint removed.
The Story of a Rising Race Told in Pictures
PHOTOGRAPHED FROM LIFE
Special Collection B RELIGIOUS
PHILANTHROPIC
EDUCATIONAL
FRATERNAL
Every man who has not had a very good or saintly past, is regarded with suspicion when he joins the ranks of the good and pious. It is not credited that such a man can become good all at once, and the belief spreads that his reform is a mere makeshift, a delusion, and an opportunity for gain.
The Japanese have not been tested by any of the conditions that have made the civilized races what they are as to reliability after centuries of experience, and the only thing to be observed is, that they were found first as a barbaric tribe, or semibarbaric, with the most hideous manners and customs, and a religion that was mere idol worship.
If the first American admiral who forced western civilization upon them through trade and commerce could see them now at the bargain counter of opportunities, he would be amazed.
Their arts and sciences are marvels of beauty; their home life when they are not fighting is amid a bower of roses, and they can imitate anything as to mechanical workmanship from a toy dog to a complicated man-of-war. They make everything the civilized men make, and sell them for a pittance. They know what they want and they get it or declare war.
Never did such a race of men exist since history began, and it has sprung up into prominence within about half a century, without being deep or profound, and having a character that is so dubious that one never knows whether he is your friend or enemy.
While studying this race of small men, one is almost tempted to urge every man behind in this world’s favors, to do as the Japanese. It is indeed an incentive to wake up and go ahead.