Page:Japan by the Japanese (1904).djvu/618
which is contrary to our laws. With these facts in view, one might even say that we, as a nation, are almost too tolerant. At all events, I am of opinion that if the British continue to regard us as brothers we shall get on very well.
People speak of the Japanese as being brave in war and fighting well. Perhaps it is true, but we should be sorry if we were considered only as a fighting people. We aspire to be as energetic and as clever in other branches of human culture as in war; in fact, our endeavour has always been directed to that end.
The general tendency in Japan is that the more one is versed in the Western ideas, the more chance one has of becoming a prominent figure in all directions. Especially is this so in politics and official occupations, and even in the army and navy. It amounts to the same thing as saying that the brain, as it were, of Japan, which regulates the wheel and the motion of the empire, is and will continue to be animated by the Western modes of thought and reason. And I may also add that such a state of mind will make a nation feel her international responsibilities the more, and she will never allow herself to become a kind of wanton brigand, or act with a sudden outburst as if she were one of the untrained nomadic hordes.
Some fear that the Japanese soldiers might become restless and unruly after achieving great success over their formidable foe. But of that there is no fear. Our army is founded upon the conscription system; the soldiers are patriotic and fight gallantly when ordered to advance, but they are not bellicose by nature, rather preferring peace, and, moreover, perfect order and discipline prevails among them. It was just one day after the rupture of diplomatic relations with Russia that I met with General Count Katsura, the Premier of Japan, when he told me that during that long-protracted negotiation with Russia not one of our military or naval officers or men had come to him to disturb him with their opinions on diplomacy or politics. This will perhaps give you some idea of what are the characteristics of our army. It appears also that some apprehensions are being entertained that some kind of amalgamation might be effected between China and Japan which might cause danger to the Western Powers. But I am far from believing this. China is a very fine country. The Chinese are not a warlike or expanding nation. China is, and has always been, and will be, a good market for all civilized nations so long as she is left undisturbed and her integrity is respected. The characteristics and ideas in China and Japan are in general of such marked difference that it is a matter of impossibility to amalgamate these two nations, nor does Japan ever entertain such ambitious ideas. All that Japan wishes is to maintain a peaceful