Page:The Pacific Monthly vol. 14.djvu/459

In 1902 Great Britain announced to the world through the Anglo-Japanese Alliance that Japan had become a "world power." Less than fifty years had passed since Commodore Perry compelled Japan, "in opposition to Japanese law," to give up her policy of isolation, admitting foreigners to Japan and negotiating treaties with foreign countries. Each of these actions has had a far reaching, perhaps an inestimable, influence upon the history of mankind as well as upon Japan itself. The fortunes of America and England have thus been strangely linked together with those of Japan. Yet, a fact of greater significance, if possible, is the record of Japan during the past fifty years. Herein lies one of the wonders and surprises of civilization. Such splendid leadership and progress as that which characterized Japan during this time ha^ not been excelled in all history. When Great Britain broke her policy of isolation and entered into an alliance with Japan, the first alliance of white and yellow nations, the move was one of surprise, not so much because of the change in policy by England as the fact that Japan was selected as an ally. At that time the world had no real conception of the progress of Japan or the characteristics of her people. It is true that the war between China and Japan opened the eyes of the world to the remarkable efficiency of the Japanese army and navy, but the real awakening to the fixed purposes of Japan came to the students of warfare when the armies of the allies were fighting together in China at the time of the boxer troubles. The world was in a measure, therefore, prepared for the campaign which Japan was likely to carry out in her struggle with Russia,but even with her record before Peking as a criterion, the world was amazed at the consummate mastery of the situation which Japan has exhibited, both on land and on sea. The judgment of Great Britain in selecting Japan as an ally has, therefore, been vindicated.

What, then, is to be the ultimate mission and destiny of a nation which as a whole has shown such a remarkable grasp of the essentials and has made such stupendous progress in less than fifty years? The note of warning as to the "yellow peril" has been sounded again and again. Such a theory can be dismissed with slight consideration. That there is a certain commercial danger, however, is not to be denied. Japan is undoubtedly making great progress along commercial lines, but in the struggle for the supremacy of the Pacific she is hopelessly outclassed by America. But Japan's political interests are paramount in the Orient. Japan may well, therefore, promulgate an Asiatic Monroe Doctrine. Of all the nations on earth she is best fitted to cope with Asiatic conditions, both climatic and temperamental. That Japan would ever be so foolish as to become ambitious and attempt to secure the Philippines, as has been stated is not conceivable. American supremacy of the Pacific is, therefore, not threatened by the great Oriental empire which Japan must of necessity build up if she is to make the most of her "manifest destiny." On the other hand, the education of the vast hordes of China along western lines and the introduction of western foods will be brought about by the extension of the Japanese Empire. This means greater demand for American products, and greater possibilities for the Pacific Coast. As we see the matter, therefore, the great mission of Japan is to solve the Oriental problem of civilization and religion; of civilization, because the Japanese are best fitted of any peoples to meet the problem in a practical way and solve it for the best interests of humanity; of religion because the enlightenment of Japan and her tremendous progress means eventually the Christianization of the empire, which in turn shall mean that Christianity in Asia will receive an impetus that could be attained, perhaps, by no other means. It has been said that the mission of Japan is to appeal to the aesthetic side of men's natures, to become the beautiful, the restful spot on earth where man may have surcease from the strenuosity of life. This has even been suggested by some of the great statesmen of Japan, but it seems to us that Japan's mission is immeasurably greater, brighter, better. She has a mission to perform in the world of the Orient, just as America has had her mission to perform. That the Japanese are equal to the great task which is set before them is the verdict of all who have made even a superficial study of this remarkable nation.