Hawaii Holomua, Volume II, Number 48, 13 November 1894 — UNJUST IGNORANCE. [ARTICLE]

UNJUST IGNORANCE.

The World And Japan. Tbe Stnr, a sbort while »go, imlolged in several severe attacks on tbe Japanese j>eople and Japan generaily. The natiou was eall semi-civi!ized and semi-bar-barous, and tbe Star editor adopted a condescending and snperci iious attitude to tbe representatives of tbat most progressive folk in the Eastern Hemisphere. Verv few indeed are the people who tōday know the true standing and tbe civilization of tho Empire of the Rising Sun. Most ot us bave probably entertained ideas similur to tbose advanced in the Star, but most of us have folt the very uocertain gronnds ou whieh wo wero standing, and refrained froin exprossing opinious lhut might disclose our ignoranco of the subject. In 1803 Lord Palmerston said in reforence to Schleswig-Hol-stein, tbo Dauish provinces, whieh c»used so mueh dissensiou nud war. that “ouly two me% in Europe knew tbe true situatiou of these proviuces to tbe motberIand. Oue is myself and tbe other is u professor in Kiel. Ihe Iatter is unfortunately dead; and 1 bave forgotten all about tbe subject” And the position of most people in regard to Japan, and the Japanose—Korean—Cbiuese condict is about the same. The Star is no exception, but ratber represents tbe mle. A prominent Japauese gentleman, who resents the false state ments »gainst hia country has Iaid before us a volume titled “Commontanes On The Constitution Of The Erapire Of Japan.” The books whieh also contains the constitntion of the Eropire, is one of the raost interesting works, we have read on constitutions and groat knowledge eau be gnined from it, in regnrd to the eonstitutional govorument of Japau, and to the true liberal sentiments of that progressive nation. The author is the famous Couut Hirobumi lto and the is trnnslated by Mr. Miyoji Ito. Whilo the author npholds tho divine rights of the Emporor as do the peoplo of Germany and other “ intelligent” countries, be interprets the constitution of his country iu a mauuer that would do honor to tbe most liberal writor of Oroat Britain. The constitution is one of tho cleverest, and bost fundamcntnl laws tbat Uio world of today ean present. Tho who fraraed it and who thoroughly enforce the observauce of it, aud obedience to it are ccrtainly not semi civil?.ed or 8omi-barbarian. They may be theorists or evon Utopian>. they may be duappointed somc day in their fight for popnlar rights e o m b i n e d with the wclfare of the »tate, bm thoy *re oertainly raor» civilized, more iutelligeut and more libcral thao the men who aat together in convention. and framed ihe constit;ition of Mr. Dole’s republie. Let us hear no more of ihe barbarian Japauese.