'YE fourth number, published on the 20th of May last, of the English edition of the Kokumin-no-Toma is an unusually interesting one, and any one in China who is at all seriously interested in the course of thought and politics in Jupan would do well to subscribe to this magazine. 'I'he frontispiece to the fourth number is a very lifelike woodcut portrait of Yokoi Shdnan, a retainer of the Kumamoto clan, born in 1809, who was one of those who sowed the seed of the Restoration, was appointed to a high position by the new Government in 1868, and was assassinated by reactionaries in 1869, The leading article, unsigned, is on "The Formosan Problem," the writer pointing out that the development of the island, which it may be confidently assumed will now proceed very rapidly, will be of great concurrent benefit to Hongkong, Away, and Manila; the writer adding "in conclusion, that while, of course, we desire the material progress of Formosa, what we desire most of all is the spiritual development of its people. It is our duty to guide them, since they are to be Japanese subjects forever, by the power of religion and education, and to instil into their hearts the patriotic spirit of Yamato." Yamato, by the by, is the central point of Japanese legendary history.
After this. the well-known writer on economics, Mr. R. P. Porter, Editor of the Cleveland World, US.A., contributes an article on "The Industrial Progress of Japan." He notes the strong contrast between the hundreds of tall chimneys which darken the air at Osaka, and the crude, almost prehistoric, implements with which men and women are labouring in the very shadow of these chimneys. He notes vouring to ensure a high, standard of quality being maintained in Japanese manufactures, the neglect of this being one of Japan's commonest faults. He dwells on the necessity for factory legislation, and, as becomes a good American Republican, urges Japan to protect her own industries, 'I'he prosperity of the United States, he says, is largely due to Protection; but he omits to add that the prosperity of Great Britain is largely due to Free 'I'rade, The next article is by Ozaki Yukiwo, one of the most celebrated statesmen of the Opposition, a conspicuous member of the Diet, and Editor of the well-known Hochi Shimbun. His article is headed "Our Ambition," and he begins by saying that Japan's cherished ambition is "to become the light of Asia, and to spread the benefit cent influence of civilisation over tha nations of the Far East, She has, however, always been misunderstood by the governments and peoples of Europe and America." These governments and peoples refused to recognise Japan's real rank; they looked on her as a sort of toy-country; "they considered her a dependency of China, and even associated her in their minds with Corea, It is the result of this misunderstanding that the nations of Europe and America so long refused to revise their treaties, and thus aroused to such a degree the indignation of the' Japanese people." The war with China produced the new misconception that Japan was a warlike nation fond of military glory and desirous of conquest, This led to the new Triple Alliance depriving Japan of one of the fruits of her victories, which was partly due to the suspicion that there was a secret treaty between England and Japan. Now there is a misapprehension that there is a mutual understanding between Japan and Russia with regard to Corea; and many people in England are now urging an understanding between England and Russia, because ati intimate relationship between Russia and Japan would be greatly injurious to the interests of England in the East. In this confusion it is well to explain Japan's true position and ambition, says Mr. Ozaki.
The Japanese people are notan aggressive but a very peaceful people. It is a peculiar characteristic of them that they find their happiness la a life of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.