--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Ensign, Horace S. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 8 number: 6 published: 1905-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Horace S. Ensign, "The Yellow Peril as Seen in Japan," *Improvement Era* 8, no. 6 (April 1905): 431–435.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0806unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0806unse start_page: 431 end_page: 435 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1905-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0806unse publication_year: 1905 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1905, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Yellow Peril as Seen in Japan THE "YELLOW PERIL" AS SEEN IN JAPAN. BY HORACE S. ENSIGN, PRESIDENT OF THE JAPAN MISSION OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OP LATTER-DAY SAINTS. On May 16, 1904, a conference of the representatives of the various religious sects of Japan was held in Tolrio, the purpose of which is defined in the following: The war in which Japan is now engaged is one on the issue of which depends the welfare of the empire and the peace of the East. At such a time it is, therefore, our duty as a people not only to be one among ourselves, in the defense of our common rights, but also to be governed by such principles as are worthy of an enlightened nation. Thus also shall we best further the purpose declared in the imperial rescript: "To promote the pacific progress of our empire in civilization; to strengthen the ties which bind it in friendship to other states; and to secure the permanent peace of the East." Since the outbreak of war, the resolute attitude of the nation and the success that has attended the operations of the navy, have called forth, in both Europe and America, many expressions of sympathy. But it is a matter of much regret to us that there are those abroad who are seeking to alienate from Japan the feelings of the West, by representing the war as simply one between races, and in some cases as a conflict in which Russia stands for Christianity and Japan for Buddhism. Equally, also, is it a cause of regret that instances are reported of an exhibition of an anti-foreign spirit on the part of narrow-minded men in Japan; and of a readiness to make use of what presents itself to them as an opportunity to advance, by means injurious to others, the interests of their own religious faith. These facts lay a special responsibility upon the representatives of men of all religions in the empire. While it is the duty of all such to guide the people in the matters of religion and to inculcate love of country in a manner accordant with their own 432 . IMPROVEMENT ERA. faiths and consciences, it is also the duty of all to cultivate the great principles of peace and love, not in the interest of any one creed or cult, but rather for the benefit of all men. More particularly they should endeavor to make it clear abroad that the war is not a conflict of race against race or religion against religion, but one entered into solely for the rightful interests of Japan; aiid at home, while every proper means to bind the-whole nation together as one man in its contest to secure an honorable peace, they should be forward in efforts to discountenance any spirit of extreme nationalism or of animosity between religions. For the accomplishment of these ends, and to afford the representatives of the several sects an opportunity to express themselves, the meeting was held. The Rev. Mr. Seiram Ouchi (Buddhist), during his remarks, said: The "yellow peril" is applicable to the Mongols, and not to the Japanese. The Japanese,having assimilated Western civilization, are not a good representative of any "yellow peril,'' while the Russians, being the descendants of the ancient Mongols, should be feared by the powers. In connection with the above and with the numerous articles that have been written on the "yellow peril," the following, which is from the pen of Mr. Jehei Hashiguchi, a man of note and influfluence here, and which was recently published in the Taiyo (The Sun), the oldest and best magazine in Japan, published in the interest of international peace and prosperity, is very interesting: When a race is completely dominated by another, the former must necessarily suffer humiliation if they refuse to submit to the dictation of the latter. Thus the Poles, the Finns, and other small races, are under constant humiliation at the hand of the dominant Russians. Not that they are undergoing physical pains, but they are subject to mental tortures. The American Indians have not been on the whole physically maltreated. On the contrary, the Indians of today are provided for their tribal existence by the United States government. But, to be taken care of by the intruding races, while one's own fatherland is run by the intruders at one's expense, is a thing that no race of men of independent spirit can endure. The Indians are not wholly devoid of this spirit of independence. So, occasionally, they make demonstrations of hostility against the dominant races. The talk of the yellow peril a few years ago, started by the German emperor, is now again revived by the association of ideas on account of the war between Russia and Japan. It is revived by the Rus- THE "YELLOW PERIL" AS SEEN IN JAPAN. sians and the pro-Russian press, who jump at the conclusion that the Japanese victory will be a yellow peril for the European races, because the Japanese are yellow men. This broad, general conclusion is open to criticism. But it must be, nevertheless, admitted, that what the Russians and the pro-Russian press vaguely apprehend, is not altogether without foundation. There will be peril for the Russians if the Japanese triumph, let the peril be yellow or white or any other color. History repeats itself; and the record the Mongolians have made in the thirteenth century, in spreading the yellow peril among the European races, is a sufficient reason for the latter to apprehend the recurrence of this yellow peril in the twentieth century. The manners and customs of a race change with time, but the inherent characteristics of the race will never do so. So, whereas the Mongolians of the thirteenth century terrorized the Europeans with barbarous methods, they, beaded by the Japanese, will repeat today those acts with civilized methods. This will be inevitable, because the struggle for existence is the law of nature. Besides, the prejudices between the Mongolian and Caucasian races are very deeply rooted in the hearts of both parties, so that they are very much in the way of any mutual understanding. They are largely concealed; but, nevertheless, they exist. The sympathy of the Occidentals for the Orientals, vice versa, is a superficial thing. Both the races are masked on this point. But this mask will disappear just as soon as the serious consideration of the racial differences is brought home. For instance, the sympathy for the Japanese, no matter how loudly clamored, is not based on a ground other than that the Japs are small and plucky, while the Russians are big and strong. The American people are looking at the present life and death struggle of the Japanese against the Russians as if they were enjoying the show of a prize fight. The champion prize fighter does not receive so much sympathy and applause from the audience as does the dark horse who suddenly springs upon the stage and defeats a recognized champion. But this new champion must necessarily meet in due time the same fate as his predecessor. It is human nature to sympathize with the small and weak. But when this small and weak grows up to be big and strong, this sympathy will change to jealousy, then to hatred. And when the Japanese grow up to be so great and strong that they can defeat any one nation on the face of the globe, it is very likely that the American people, at least, will get tired of Japan and the Japanese, and even occasionally evince from their hearts hatred of their former loved ones. The hereditary racial differences will be brought home for consideration. The American people will finally recover from the fascination of the wonderful 434 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Japs. Then what shall the Japs do? Or what will they do? Will they renounce all their power and humiliate themselves for the sake of regaining the Americans' love? Most certainly not. No. On the contrary, they will say to the Americans, "Go away and sit down, while I will show you how to juggle." The Western historians are apt to assert that the Asiatic races are at the mercy of the Europeans. This assertion is nothing but a bold statement. The history of the Asiatic races dates back farther than that of the European races. In it there were many a rise and fall of one race or another. The experiences of the forefathers who at one time or another thought they were the only dominant races of the world, are recorded in the characteristics of the present Asiatics. When Japan's victory in the present struggle becomes a certainty, it will inspire her sister nations to uprise against the psychological domination by the Europeans, to which they were so long subjected. The Chinese—the seemingly incapable of progress—are nob wood nor stones, but men. When they awake from their long slumber, they will regain the prestige of their forefathers. The Koreans, the Siamese, the Hindoos, and the Fillipinos, who are at present considered to be ineligible quantities, when combined under the hegemony of the Japanese, will become formidable allies of the latter. Should all these rise and urge Japan to lead them against the European races, Japan cannot but satisfy their desire. The pitched battle between the Orient and the Occident will be unavoidable, however highly it may be desired to avoid it. Compromise will be impossible, until one side or the other yield to the superior force. On this subject the Western observers are very likely to assert that the resources of the Orient can stand no comparison with that of the Occident, and that the issue of the contest will be in favor of the latter. But unless the Orient is annihilated, at a given period in the near future, it is capable of improvement. As the Occident improved itself in an olden time, by the methods borrowed from the Orient, so the latter will today imitate its own imitator in improving itself. The Occident has already played its role long enough. It is now the Orient's time to shine. This seems to be nothing but fair play. But the struggle for supremacy is a thing that cannot be decided without the charge at the point of the bayonet. The civilized weapons upon which the Occidental races are reposing their reliance are only good when they are employed by the proper persons to use them. The elements of personal courage and of individual originality have so far proved to be of great importance on the part of the Oriental Japs. They wiW play a more important part in the future when the civilized weapons of the Occident are gener- THE "YELLOW PERIL" AS SEEN IN JAPAN. ally adopted by Japan's Oriental neighbors. The methods of producing these weapons have already been thoroughly learned by Japan. It only remains for her to develop what she has learned. The Orientals, when their sinews wax strong, under the careful nursing by Japan, will oblige Japan to lead them in invading the dominions of the Caucasian races, for the double purpose of military and civil conquests. For the military purpose, four million of troops can be raised out of China's four hundred millions. When trained by the Japanese officers, the four million Chinese troops will make an army sufficient by Itself to defeat the combined forces of the Europeans. For the civil purpose, the Japanese statesmen will be in respect all the better qualified to administer the state affairs of Europe, as well as those of Asia. The tyranny of the rulers under which the Poles, the Finns, and other small races in Europe are suffering will be a thing of the past. The political dishonesty to which the Western states are subjected will be wiped out, and the world will be brought nearer to a state of perfection for the benefit of all classes of people. Tokio, Japan.