The Duty of Citizenship. 



A PRACTICAL EXAMPLE FROM JAPAN. 



We feel profoundly that in this country there is a distinct and ever-increasing tendency amongst 

 those who enjov the privileges of citizenship in the British Empire to demand more and more rights, and 

 to ignore more and more completely that there exist duties as well as advantages. No nation can remain 

 truly great whose citizens consistently not only ignore their duties, but largely ignore the fact that 

 duties exist. An inhabitant of any country, enjoying rights and privileges for which others have worked, 

 is the absolute negation of a citizen if he does not also recognise his duties and endeavour to fulfil 

 them. We give below a striking example of a nation where the duties of citizenship are real and 

 r.-:dlv fulfilled. In a future number we will endeavour to vindicate the broad lines of duty which even 

 the less ardent British citizen should follow from his cradle to his grave. 



A SPIRIT of fervent patriotism has always been every man, woman, and child is ready and proud to 

 one of the most highlv prized treasures of the share the task, it is not to be wondered at that remark- 

 T ».o „^t;«n ir,i:,r.:,n nMtrinti^m is thp able rcsults are achieved. 



SPIRIT of fervent patriotism has always been 

 one of the most highly prized treasures of the 

 Japanese nation. In Japan patriotism is the 

 corner-stone of the national existence, it is the 

 flame illuminating every heart from palace to farmer's 

 hut, and providing the motive power for all national 

 ution. It is by no means our intention to compare the 

 national efficiency of Japan with that of other nations ; 

 our object is simply to give examples from various sides 

 of national life in that country which demonstrate 

 the advantageous effect of a universal and practical 

 patriotism. Whether a nation which invariably places 

 the State before the individual is superior to one in 

 which the individual lakes precedence of the State, it 

 1^ not our intention to discuss, but certainly the causes 

 which have enabled that obscure country of some 

 forty years ago to become one of the first Powers of 

 the world to-day arc worthy of every consideration. 

 It is of value to deal with those causes, with that living 

 thread which has bound together in closest union the 

 whole national policy of that realm, and make tangible 

 the working of its methods which have resulted in 

 uch proficiency. This thread is to be found in the 

 earnest, thinking, and eminently practical patriotism 

 of the people of Japan, for the love of the Japanese 

 ti)r their country is a real, active force, which is shown 

 in every action, and whii'h colours all the national 



• levelopment. Ask a Japanese whether he would be 

 prepared to sacrifice him.self and his career for his 



• ountry's good, and without hesitation he will answer 

 m the affirmative. It does not need consideration, it 

 i> instinctive in every Japanese, for to the Japanese 



NOT THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT THE NATION. 



Self-sacrifice for the good of the State, without any 

 hope for self-advancement, is the dominant note of 

 the people. Keenly and profoundly as they look 

 toward their future and their prosperity — the future of 

 their family and their nation — they cling still more 

 keenly and more delicately to their past — the tradition 

 of their forefathers and their nation. They always 

 look ahead in search for something higher than their 

 present condition for their descendants. Their present 

 welfare and happiness is nothing to them when com- 

 pared with an illustrious past and a great future for 

 their family and their nation. 



'J'hus looking forward to their future, they constantly 

 strive to mark out " the grand policy for a century to 

 come." This is a rather high-sounding phrase, but 

 when we examine their history we always find it 

 underlying their national movements— social, religious, 

 and political— because the Japanese from time imme- 

 morial have shown the peculiar characteristic of 

 marking out what they will do for the future. In 

 order to establish this grand policy they always study 

 tlic problem with a far-reaching for^'sight. This trend 

 of mind is the characteristic of the race. When they 

 contemplate a great problem for national affairs they 

 never think of themselves, but always look forward 

 through the labyrinths of the future to find out the 

 surest way to attain their ultimate aim and goal. 

 According to [apanese notions, compared to this suc- 



atriolism is part of their life, not, as with us, a thmg ,.p^^(ui policvfor the future, the present welfare and 



part. The Japanese patriotism, with its resulting ' 



iride of country, demands national efficiency in every 

 epartment of the nation, and since this demand is 



ba<ked by the whole and unilerl force of the entire 

 po|)iilation. national effiiien'cy is no mere lormula. 

 empty save of theories. National efficiency can never 

 he achieved without national solidarity. Where every 

 citizen, however humble, Is determined, not only to be 

 rfficient for his counlry's sake, but to sacrifice hims''lf 

 if neccisary to secure that national elViciency. and 

 >\liir'" nil ■""■ \<'is is Ii'ft tfi liiMf nil the skri- . but 



happiness of themselves dwindles into nothingness. 



\ LIVING AND SENTIENT REALITY. 



In jap.m there is no mere chance collection of indi- 

 viduals speaking the .same language; the Japanc.sc 

 natiun is a living and sentient reality, throbbing \yitli 

 all the life and vigour of the millions of himian lieing^ 

 within the isl.md shores, and directed in one common 

 direction. In Japan there exists no distinction between 

 the individual and the State— whoever attacks tin 

 State at talks e.ich anrl every Japanese subject. Tin 



I 



