NOTE 539 



school of Liberalism reached the same conclusions. Kant laid more stress 

 on the ethical element of solidarity, the economists on the economic and 

 non-ethical element of competition. But the ethical ideal of Adam Smith, 

 Ricardo, and J. S. MiU was similar in all respects to that of Kant. The 

 only difference would appear to have lain in the fact that Kant and Fichte, 

 less optimistic than the economists, recognised the necessity of Rechts- 

 gesetzen to protect the weaker party in the conflict ; while the economists 

 were convinced of the identity of individual and social welfare. In other 

 words, our aim was to expound the principles on which Liberalism is based, 

 not to trace their genealogy. In order to show what these principles are, 

 we quoted, on the one hand, Kant and Kchte, on the other hand Adam 

 Smith, Ricardo, J. S. Mill, and other economists of the Manchester schools. 

 Because the ethical principles of both schools are the same, it does not 

 follow that one is descended from the other. And, indeed, the object of 

 Kant's Rechtsgesetzen and of the Manchesterian doctrine of laissez-faire 

 was identical — i.e., the liberation of the individual from the tyranny of 

 the State. 



Mr. Kidd has further complained that " we are following the catch-penny 

 mood of the hour about Japanese development," and he has pointed out 

 that it is a phase of Western development, and that there would have 

 been no modem Japan without the West. We entirely agree with Mr. 

 Kidd on this latter point, and we are unable to see that we have ever 

 maintained a contrary opinion. It is evident that Japanese civilisation 

 to-day, in its external aspects, is based on the civilisation of the West. 

 The copy of the Western model has always been the avowed object of 

 the Japanese. To suppose that a country riveted to the traditions of 

 2,500 years would be able spontaneously to change the whole fa9ade of 

 its national hfe in the space of thirty years, without assistance from with- 

 out, would be to suppose a miracle ; and miracles make too great a demand 

 on the credulity of the scientist. But we should distinguish between the 

 external and internal aspects of Japanese civilisation. Mr. Kidd lays 

 undue stress on those aspects which are external. Underlying the ex- 

 pansion of industry, commerce, naval and military force, which gives so 

 typically European an aspect to modem Japan, there is the vast reserve 

 of three thousand years' traditions. " Bushido '' and the spirit it has infused 

 into the entire Japanese nation have not been modelled on the pattern of 

 Western ideals. Japan adapted itself to the necessities of the situation 

 created by the quickening of the means of transport ; it set itself to imitate 

 the Western model, because otherwise the West would have annihilated 

 Japan, which does not possess, in its size and geographical situation, the 

 force d'inertie which China is capable of opposing to Western aggression. 

 But such imitation is external, and the adaptation of Japan, the Europeam- 

 eation of Japan, was rendered possible by the integration and cohesion 

 which the Japanese nation derive from a spiritual organisation which is 

 not European, but Oriental. 



