12 
of the new army yielded in nothing to that of the ancient feudal troops. 
Its ardour, even fanaticism for the profession of arms, was always displayed 
even in the exercises of peace. These sentiments were manifested in 'night 
marches where the greater, the difficulties the greater the pleasure in overcoming 
them. 
In 1882 the Mikado addressed to his army a proclamation of which a portion 
is here given :— 
“ All those who serve in the army ought to regard as their first duty fidelity to 
their country * without patriotism, however well versed in the arts 
and sciences, soldiers would only be puppets. If they are not faithful, troops 
even well organized resemble at the moment of action flights of birds. Do not 
allow yourselves to be carried away by public opinion and do not mix yourselves 
up in political questions; practice only fidelity to country, which is your first 
duty, remembering that duty is heavier than the mountains and that death is 
lighter than a feather .” ' * * “ In the second place a soldier should rigorous¬ 
ly observe discipline . Except in cases where the exigences of service demand 
the exercise of authority, all will endeavour to treat one another with deference 
and kindness, so that officers and soldiers may be united in the cause of their 
Sovereign. Every member of the army who, forgetting discipline, destroys 
that union, either by a want of respect for his chiefs, or by an absence of kindness 
to his inferiors, would only be a poison for the army and a criminal in the eye of 
the nation.” * “ The third virtue is courage. If in all time this virtue 
has been held in such honour in our Empire that not one of our subjects has been 
able to live without it, how then shall soldiers, whose mission it is to measure 
themselves with the enemy on the field of battle, how can they forget even for an 
instant that they ought to possess it. But there are two degrees in this virtue : 
small courage and great courage (rashness and bravery). One could not in fact 
call brave a man with an ardent and turbulent temperament. A soldier should 
always act with reflection, watch over his character and well weigh all his acts. 
Do his duty without despising his enemy however weak, without fearing him 
however strong : such is real courage, * A soldier who on every oc¬ 
casion loves to make a parade of his strength, winds up by being detested by the 
people and regarded as a wolf.” * ' * * “ In the fourth place soldiers 
should observe scrupulously all honour aud respect for their sworn word * • 
• • Without these virtues, a soldier cannot remain a single day in the ranks 
of the army.” 
Einally, the 5 th virtue which the Emperor orders to be practised is temperance. 
“ Intemperance once introduced into an army spreads like a contagious disease 
which attacks even the strongest men.” 
In the late war, though the Chinese were evidently enemies little to be feared 
by the Japanese, the latter, as we know, had many occasions for the display of 
their high military qualities. It has been stated that several officers voluntarily 
killed themselves, because they believed they had not sufficiently well done their 
duty. One notable case was that of an officer who was hindered by indisposition 
from being present at the engagements which preceded the taking of Port Arthur, 
and who died by his own hand as being dishonoured. 
In terminating this sketch we must ask ourselves if the military qualities which 
Japan possesses to such a high degree are not likely to disappear, or at least 
sensibly diminish, in proportion as the troops, instead of being recruited among 
the old Samourais, are drawn from all classes of the population. The future will 
show. But if it is to be otherwise, if the Japanese army is always to be 
animated by the same spirit, it is clear that when Japan has developed her military 
$nd naval strength in proportion to her forty millions of inhabitants—on that day, 
