ABSTRACT
In the backward political condition of Asia, which accurately reflects the want of political aptitude in its peoples, the lack of effective organization deprives its great mass of population of the power of effective initiative. Limiting her function to a load of inertia, of passive resistance to change, which is, indeed, no contemptible factor in the evolution of the future, but against which no immediate provision is necessary. There remains to consider Japan, the importance of whose part is evident, because she is the one nation, Asiatic in genius as in position, which by efficiency of action, internal as well as external, has established and maintained its place as a fully equipped member of the commonwealth of states, under recognized international law.
