The Vitality of the Yellow Race
January 20, 1906
Summary
The Japanese, “a branch of the yellow race,” make huge advancements globally, through its empire, military, and care for the sick. In fact, the race is “more vigorous than caucasians” because “it flourishes in all climates.”
Transcription
Vitality of Yellow Race
More vigorous than caucasians it flourishes in all climates
Before the foundations of Rome were laid there was a homogeneous people dwelling in China with a form of government and no mean degree of civilization. Rome flourished for 11 centuries and became the empire of the western world, then decayed and passed away and her civilization became the heritage of others. But China remains as a united empire to this day. In this marvelous continuity in the past lies the promise of the future.
It took the nations of Europe 2,000 years to advance from barbarism to their present position. It took the Japanese, a branch of the yellow race, a generation to adopt and apply all the best results of this long struggle. We are told that when the present emperor of Japan was a boy the sort of training that was supposed to fit him for the part he was to be allowed to take in the government of his country was making artificial flowers. He is only now just over middle age, yet he rules as a constitutional monarch over an empire with which the most advanced and most powerful empire of the west was glad to form an alliance as with an equal. His navy has driven the Russian flag from the China seas. On land the tactics and strategy, the endurance, self-sacrifice and bravery, the care for the wounded in the field and the splendid hospital arrangement of the Japanese army are the admiration of the civilized world.
In the world’s history there is nothing like the advances of Japan in the last generation. We see some of the results of the adoption of the civilization of the west by 30,000,000 of the yellow race. Will anyone who really knows him venture to say that the Chinaman is less well equipped mentally and physically?
More vigorous than caucasians it flourishes in all climates
Before the foundations of Rome were laid there was a homogeneous people dwelling in China with a form of government and no mean degree of civilization. Rome flourished for 11 centuries and became the empire of the western world, then decayed and passed away and her civilization became the heritage of others. But China remains as a united empire to this day. In this marvelous continuity in the past lies the promise of the future.
It took the nations of Europe 2,000 years to advance from barbarism to their present position. It took the Japanese, a branch of the yellow race, a generation to adopt and apply all the best results of this long struggle. We are told that when the present emperor of Japan was a boy the sort of training that was supposed to fit him for the part he was to be allowed to take in the government of his country was making artificial flowers. He is only now just over middle age, yet he rules as a constitutional monarch over an empire with which the most advanced and most powerful empire of the west was glad to form an alliance as with an equal. His navy has driven the Russian flag from the China seas. On land the tactics and strategy, the endurance, self-sacrifice and bravery, the care for the wounded in the field and the splendid hospital arrangement of the Japanese army are the admiration of the civilized world.
In the world’s history there is nothing like the advances of Japan in the last generation. We see some of the results of the adoption of the civilization of the west by 30,000,000 of the yellow race. Will anyone who really knows him venture to say that the Chinaman is less well equipped mentally and physically?
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Lower Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Emma Roberts
Citation
“The Vitality of the Yellow Race,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed October 9, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/142.