color to this conclusion, especially the recent change of Government. The last cabinet was of purely Socialist composition, but maintained itself solely by the help of the Communists, though these were but ten in number. The present Government is in an exactly similar position except for one very significant consideration namely, that, on the formation of the new cabinet, an arrangement in all form was drawn up, by which the assistance of the Communists was assured, the coalition thus receiving, as it were, official recognition.

How this is regarded in Communist circles is apparent from the programme of a large meeting of Socialists lately held in Dresden, in which it was openly and officially announced that the Communist Party considered the establishment in Germany of a Soviet Republic, with Saxony as the first stage, as a legitimate and commendable object. One of the speakers expressed the opinion that the basis of bourgeois life in Saxony was so decayed that it would yield easily to Soviet methods the moment pressure was seriously applied; it was but a matter of awaiting the psychological moment. An examination of the agreement between the Saxon Socialists and the Communists shows it to contain much that is directly unconstitutional. Though the Soviet phraseology is avoided, the fact remains that the agreement calls for the execution of purely Bolshevist measures.

The Sozialdemokratischer Parlamentsdienst warns against the Soviet agencies in Germany, and says: 'Chance offered us an opportunity to glance at the books of the "Headquarters of the Communist Party in Germany" in Berlin. We read: "Expenses for the month of August: 23,750,000 marks; contribution from Moscow, 30,000,000 marks. For September, 50,250,000

marks; from Moscow, 47,500,000." German Communists appear to be pretty well taken care of by the Soviet Government.'

The German Government is naturally not blind to the danger. Not long ago the Prussian Minister of the Interior, Severing, bitterly resented the Soviet proposal to furnish certain badly disguised Communistic 'defense companies' with arms. 'We really cannot be as altruistic as all that. We cannot hold out a welcoming hand to suicide. Do the Communists believe that a Government whose duty it is to uphold law and order will be willing to furnish them the arms for its own destruction?'

PORTUGUESE STABILITY

IT has been rather the fashion to despise the Portuguese politically and to doubt the possibility of their attaining real democracy. We do not stop to think that even the young United States, with a democratic tradition of centuries behind it, could hardly have been described as a perfect republic fifteen years after the Declaration of Independence. How much less right have we to expect democratic perfection in a nation without a vestige of republicanism in all its history?

While it is almost impossible for a foreigner to understand the manoeuvres, or even the political tenets, of the many Portuguese factions, there is reason to believe that the settling-down process has begun in the ancient country. It is significant, for example, that practically all of the Parliamentary groups have agreed that the present Government shall be continued in power. Another slight but wholesome sign is the founding by a group of intellectuals of a review, A Seara Nova, for the purpose of encouraging nonpartisan politics, beginning with the formation

of a coalition or nonpartisan Cabinet. Little by little this group has been joined by many influential citizens who are not of the very numerous professional politician class, and a programme was lately put forth, avoiding politics and stressing economic, financial, and educational issues. This is the second of these nonpartisan movements within a short time, that headed by Megalhaes Lima having failed on account of insufficient preparation, factional opposition, and the dislike of the President of the Republic for the rather radical programme proposed.

The programme of the present nonpartisans is also radical in character, steering a course between royalism and clericalism, and aiming at the real democratization of the country by educational means.

As in other countries, the rise in the cost of living is one of Portugal's most difficult problems, the causes being the eight-hour-day law, the rise in wages, the depreciation of currency, and profiteering, all of which have a familiar ring and must be met in a manner which accords with the peculiar conditions of the country. Portugal has a bright future. She is rich in resources, and she will advance more rapidly as soon as she puts into effect more wisely the ordinary laws of economics and learns more about the organization of industry. She needs experience — time.

Her last political act, by the way, was to ratify the two Nine-Power treaties negotiated by the Washington Armaments Conference, thus completing the approval by the respective Powers of the Conference conventions, with the single exception of France.

weekly, Die Glocke, attempts to demolish the legend of the 'stab in the back,' so dear to the German military apologist. The crux of his rather extensive article may be found in the following words:

"The legend of the "stab in the back" is now appearing in a new edition to fit the situation in the Ruhr. The original form, it will be remembered, was to the effect that the morale of our unbeaten army in the field was undermined to such an extent by treacherous intrigues at home that on that account alone, and not because of the enemy's superiority, the continuation of the war was rendered impossible and the debacle ensued. This, however, by no means resulted from any disloyal double-dealing at home, but was simply the natural consequence of a longdrawn-out war the real character of which, though insisted upon as a war of defense, could not be reconciled by the people's conscience with the continuous annexation-propaganda of the PanGermans in power. Furthermore, the fighting took place almost entirely in the enemy's territory, and was officially always reported to the people as successful. Under such circumstances, when more and more sacrifices in blood and treasure are demanded of the people, there is bound to be an unfavorable reaction; the multitude becomes impatient and refractory and longs for peace at any price. To bring this about, intrigues and plots are by no means necessary. The result develops of itself, because the germ of it exists. already.'

The writer states here very clearly the psychology of the German revolution; and, though he draws a very striking parallel with the revolt of the French against Napoleon, he might have rested his case with the above words, which show the futility of searching for outside influences.

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dea of the dificulties s of Japan. ple, between two copie in the Empire lass, or caste, called Eta bs, probably descended soacts of war or enslaved na's of ancient times. To them, d to another outcaste class, the inn, were assigned such duties as tending tombs, burying the dead, and slaughtering animals. They were originally forbidden to marry with any of the higher classes, or even to eat with them.

Although officially enfranchised in 1871, they have not yet outlived the deeply rooted repugnance with which they have been regarded for ages. Of late there has been a good deal of agitation among this class, the members of which are still regarded as pariahs, for equal treatment with other Japanese. The Japanese Advertiser of March 22 gives the following account of this situation:

'Fifty years ago, when discriminatory treatment was officially abolished, their population was approximately put at 400,000, which had become doubled by 1907. Even making some allowance for the inaccuracy of the statistics, the fact remains that the Eta population is on the increase. The Emperor Meiji, with his farsightedness, abolished all discrimination against this despised class fifty years ago, and yet the force of habit among the general public is so strong that official abolition has not made the lot of the outcastes any better.

'In schools Eta children are so despised that other children refuse to associate with them. Eta teachers are held in such abhorrence by their students that they are obliged to change

their posts constantly. In the army Eta conscripts are always treated badly by their comrades, and it is wellnigh impossible for them to become officers. Intermarriages between them and ordinary people are a matter of supreme difficulty. Nor is it easy for them to obtain employment in Government offices.

"This is certainly a state of things which demands a speedy remedy. This necessity has been felt by many people of late years, and movements have been started to put an end to this social evil.

'It is most incongruous, not to say disgraceful, that the Japanese should accord discriminatory treatment to a class which is an integral part of their own nation. We admit that the Home Office has hitherto done something to do away with this discriminatory treatment, but we regret that its efforts have been misdirected in most cases. Its efforts have been mainly directed to the reform of Eta villages, or to the improvement of the life and customs among the outcastes, to the neglect of the more important necessity of removing the prejudices of ordinary people against the class.

'It is true that there are points regarding their life and customs which call for reform, but it must be remembered that their reform will go but little way to improve the general situation, unless the prejudices and the hostile attitude of ordinary people against them are done away with. To reform the life and customs of the Eta people is important, but it is of greater importance that effective steps should be taken to correct the mistaken ideas and the inhumane treatment of the outcastes by the general public. It is the duty of the Government to see that in schools, in the barracks, and anywhere else all discriminatory treatment is done away with once and for all.'

ZOO VERSUS MENAGERIE

'A LINNET in a cage

Puts all nature in a rage!'

sang the poet Blake, and it is a wholesome sign of the times, among so many bad ones, that the world, which is beginning to recognize the rights of what we call the 'lower animals,' cares less and less to see animals and birds confined in cages. The day of the menagerie, with its rows of narrow prisoncells, is passing, and the day of the zoological park or garden, in which the captive creature enjoys at least a semblance of the surroundings of its wild life, has arrived. The famous London Zoo has just received a new superintendent in the person of Dr. G. M. Vevers, whose ideas are thus remarked upon by the Manchester Guardian:

'An Oxford Professor of Philosophy , was once well known for his tirades against the men of science who mistook classification for knowledge. His grievance is one that fortunately diminishes; and in the matter of natural history it is particularly noticeable that the old science of paper armies with Latin names is making way for a kind of knowledge that prefers the living animal to the dead specimen and brings to its study of life an imagination and emotional delight.

"The remarks made by Dr. Vevers, the newly appointed superintendent of the London Zoo, are thoroughly in keeping with the new tradition of respect for life in all its phases and conditions. He believes that the public should be attracted to the study of animal behavior, a doctrine which of course implies that the animal must have a chance to vary its actions, to move freely, and to be its true self as far as captivity allows. The shabby tiger that turns with cramped, monotonous movements in the wretched

prison-cell of a traveling menagerie might as well be a stuffed specimen as far as the public is concerned. To display its fearful symmetry it must enjoy a kinder opportunity.

"Thus in all properly conducted exhibitions of animals there is a growing tendency to reproduce the natural conditions, and above all to give shade cover and retreat from the oppression of the human eye. The beast that is seen at his best is the beast that quite often cannot be seen at all. What is aimed at is that the public should not go to gape at a peep show full of meaningless freaks and wonders, but should realize the animal as a sentient fellow creature. A good deal might be gained by the institution of trained guides in zoological gardens, as in museums and galleries, with the object of creating for the sightseers a fuller vision of the web of life and all its intricate adjustments.

'After all, the only justification for keeping wild animals in captivity is the educational value of such a collection. The educational aspect must not be understood in a pedantic sense. The need is not for the knowledge of names, but for the eye trained to see and enjoy the beauty of color and movement in which nature expresses its magnificent energy and purpose.'

MINOR NOTES

TOKYO, like Canton, is rapidly converting itself into an Occidental city. The principal streets have been improved, the modern drainage system is being extended, and the City Council has even inaugurated welfare work among the poorer classes such as we are accustomed to associate with Western initiative. Among other things, a municipal dining-hall has been opened at Sakamoto Park, where meals are served for the modest equivalent of five cents in American currency