The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1873-08-20
Oriental Progress.

There are three oriental nations which are now
attracting the attention of the civilized world, by
the new line OF progress which they have marked
out for the purpose of advancing the industrial
interests Of each. The first is Japan, to which
we have often had occasion to refer, and in which
the revolution has been as wonderful as it has
been successful. The second is Persia, to which
we have referred in our late issues, and whose
sovereign has taken a stand which has astOnished
all Europe, by the holiness and enterprise re-
quired to initiate it. The third is Egypt, the ru.
Ter of which is determined not to be behind either
of his rivals in the progressive movement. We all
remember the story of the Suez Canal, which he
/ initiated, and by the aid of French and English
capital has carried to such success that it is now
/ the favorte route for most of the trade between
completion of this enterprise, he has now con-
tracted with English capitalists for the construc-
ton of a railroad connect the Lower Nile coun-
try with that of the Upper Nile, known as the
Soudln country" believed to be the richest ag-
ricultural and grazing land in the world, not ex-
cepting the Valley of the Mississippi. The rail.
road will be $50 miles in length, and will have
branch lines or feeders, the whole to comprise q
network of 900 miles Of railway through por.
ton of Egypt where transit has been difficult ow-
ing to the rapids IN the Nile To accomplish all
this, the Khedive of Egypt must rely on English
and French capital, and though he has gone to
work in a different way from the Shah of Persia
it amounts to the same thing in the end-the IN
PRODUCTION of European capital. mechanics, arti-
zans and farmers to accomplish what Egyptians
or Persians could never accomplish without their
aid. The valley of the Upper Nile is well adapted
to growing wheat, cotton, sugar coffee and other
products of similar climates, and it is probable
that within ten years the exports of Egypt
will be doubled, through the enterprise of her
ruler in encouraging the introduction of European
capital and mechanics.
These three countries Japan, Persia and
Egypt-are what are termed semcivilized, and
their sovereigns are more or less despotic IN rul-
ing their people. But the very fact that they are
seeking to encourage the introduction of Euro
pean and American capital enterprise and civil
cation, shows that they are determined to accom-
plish the improved condition of their respective
peoples. The mobiles Of the first, and the rulers
of the two last named countries have lately been
to Europe and visited most of the large cities,
and have. become satisfied that they and their
people are tagging behind in civilization and ma
terial progress, and that something must be done
or they will lapse into barbarism.
The movements of these nations should teach
US to strive, by every means in our power to en-
courage the introduction of foreign capital and
labor, in order to develop our latent resources
There is strong party in Japan, and We presume
it is the case also in Persia and Egypt, opposed
to these innovations of European progress, and
who are constantly saying, " let well enough
alone" we've got capital and people enough
here now" But the order has gone FORTH and
like the laws of the Modes and Persians it can
not be altered until each of those countries is
permeated with European civilization, aud we
may also hope with European religion and the
true faith as revealed in Holy Writ. Those who
seek to hinder the progress of such nations must
expect to meet defeat.