The Hawaiian gazette., 1873-03-19
Japan and Peru.

1t was reported short time since, says the S
F. Bulletin, that two iron-clads we're fitting out
10 Peru, for the purpose of proceeding to Japan,
and demanding an apology and reparation for the
alleged insult to the Peruvian flag, in connection
with the proceedings Of the Peruvian cooie ship
Maria Luz, when some hundreds Of coolies we're
returned to China, aud the ship detained at Yo-
kohama. If such was the intention, the Peru
Wan Government has evidently thought better of
the project, and instead of the gentle persuasion
embodied in feet Of irOn-clads, formidable
though peaceful legation of officials will pay court
to the Mkado. These officials will shortly arrive
10 San Francisco, en- route for China and Japan.
charged with Instructions to negotiate treaties of
amity and commerce with those countries, and to
establish, as represented, regulations under which
cOole emigration to Peru shall be conducted in a
less Questionable manner II the report above
referred to had good basis, the second cousid-
Grafton given to the matter by the Peruvian Gov
eminent is much the wiser one. If even Peru
had been successful with the barbaric display of
mere force in obtaining from japan the fullest
amount Of satisfaction and the most abject
Acknowledgements Of regret for setting free the
coolies and passing sentence on the captain Of
the vessel, public opinion Of the world at large
would stll bsve Endorsed Japan. The advices
received by the Japan December mail state that.
the reported intentions Of Peru had reached the
Tenno's Government which was prepared to give
the ironclads suitable reception il hostile in.
tentio1S were manifested. Any such design.
however is denied by the Peruvian Legation,
and The war L any, viii be confined to the more
enduring power Of ink aud paper
Much has been said and written on the hotrors
Of tbe coolie trade by nations making pretensious
70 a higher grade Of civilization ,hau Japan, ba,
it was reserved 10 the Government Of the latter
county 10 announce by Judicial deeittoa tha,
The Shipment q coolies as nyaetieel by the Maria
las was nothing else than piracy, In some
quarters this was considered a high handed pro,
ceeiine, and one ot the Angle,japan papers Do,
elsrea that the Mikales Government had lnvaly,
q itself ia an aHwlse International complication
by he course Il had pursued The Japanese
Government stood arm, aud BY so doing Il earned
he thanks o. all enemies OF oppression the world
over 50 far nom the decision leading to a war,
d has resulted in manner directly the opposite,
aud Peru goes TO japan in manner wholly dif,
erent nom warlike spirit
The action Of japan has also aroused the apa-
by OF the Chinese to the barbarlsm Of this
oolie traffic, aud il is said that the Imperial
Government has gone so far as to give notice 10
be Portuguese that they must quit Macao or
top the eOOle trade. Peru states that she needs
hese coolies to develop her mineral and agrcul-
ural resources, although it has generally been
that they were required for the IN.
ealthy employment among the guano deposits
{ the Chineha Islands. II the system is to be
Peru has found that it can no longer
e conducted as in the past, but must be more
d accordance with the spirit OF the age.
Japan is to-day stronger from the course it
oOk in the matter, and the courage it evinced to
o right and brave the consequences is highly
redtable to the Mikado and bis Government
his was also done when it had on hand unsettled
iferences with Corea and China, which possibly
light lead to hostilities. 1t is gratifying. how
yer, to know that the danger of japan being in
olyed in a war while Just entering on the West.
m path Of progress, is now passed and that
eaeeiul solution of the difficulties between her
IF and Peru and China and Corea may be con- +
dered certain. The Government has made itself :
honorable by officially condemning the iniquities
coOlieism at a time of extreme pressure, ]
I'd if the horrors of the traffic be hereafter
neIOrated, to Japan viii belong the honor of
aving rendered signal service to the cause of
umanity.