The Portland daily press., 1879-03-15
American Energy and Oriental Compe-
fitiOn

When we look about us, at our wal
hangings, our furniture, our book.bind.
ings, our pottery and porcelain, and see
everywhere the stork and sun of Japan
ought we not to fall into great fear lest We
shall be overwhelmed by Oriental art and
our own manufacturers driven from the mar.
ket by the superiority and cheapness ol
Eastern wares? Ought we not to be as
troubled by the inroad from the island as
from the middle kingdom, from Zipangi as
from Cathay2
What is the outlook? We have appro.
priated the arts and labor of Europe when
ever we have been brought into contact with
them and made them our own and to-day our
manufactures are sent across the water by the
ship-load. We have beaten the English iron
worker at his own craft, we have rivalled the
faience-painter of France, we have nearly
driven the Swiss matchmaker out of the
market, and in many other trades we
are the formidable rivals of the trans.Atlan-
tic manufacturers and artisans. We find
ourselves able not only to compete with but
to conquer "the pauper-labor of Europe"
But it is said. we must go to the wall when
brought into conflict with the immobile civ
ilization of the Orient. That, they claim, we
are unable to assimilate as we have assfmil-
ated the civilization of Europe.
Well, what has been our experience with
the Oriental nation which has most deeply
Influenced our industries? How fare our
workmen in competition with the Inherited
skill and cheap labor of Japan? The display
of American gold and silver work at the Par
is Exposition taught Europe that in an art
she had thought peculiarly her own she was
beaten by America. The English silver.
smith has been driven to the wall, and Eng
lish silver plate hereafter in all qualities of.
artistic finish, of intrinsic value, of cheapness
of production, must give way to America n
Neither Austria nor Russia can hereafter
compete with us, while France herself, tie
stronghold of all artistic work, frankly ac-
knowedges our equality. We have revolu-
tionized the trade in gold and silver ware.
How has this been done? We have taken
the decorative art and metal work of Japan.
and from its study have invented the new
school of Japanese-Ameriean design, school
that excels in design, in color, in artistic
feeling and finish, anything heretofore pro-
duced. We have not merely availed our
selves of the form, decoration, and general
treatment of Oriental art, but we have so far
surpassed our model that the astonished
japanese have taken home specimens of our
plate for the study of their metal-workers,
We have introduced into this sort of decora-
tion the novel and valuable element of color.
by oar new processes enriching silver ware
by the employment of gold, copper, and the
effects given by the reaction of chemical
agents upon metallic compounds. In the
lamination of different metals so as to pro-
duce an effect like beautiful wood-grain we
have also surpassed anything heretofore
done.
That is, we have assimilated Japanese art
and industry as we have European. Brought
intocontact with the Orient in its own chos-
en- field OF work we have proved ourselves
the better and more ingenious workmen. As
we improved upon the Swiss matchmaker
and drove him from the field of competition
SO we improve upon the Japanese metal
worker until he is no longer formidable
rival. We assert superiority and exact trib-
ute whether the competition be the cheap
working laborer of Europe or the rice-fsd
artisan of the Orient
Is il not possible Ne exaggerate the danger
to be apprehended from the other great
Oriental nation? So far we have always
overcome all tie advantages which are sup
posed to belong to cheap laUur. Wnat reason
have we to fe,-a new competition? Our own
exnerienc> nas been that well-fed, educated
labor trained and alert mind as well as
stag body-is the superior of any other la
'or in the world. Will it yield to the China
Ian and the Coolie? The ignorant laborer
hat comes to us from Europe may fear the
nan with the pig-tail. The intelligent
American laborer has little cause for appre.
tension, for he has brain as we'll as muscle.
In another direction our metal-workers
Who sent their wares to Paris astonished |
europe, and that was in reproduction of the |
ans1ue. The fac SMILES of the jewels dis
'oVei1 by De Cesnola, in the buried tenn
pcs |" Cyprus. amazed and delighted |
of art as much as thew
European artifcers. The Ameri- |
oai "oth' ~ Us generally conceded, rivalled |
'nat ol Inc A'a'i'- astellani, famous for his
Skill IN lne ancient los of iewelrv. Vet at
the time the De Cesnela ,ollsct,on 49, ~ ~
posted in the Metropolitan Msour .
sneered at it, and many others W. -"ans
different to its merits. 1t was said 'o.s
collection might be of benefit to threeSr. 'ne
men, archeologists, in the country, and
ford an hours amusement to idle visitoi.
That was all. In two years its presence here
has created new and very profitable indus
try, and taught US that all knowledge, how
ever recondite or impractical it may seem, is
of direct pecuniary value.
Surely we who reproduce Phenician art,
who improve upon Oriental art and from its
study found a new school of decoration and
quently conquer European artificers in in
dustries which they have practiced for ages,
have little to fear from the competition of
any nation with which we are brought into
contact.
GENERAL EWING says the Greenbackers
can only count on seven votes in the organi
cation of the next House. They seem to
have gone into the men-in-buckram business.