, 1882-04-19

~ assiSte dthe ends of theSatsuma Princes,
to whose rights and position in this matter
the restored MikadO of course laid claim,
on the suppression of the rebellion five
years ago. The Japanese Government did
not feel bound to pursue the polite action
of the Satsuma Princes, who had ever
been careful not to give umbrage to
China, and confident in the possession of
an ironclad navy, and trained battalions
armed with improved rifles, they at once
proceeded to assert in an open and unmis-
taxable manner their supremacy ID the Loo
ChooS. The King was deposed, and car
ried off to Yeddo; a japanese garrison
vas placed in the capital, and a japanese
fleet anchored in the principal harbour.
AS the necessary consequence of these acts
the tribute to China was discontinued,
and three years ago it became widely
known that the old connection between
China and the Loo ChooS had been broken
off by the violent action of the japanese.
Japan thus administered a rebuff to China
in the light of day, and the hope was
INDUCED that the latter would accept the
blow with such equanimity as she could
muster, and that the tranquility of
Eastern waters would not be disturbed.
The lapse of three years has served to
strengthen that belief, and although we
then pointed out that the Chinese would
never acquiesce in the loss of their rights,
but only bide q favourable opportunity to
reassert them, very few persons felt
much belief in the pertinacity with which
it was commended that China would uphold
this shadowy and practically u%nimportant
claim. The announcement that china is
now preparing for a naval war, and that
these preparations are being made for a
contest with Japan, will serve to show the
point of view taken at Pekin with regard
TO this matter. Ne doubt, the Loo Choo
outrage acquires fresh Importance and
significance from the fact of Japan's recent
activity at the Court of COrea, which hQs,
however, responded with GOODNESS to .ler
ove1tures but in itSef it was quite sufi.
cient to in1ame the Indignation and rouse
the resentment of a great and Self-respec-
ting Government. The Chinese Navy
having now attained a state of efficiency
which for the first time in history places
1t on more than a par with that of Japan.
there remains no longer any reason for
deterring the measures necessary to recO.
yer those rights which the japanese have
wrongfully uSurped, or rather %monODolise.
The ultimatum that will be presented at
Yeddo will be a demand to return to the
status quo, or to accept the consequences.
and unless the Mikado'S Ministers have
the wisdom to foregO those schemes of
external ACCOMPLISHMENT of which the Occu-
patton of the Loo Choos was one of the
preliminary steps, war must inevitably
ensue. The Inconvenience, if not the posi-
tive danger, of such a contest must be
apparent. The japanese would undoubt-
edly endeavour to reappear in their old role
as.the invaders of Corea, and, were war
to break out in that peninsula, it might be
difficult to confine the struggle to these
ASiatic peoples. 1t becomes, therefore
the duty of our representatives at both
Pekin and Yeddo to endeavour to mode.
rate the passions of these rivals, and to
establish an understanding between them,
without resorting to the way of arms. But
it should be widely understood that the
moral right is on the side of China, and
no one can conscientiously recommend her
to waive her just claims before an aggres-
sive neighbour. Japan has here been thu
wilful aggressor, and, for a brief space,
she has attained her ends. But she can
only retain what she has seized by the
sword and it will be we'll for her if her
Ministers, before plunging their country
into a bitter war, carefully count up the
cost, and endeavour to discover, with
cold and impartial eyes, its most probable
result.