The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-10-06
JApAN,s P PRFpIcAMENT.
A Mighty Empire which Is Unable to Max
q single Treaty.

A Mighty Empire Which 10 Unable to Make
n Single Treaty.
Old r. si,teat Of Japan u Pail AGll Gd:ette.
1t is now about thirteen years since the
Japanese began to manifest wish to have
the treaties which they made with foreign
powers in 1858 and the succeeding years
revised to meet their changed circum-
stances. From 1872 to the present time
the'subjeCt has hardly ever been allowed
70 drop, and certainly, since the suppress
sion OF the great rebellion OF satsuma in
1877, 1t has been the most prominent
political question in Japan.
Put in a few words, the Japanese con-
tention was this: whether these treaties
were good or bad at the beginning, they
were framed to meet state OF clrcum-
stances which has long passed away;
since 1858 change unparalleled in the
history Of the world has come over tne
country, and we claim that our treaties
with foreign powers must be readlusted 70
meet that change" The obstacle to this
bears the imposing name OF diplomatic
cooperation"
A quarter Of a century ago Japan was
an unknown country; its people, rulers
and polity were mysteries. We had
forced ourselves on the Japanese, and It
was quite clear that q very considerable
proportion Of them wanted to get nd OF US
and Of our trade sgain. To prevent this,
to get the unwilling Japanese authorities
to do what we wanted and TO advance
along the path pointed out by US, all
minor questions were dropped, and the
treaty powers adopted common policy
toward Japan. The questions as they
arose were not treated as English, Dutch,
French or American questions-they were
the common interest OF all. The foreign
representatives acted together, and pre-
sented solid front, either for resistance
or attack, to the government at Yeddo.
It will at once be perceived that this CO.
operation was o weapon OF extraordinary
power the timid and frightened ministers
Of the Shotgun might disregard perhaps q
note Of warning or remonstrance from the
English Minister; but when this was tol-
lowed within an hour by an identical note
from the French Minister, and in day by
a dozen such from the ministers OF other
powers, they we're not TO be treated light
| ", for the game then was the world versus
Japan.
There are in all II powers having trea-
ties with Japan, and according to the CO.
operative principle, no one OF these can
make any arrangement with Japan unless
all the others get the benefit oft. It is
needless to dwell on the impossibility. Of
getting these II to sgree to anything
whatever. Powers cannot be got to actin
unison except under the pressure OF some
great danger. So, although Great Britain
agrees to concede the demands Of the
Japanese, this Is quite useless unless l6
other powers agree to make the same con-
cession. !,
The question now Is whether England
will not formerly break up the diplomatic
ring, which has practically been broken
up long ogo. The United States have long
ago broken away from the system, and Il
England does SO now it cannot endure for
long, becauset this country has always been
put in front OF the combinations on &c.
count OF the comparative magnitude Of
our interests.