The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-05-15
PRAISE FROM JAPAN.
[Jiji Shimpo. Japan. l


 years since, spurred to action by the injustice of the English government, the thirteen states rose up to assert the great principle of human freedom, and began the struggle. which gave them their united independence. In our time the individual American may be no bet ter than an Englishman. but in their re- lations with other countries the actions of the government of the states have been guided by the dictates of justice They have ever been ready to take up the cause of righteousness; and their attitude to other countries has been uni form and uniniuenced by the status of any particular nation. While thorns and noxious weeds cover all other DOT tions of the earth surface in the United States alone there is garden of plum trees whose fragrant blossoms flourish ing in serene purity, are the admiration of the world.
 This feature in the character of the United States as nation Is the result of the peculiar circumstances under which the great republic was born into existence If we study the history of the United States with special reference ! to their diplomatic relations with other i countries, we find that their dealings ! have from first to last been guided by ! the principles of honor and justice. Especially in their treatment of eastern nations have the United States been dis 1 tinguished by their chivalrous espousal i of the cause of the weak as against the i rapacity of the strong Some years ago 1 the Washington government returned i to this country it's share of the Shimo- noseki indemnity, and more recently ! during the Franco-C Chinese complica- tions, it evinced its sympathy with 1 China hv acceding to her request for the ! transference of the vessels of the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company i to the American flag While, however 1 We thus far admire the uprlghtness of 1 our neighbor on the other side of the Pacific, there Is one point that puzzles Us, and that iS the attitude of the | nlted States with reference to the question of l treaty revision. We need not now use arguments to show that our treaties with European and American nations ! having been framed to suit the circum- stances of other days. ought long ago to 1 have been revised The United States 1 government is surely aware of the neces- l | ham, the former United States minister to this country undertook, immediately 1 on his arrival here ten years ago, the l task of revising the treaty existing be | tween the two nations, and after a series of negotiations treaty in which l they were placed on an equal footing was agreed upon. But this preliminary instrument was rendered practically use l less by the insertion shortly afterwards of a clause providing that it should not come into force till all the other treaty powers had agreed to similar treaties.
 It would almost appear from this result that the United States government in carrying on these negotiations was intiu- enced by no nobler consideration than a desire to make show of its willing ness to treat Japan on a footing of equal ity, in contrast with the selhshness of the other treaty powers To the accusation which any one imperfectly acquainted with the history of the United States j may be inclined to formulate--that the American republic has no real idea of revising its treaty with Japan, it's object being merely to make show of mag nanimity; that it agrees to the nine arti- cles of the new treaty in the full knowl- edge and belief that the consent of the other powers would not be given, and with the intention of creating the inn pression that the obstacles in the way ! of treaty revison are not of it's making 1 but are due to the action of other pow CTS, and of thereby gaining a reputation for impartiality and justice; and that if ! this be not so, 1t is difficult to under stand why, in revising its treaty with 1 Japan, which is a matter which only concerns the two nations, 1t should wait upon the movements of other countries to this accusation, what answer, we ask, can our friendly neighbor make? Our treaties with foreign powers were not concluded all at the same time, and there Is certainly no reason why they should be revised simultaneously. An English contemporary, the poH .HaH i Budqet, writes with perfect truth when it declares that the difficulty Japan has to contend with in securing treaty revision arises from the fact that the smultane- ous consent of nineteen different allies must be obtained We do not of course, desiderate it as convenient matter to get nineteen revised treaties. each differ ing from another Our only object is to conclude with such an honorable and righteous power as the Unitdd States a ajust and impartial treaty which will serve as model to other treaty coun- tries The question now is-has the United States. which has always been distinguished by its honor and straight forwardness, courage enough to discard all considerations based om the conduct of other powers, to enter will unfertered hands on the work of framing treaty with Us on an equal footing, and shame all our other treaty friends out of their selfishness. In paying back the Shim- onoseki indemnity the United States government set itself to do a righteous action at its own hand, careless of the course that might be taken by either England, France or Holland It would indeed by a worthy confirmation of the