The morning call., 1893-03-24
AN AslATIC DREIBUND.

A rather significant item of news was
brought by the Gaelic. On the 9th inst,
Mr.. Oishi, one of the leading statesmen OF
Japan, gave banquet 10 the Chinese Min
lister and his secretaries, the Corean Minis
ter and his suite, and number Of Japanese
officials, at which high questions of state
were discussed. No Europeans were pres
ent 1t has been for years fad of Mr..
Oishi's to establish a triple alliance between
China, Japan and Corea as against the Chris
tian world ii is understood that the subject
was discussed at the banquet. though, as no
reporters we're present, we have none of the
speeches. The Kokkai newspaper sees in
the meeting the nucleus of a Driebund
Under the lead Of England the Christian
nations have reduced the nations of Asia to
a subjsction which could scarcely be less eff
fective if they were actually conquered ter
rtory. Neither China nor Japan nor Corea
can make or alter IFS own tariff without the
consent of England. Neither of these coun-
tries can try its own criminals if a foreigner
is involved. If in China, Corea or Japan a
foreigner is accused of assault or theft he
is entitled TO be tried by the Consul OF his
own country. When a dispute arises be-
tween n missionary and the natives the case
is Withdrawn from the cognizance of the ma
tive tribunals to be submitted to foreigner,
This is the case in Japan, though the new
japanese code, which was framed on the
model of the code Napoleon and our State
codes, afford as much protection to an innO-
cent prisoner as any laws in force in this
country.
Round the principal seapOrts of the three
countries. Yokohama and Kobe in Japan.
ChemuIpO in Corea, Shanghai, Tientsin and
other ports in China, foreigners have been
conceded tracts of land. which they occupy
exclusively and police in their own way.
These places are substantially sanctuary
for native criminals.
For many years the Asiatics have been
protesting against the tributary condition
which these rules imply. but the only ma
ton which has indorsed their protest has
been the United States. England has al
ways set her face sternly against conceding
the rights Of independent nationality to any
Asiatic power. 1t now seems that some
Asiatics propose to try to obtain by dis
play of force that which they could not get
by friendly entreaty.
1t is hardly necessary for US to hurry NJ
our coast fortifcations in view of the pros
pect. but neither is it wise to whistle il
down the wind. The japanese navy in
cludes thirteen steel cruisers, one ironclad
and three vessels for coast defense. The
Chinese navy embraces four barbette iron
clads of $3.50 tons TO 1880 tons, thirteen
cruisers, besides a number of gun5oats and
torpedO-bOats. Corea has no navy as yet,
but is trying 10 build one The three ma
tons together have a population of about
$50, O00G00. Here is a nucleus for Drebund
which might cut figure in the world.
The point which demands watching is
Japan. Two years ago the japanese en-
pire became a constitutional monarchy.
The members OF the Diet have already shown
their disposition to make their newly ac-
quired power felt They ran into collisI on
with the Emperor, and he came out of the
conflict second best. Such an assembly,
consisting of the most advanced thinkers in
Japan, with new ideas and new aims, is not
likely to submit patiently to foreign treaties
which lmitits autonomy. The behavior of
the English at Yokohama is calculated to ex-
asperate the natives The Englishman moves
amOug them with that British hateur which
is based on the idea that Britannia rules the
world as well as the waves and that col ored
people have no rights which a subject Of
Queen Victoria is bound to respect H
calls them 'niggers," and is not slow to en-
force his demands with whip or fist. Even
meek men will resent that kind of treat
ment. and the Japanese have not the repu-
tation OF being meek.
All the teachings of history must be set
aside as misleading if the English get out
of Asia without paying the penalty Of gener-
ations of injustice and oppression. That,
however, is their business. What concerns
MS is to see 10 it that when the hour of retri-
button comes, we do not get punished for
the sins of others. Happily, the japanese
are too intelligent not to discriminate be-
tween English and Americans. When it
was proposed. some time ago. to invite the
English merchants to vRcate Yokohama,
because they were an element of disco1d
and disorder, the plan was recommended on
the ground that Americans would take their
places, and the trade of the port would not
suffer. There is good deal to be said in
favor Of the proposition that English and
German houses in Asiatic cities fronting on
the Pacific are an embaras de rchesses
there ought to be holes into which they
would better fit nearer home.