Hawaii holomua = Progress. [volume] (Honolulu) 1893-1895, 1894-08-31
The Declaration War.

the war Is raging between the
two Oriental giants Japan and
China
We. by the Grace of Heaven
Emperor of Japan. seated on 8
Throne occupied by the same
dynasty from time immemorial
do hereby make proclamation to
all Our loyal and brave subjects
as follows -
I'VE hereby declare war
against China, and we command
each and all Of Our competent
authorities, in obedience to 0ur
wish and with view to the at
tainment Of the national aim. to
carry on hostilities by sea and by
land against China. with all the
means at their disposal, consist
emily with the Law of Nations
During the past three decades
of Our reign, Our constant aim
has been to further the peaceful
progress of the country in civil
ization; and being sensible of
the evils inseparable from COM
plications with Foreign States.
it Ihas always been Our pleasure
to instruct Our Ministers of
State to labour for the promotion
of friendly relations with Our
Treaty Powers. We are gratifed
to know that the relations of Our
Empire with those Powers have
yearly increased in goodwill and
in friendship. Under the cir
cumstances. We were unprepared
for such conspicuous want of
amity and OF good faith as has
been manifested by China in her
conduct toward this country in
connection with the Korean
affairs.
Korea is an independent
State. She was first introduced
into the family of nations by the
advice and under the guidance of
Japan 1t has, however, been
China's habit to designate Korea
as her dependency, and both
openly and secretly to interfere
with her domestic affairs. AT
the time of the recent civil insur-
rection in Korea, China despatch
ed troops thither, alleging that
her purpose was to afford succour
to her dependent State. We, in
virtue of the Treaty concluded
with Korea in 1882, and looking
to possible emergencies, caused
a military force to be sent to
that country.
Wishing to procure for Korea
freedom from the calamity OF
perpetual disturbance, and there
by to maintain the peace of the
East in general, Japan invited
Chinas cooperation for the &C
complishment of that object.
But China, advancing various
pretexts, declined Japans pro.
posal. Thereupon, Japan ad
vised Korea TO reform her ad
mlnistration so that order and
tranquility might be preserved at
home, and so that the country
might be able to discharge the
responsibilities and duties of an
independent State abroad. 10
rea has already consented to
undertake the task. But China
has secretly and insidiously en-
desvoured to circumyent and to
thwart Jspans purpose. She 4!
has. further procrastinated. and
endeavoured to make warlile pre-
partitions both on land and AT
sea. When those preparations
were completed, she not only /
sent large reinforcements to 10 /
res, with view to the forcible /
of her ambitious de- I
signs. but even carried her arbi- /
trariness and insolence to the
extent OF opening FIRE upon Our
ships in Korean waters. China's
plain object is to make it uncer-
tain where the responsibility re-
sides of preserving peace and
order in Korea. and not only to
weaken the position of that State
in the family of nations--s posi-
ton obtained for Korea through /
Jspans efforts.--but also to OBJ
scure the significance of the
treaties recognizing und confirm
ing that position. Such conduct /
on the part of China is not only |
a direct injury to the rights and .
interests of this Empire, but also /
i. +.