Hawaii holomua = Progress. [volume] (Honolulu) 1893-1895, 1894-10-05
THEY MEAN BUSINESS

Deeming that the present war
with China is an event Of the
most unparalleled gravity to Jap
an since the country war founded
about thirty centuries ago, and
deeming it essential for our party
TO set forth in detail the reasons
of It's importance, and to point
out the ultimate objects to be
aimed at in this connexion, the
members of the party living IN
the capital have agreed to the
following declarations, concern
ing which they seek the apPro-
baton Of the members Of the
party in other parts of Japan;
/. The success of the present
war with China being an affair OF
paramount importance to the well
being Of the Empire, the ultimate
objects of the war should be
determined by the people them
selves, who should freely give
expression to their opinions.
2. Though the details of the
conduct of the War should be
left to the decision of the COM
petent authorities, the central
aim of the war should be deter
mined by the people of the EN-
pire.
3. OF the various Powers in
the world capable of being the
most dangerous enemies to Japan
is China, after which come Cheat
Britain, France, Russia, and
Germany in the given order. As
to the other Powers of Europe
they are virtually impotent to
exercise any serious military or
naval power in the East
4. Even if Japan were con
Quoting a war with a country OF
equal numerical strength, this
country should devote its whole
energies t. the attainment of
successful issue; how much more
should this be done in the case
of war with China, country
ten times the size of Japan. The
nation must recognize that should
Japan destroy her antagonist
then she herself will be utterly
rnined, and the people should
unite as one man to face this ire
mendous issue.
: In waging war the huge
COZ ry of China, whose popula-
ton is counted by hundreds of
millions, certain Japanese are
easily reioiced by trifing Wet
cries, such as the defeat of two
or three war-ships. or the rout of
two or three thousand soldiers.
Such persons, it seems, must fail
to recognize the gravity of the
psesent affair and must hence be
wanting in the resolution neces-
sary to carry it to successful
issue.
6. Even if in a hundred bat
ties fought in Korea Japan prove
victorious this alone would not
be sufficient to ensure to Japan
supremacy in the Orient.
Z. To settle the contest deei-
sively. and to ensure the perman-
emit peace of the Orient. it Is
necessary to strike a blow at the
heart of the enemy, Peking.
S. Should peace be concluded
before the enemy had been utter
" disabled by a blow in vital
part, it is needless to say that
China, spurred by the shame of
defeat. would be wakened from
her lethargy, and would strive by
every conceivable means to wreak
vengeance on Japan.
9. Such a peace, then, would
be one in which, to guard against
danger from China, Japan would
have to devote all her resources
to military and naval affairs, and
there would be a chronic high
tension in the East. Nothing
would be more injurious to the
nation than such state Of affairs.
10. In three months more the
mouth of the river on which
Tientsien is situated viii freeze.
thus blocking up the passage till
the next spring. Therefore it is
essential thai, Peking should be
attacked within the next three
months.
IL. The Austro Prussian war
was concluded within six weeks