The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1894-11-14
A NEW COMPETITOR.
Japan's Rapid Advance in Commercial
Business.

pan has made in the art OF war is
equalled only BY her progress in the
arts Of peace. She has been quick to
adopt western methods and ideas
both in war and peace. The pro
gress she has made, in q compara-
lively short time, in the art Of war
has been demonstrated in her recent
contests on land and sea with China
a much richer, and, in point Of num-
bers, more powerful nation. Already
European governments regard Japan
as a power that must be consulted in
the future in the settlement Of any
questions which may affect her.
The United States has no concern
over the development of Japan as q
war power. But we have an interest
in her commercial development. And
while Europe looks at the war side
it may be interesting to us, in the
light Of tariff reductions, to give
some attention to Japan as a CONNER
cial competitor.
In 1889 we exported to Japan to-
tai Of 81, 4,6l9,9 9S5 Of merchandise, and
in 1893 a total Of SO, 1875, 494, showing
a decline in exports Of 81 ,424, 491 in
four years. In 1889 the imports
from Japan were in value SIC, 6,6S7,
952, and in 1893 the aggregate was
$27 ,454, 22O, showing rn increase in
imports in that time Of $40, ,23S.
Japan increased her exports to the
United States largely each year, al
though she bought less Of us, which
is another proof OF the free trade fall
lacy that in order to sell to a nation
we must buy from it.
But the chief interest lies in the
fact that Japan is beginning to send
to the United States manufactured
articles which we might be expected
to send to her. Our imports from
Japan last year included hats, bon
nets, paper stock, eartllen, stone and
china ware, metal manufactures, silk
goods. paper, and SO on.
We bought Of her SO, 347 1874 worth
Of silk manufacturers, that being the
gold valuation in Japan. AS the new
tariff makes a large reduction in the
|duties on these goods the imports
will naturally greatly increase. That
is almost a new trade with Japan. In
1889 the imports OF silk goods were
only $3.50, ,OG9 in value. With this
rapid increase under the higher du-
ties imposed by the Mckinley tariff,
what may be expected under the new
! law? Tt is a bad outlook for Ameri-
can labor in the silk mills. Linen
and cotton collars are now imported
from Japan, and the imports OF
earthen, stone and china ware have
doubled in four years, despite the in
! CIctlSCu NuultS, diltt oO NlCAl oCl1S1
things.
Within a few years Japan has in,
troduccd the most improved machin:
cry for manufacturing purposes, anc
| this has resulted in q marked i'm
proyement in her exports. In 1881
she employed 10000 Worl&mcn to
produce -, $500: 900 pieces Of pottery
four years later 27,000,000 Workmer
produced 126, 10000 pieces. The
exports more than doubled in that
time. Silk manufactures have beer
developed in a like manner. But the
greatest progress has been made il
cotton goods In 1854 there wert
5000 bobbins, now there arc oyc]
400, 900, and she consumes three
times more Of raw cotton than sht
did seven years ago.
The labor is Of the kind that ncyc.
strikes, and is paid II cents a day fo
a man and cents for a woman. Tht
people are inventive and artistic, ant
it i, evident that they will be able t.
undersell any competitor. Among
their new industries are Watchmak
ing, rope walks, glass works, brew
cries and tanncrics, in which Euro
pcan processes are used. They max
boots and shoes. clothes, knit good
and pretty much everything else tina
is produc in the United States.
They have protited by our instruc
tion and our mechanical devices a
they want now is our market, an
that the democratic party has give
to them.
Hold Up a Town and Commit Murder.
OCOFFEYVILLE, Nov. 9.--TWO mem
bcrs of the Cook gang plundcrcd tn
town of Lcnapah, !. T.. and left
bloody trail behind them this after
noon. They entered the town in tn
character of bold bandits, withol
any attempt at conccalment, an
terroriZed the citizens until they ha
carried out their plan Of robbery. I
e. Melton, a brave young man VIII
ATTEMPTED to stop them with his gu