The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-05
How the Cd aud Yet Youae Nation 10 Tied
Hand aud Foot.

hnnd aud root
To THE EDToR OF THE suS-Sir: The
comments Of MIR. Stevens on the news sent
out by English journalists from Japan for
American consumption. should perhaps be
suppleme nted by reference to that shameful
chapter OF diplomacy and greed which under
lies all the troubles and perplexities Of Japan
to-day. 1t is . somewhat significant and in
structive story.
1t was about 1853 when the war with China
had ended in favor OF the opium traders OF
Hong Kong. that the English Government
turned Its eager gaze toward the newly opened
empire OF Japan. Might It not be possible to
psguilo this simple and confding nation into
signing treaty Of absolute free trade by rep
resenting that policy as the first step toward
the new civilization which they SO much ad-
mired? Might they not even be persuaded SO
implicitly to conhde in the truth and honor Of
Christian nations as to make their treaty irrevo-
cable except by the consent OF all parties con-
cernsd 2 Such a treaty was drawn up and
signed by representatives OF various European
nations and the United States BY 1t the man
uiactures OF the world were admitted to Japan
at the nominal duty OF i've per cent. ad va
loren: and the Oriental empire, full OF hope
Hood Of prosperity which she had been assured
BY her English friends ever follows the adop-
IL did not take many years for Japan to re-
alize that she had been bound hand and foot
by treaties which she not only did not at tho
time fairly comprehend; but OF the full import
OF which II was Intended che should be igno-
rant She had been lured into surrender OF one
OF the hrst principles OF national existence. the
right to raise her revenue to suit herself The
poverty and distress OF her people increased.
until finally she asked for such revision of her
treaties as would merely restore TO her that
right OF enlightenment OF which she had
been so unIustly derived. This act Of justics
she has asked for years. and in vain. Shylock
demands his pound OF flesh. The greed OF Lhris-
tan Europe stu refuses 10 a sister nation the
revision OF purely commercial treaty into
which she was design eddy lured aud by which
she gave away. without the least compensa-
ton, part OF her national rights.
What should Japan do under such cireum-
stAncesE We know what Americans would do,
or how even Canada or South Africa would
act. II was the advice OF Gen. Grant that
japan should make an appeal to the civilized
world explaining how her ignorance had been
sEilfully used to PLACE her in a position OF
humiliation. and that then. coincldent with
this appeal, she should assume that full and
complete sovereignty over her own affairs of
which she has been so unIustly deprived. But
this course she hesitates TO adopt. A treaty is
trad or encamped on her soil: and she wishes
TO give no excuse for the landing OF an English
army on her shores.
And so, to. day, Japan IL Agitated by contend
ing political parties all eager alike for the
nations Independence from foreign control
but differing as regards the wisest method By
which II may be attained. To American
helped to iasten upon her limbs the letters
which render her to-day the prey OF foreign
greed. ALBERT LEFPISGWEII
SUMMIT. y. j.. Feb. 3,