The herald., 1894-08-06
THE CHINo-JAPANEsR WAR.

The sentiment generally prevailing
among Americans is favorable to the
success of the Japanese in their war
with China. In California that feeling
largely predominatss, and We confess
that as far as our sympathies are enlist
ed in the contest they 60 out to the Japs.
We have seen so much on this coast Of
the repulsive side of the Chinese that
our preiudices are easily excited against
them as q people. On the other hs nd
all we know of the Japanese is to their
credit. No doubt if they had jostled
against US as tbs Chinese have done in
California for the past forty years, we
would see much in them to condemn,
and perhaps great deal to justly evoke
our disgust. They are an oriental peo-
Pile, and oriental civilization, however
veneered, is not at all to the taste Of
European and American civilization.
Yet We must confess that there are
many traits developed bv the Japanese
of modern times which we admire.
They are An eminently progressive peo-
pie. After their country had been q
sealed book to the rest of the world for
three bundled years, they were brought
into direct contact and communication
with outside nations by Commodore
Perry's expedition. In q few years
they evinced wonderful desire to profit
by the progress the rest of the world
had made in the arts and sciences
during their long term of Beclusion.
They encouraged foreign artisans to
come to their country and teach them
what they knew. They were apt
scholars, and readily adopted every in
vention which the genius OF western
civilization had evolved, and applied it
to the development and advancement OF
their country. Experienced miners
we're invited to come to Japan and lay
open its hidden treasures in gold, silver,
iron and coal. Arti6cers of all kinds
were encouraged to establish themselves
in their port cities. The junk was
abandoned for the ship, and the ship
was supplemented with the steamer.
Being islsndsrs. they were q nation Of
sailors, and readily kept pace with the
western world in the improvement of
their naval architecture. 1t is to this de-
sire to impr owe their facilities to conquer
the asperities of the ocean that they
owe this fact OF their developed sups-
riority over the Chinese in all the sea
fights they have yet had in this war.
Whilst the Japanese may not be
gifted with the creative faculties, they
are eminently an initiative people, and
whatever they see. in mechanical pro-
ductions, however intricate or involved.
they will reproduce. There are polite,
considerate, and in those small but gra-
cious amenities which 60 80 far to
make intercourse and life agreeable,
they are surpassed by no people, except
ing perhaps the French. They readily
adapt themselves to the ways Of the
people they are among, and when they
travel in America or Europe, they dress
like Americans and Europeans. In this,
and nearly every other respect, they are
the very oppositss of the Chinese.
But they have entered upon a war
which, il it last long, may have to them
a moro serious termination than the
opening. China pitted against Japan
is like giant pitted against pigny.
During the centuries China has been
the maelstrom into which the money OF
the world has been engulfed never to re.
turn. There must be an endless amount
of wealth OF the precious metals, espe-
cially silver, in the Chinese empire, and
az the success OF wars in the east as well
as the west must be measured by the
'sinews" possessed by the nations en-
gagged in hostilities, We must necessarily
conclude that China will in the end come
out victorious. Japan may sweep her
navy from tbs seas, as she seems to be in
a fair way of doing, but with her immense
wealth China will not fail to find all the
ships she wants among the Christian
almighty-dollar nations. Nor will this
be all. She will by the same token be
able to officer them with the most
skilful foreign commanders. This inn
portant ability will enable her before
long to recoup her marine losses and
perhaps take the offensive in terrible
| shape.
By land China is 30 prodigiously much
stronger than Japan, and has so great
an advantage over the islanders in being
able to throw her hosts into Corex with
/ out wetting their sandals that it will be
a miracle if Japan will be capable OF
holding her footing in the bumper state
OF course, there are possibilities in the
future which may upset all forecasts
based upon the facts as they exist. II
Russia should be drawn into this war
by her interests in the east and take
sides with Japan, that would open q
new book to the reflective mind. Such
an alliance would inevitably draw Eng
land, France and perhaps Germany into
the dance, and then-misericordia.
THERE 10 no parallel in California's