The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-21

A NEW ERA FOR THE PACIFIC.
Among all the varying representations
as to the effect Of the Asiauc war there Is
one point which seems to be universally
conceded and that Is that IL marks the
commencement of a new era In that por-
ton OF Asia bordering on the PACING. the
progress which Japan has made in all the
arts OF Western civilization has heretofore
been imperfectly comprehended by the
mass of the people including even the
reading public. but the recent war has
been an impressive object. lesson from
which the facts OF japanese advance
ment have been borne home on ALL
II has been in Western eyes almost like
seeing the birth OF a new nation, spring.
ing at once into the ranks of the powers
OF the world, prepared TO hold her own
and assert an equality with any of Them
What Japan has done IL Is not impos-
sible that China may do. 1t is not from
any want OF any native acuteness or
adaptability to acquire the arts or West
ern civilization that Chan has so per-
sistently repealed those civilizing agencies
which Japan has been SO eager TO grasp.
The trouble has been alone In the fact
that for centuries such culture, refine
ment and knowledge as Is now found in
China were the exclusive property OF that
nation. while all around were nations
sunk in abject barbarism. Western civ
ilization is the flower of today. Chinese
civilization the creation of centuries. dat
ing back beyond the very dawn of West
ern history.
With this the case. there is little reason
to wonder that the Chinese. accustomed.
with cause. TO look upon themselves as
more highly accomplished In all the arts
and sciences than any Of the nations of
the world within their ken. and knowing
that such position has been theirs al
most for ages. should regard with con-
tempt what In their eyes must have
seemed the petty progress of those whom
they regarded as outer barbarians, and
with the lofty disdain of the superior.
wilfully refuse to open their eyes to see
that the despised barbarians had out
stripped them In progress In every direc-
ton.
With Japan It Is and has been different.
Japan is. from the Asiatic standpoint,
comparatively a new nation. She has
behind her no such centuries of civiliza
ton as has China, and what civilization
she had acquired prior TO the country be-
Ing opened to Europeans was from Chi
nese sources and not the original result
OF native progress. Her classics were the
Chinese classics. her arts borrowed from
China and her civilization and her reIig-
ion equally alien in their origin. Thus
receptive OF Asiatic ideas from foreign
sources, when the time came she was
equally receptive of Western ideas when
they proved superior TO those OF her an
Client models.
The probability seems strong that one
result OF the recent war will be to break
down the intense conservatism of the
Chinese people. II was neighboring
power, a petty tribe as the Chinese would
regard IT. a former dependency and pupil
which administered the crushing defeat,
and 1t has been demonstrated so that
nothing can efface the impression that
the Japanese victory was due alone to the
fact that in her military and naval equip
ment and warfare her models were West
ern to the n1nutest detail.
The Cinese are the most Intelligent of
all Asiatic races In many respects. Ger
tainly az business men and traders they
are unrivalled. Conservative adherence
10 traditionary methods and not lack of
brains or mechanical ability has been tho
sole cause Of China lingering behind the
marNh or progress Her proud reliance
on those traditionary methods has been
rudely shattered. her confidence In the
supremacy OF her methods broken down.
and she has been forced TO sue for humil-
iatiug terms Of peace 70 small nation,
mere ptgmy compared TO what on as
Stunning like conditions the Chinese empire
might become.
II is thought that the lesson of this has
not been lost. that an era OF progress
/ Will forthwith commence I'm China which
Will rival. IL not surrass. what the last
few years have accomplished in Japan. IL
this be true. there will arise in the near
future a mighty rival TO all Europe and
America on the eastern shores Of Asia.
and the Pacific. not the Atlantic, viii he
the great highway OF commerce of the
coming generation. thus realizing tha
prediction made by William III. Seward
more than fifty years ago:
"Henceferth European commerce. Fu-
rcpesa politics. European thought and
/ European activity, although actually
gaining force and European connections.
although actually becoming more intimate
will nevertheless relatively sink in irnpor-
lance while the Pacific ocean. its shores its
islands and the vast region beyond. will
become the chief theAter IN events In ths
worlds great hereafter