New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-01
COMPETITION FROM JAPAN.
AN IMPORTANT NEW ELEMENT IN THE
INDUSTRY OF THE WORLD
THE FINEST OF GOODS MANUFACTURED At PRICES
THAT WILL MAKE THE WESTERN WORLD

THE FINEST or GOODS MANUFACTURED AT PRICES
THAT WILL MAKE THE WESTERN WORLD
ANXIOUS FOR IT'S SUPREMACY.
The good Old principle, 'utile duce'-the
ful with the beauful-hnds in Japan its fullest ap
pication. Nowhere Is there a ma lion more devoted
to the beautiful. Art seems to be their natural
brthright. The OF the swallows wing, the
airy grace of the spray OF cherry blossoms. the
ethereal texture OF the drifting cloud to them
matters of everyday familiarity. Their personal
manners and habits, too. essentially graceful
They are playful children kittens, and as
courteous as any grand seigneur OF the days OF
chivary Truly. one would say. a poetca. dreamy,
happy peope. butteriyiike. imbued with the music
OF life. but with little Of its practical philosophy
a people seldom serious dominated By
great passion. assuredly not destined TO compete
successfully In the great International games OF
war. OF commerce. and of industry.
But he reckons III who does not credit the Japan
csc with seriousness OF purpose practically OF
execution They are really about the most earnest
people In the world. They are intensely thorough.
They are ruled by unvaryng principle. Never did
a nation show more tremendous patriotic enthus-
asm than they during the late Chinese War. Nor
was 1t a htful. mercuria passion. but steadfast
determination as liked and enduring as that OF
the Briton. A. for their thoroughness all the
world knows that It has long been proverbial
The topmost pinnaces Of the Cathedral Of Milan
said to be carved carefully az the high altar
itself, though human eye may ever be able TO
and appreciate the work 40 with every
thing made by the japanese. Inside ami outside.
everywhere. whether in parts seen or unseen, the
workmanship is perfect human skill and
patience can make 1t.
II We turn to the practical Industrial development
OF Japan W. have. perhaps. the most Impressive
spectacle the whole realm OF enterprise and labor
has to show to-day. The warning that his ISLAND
Empire Is about to become serious competitor
In the American and European markets with the
identical manufactured goods have hitherto
been sending 10 Japan f. by no means meaningless
England has already found out its seriousness
Her Lancashire cotton mills have not merely
ceased to supply Japan with manufactured goods.
They suffering from the rivalry OF japanese
mills in other markets. The hundreds " towering
chimneys o. Osaka are impressive Landmarks ol
industrial progress They mean that the Japanese
will henceforth supply their own demands anu
also compete with the rest Of the world IN the ex-
port trade TO non manufacturing countries.
PROOF OF PROGRESS
What we may presently expect from Japan is to
be seen at the time In the great industrial
exhibition Kioo. Such exhibition is held
every fourth year. under the auspices Of the
Imperial Government. for the purpose OF promoting
industry and commerce. and the advance seen In
each one over Its immediate predecessor is really
startling Hitherto these exhibitions have been
held Toxic, but the present one Is at the ancient
capital, Kioto, city which this year has cee-
brated tho l.I00th anniversary OF Its founding. II
is an extensive and varied exhibition OF japanese
art and industry In all departments, and 1t Is
attended by vast throngs OF people from all parts
OF the Empire The admission fee, by the way. IS
only five sen, two and one-half cents circum-
stance which may be taken az significant OF the
character and purport OF the whole exhibition
For while the thoroughness and perfection OF work
manshlp characteristic OF the japanese are here
we'll maintained. the OF production is seen to
| be so low as to offer serious to the In
! dustries Of other lands.
! What the exhibition shows OF progress in the
| various branches OF manufacture is not adequately
to BE- described within the limits Of a newspaper
| article. Indeed. description could make Gear
TO one who has actually visited the exhibition
the wonderful advances made in all departments
OF handcraft The native industries. which have
been practised in Japan for centuries. show vast
/ Improvement Silks. embroideres. porcelain. lac
quer. ename.s. carvings in wood. ivory and metal
have all taken a wonderful development since
the great markets of the world have been fam-
iarlzed with these products. Western art also.
Is cultivated but as an exotic without arrestlng
the progress Of the native reproductions OF Nature.
! In one OF the galleries Of the fine building are
| to he seen 4 dozen paintings. chiefly OF Incidents
OF the Chinese war. which credtable lmta-
, lions " the modern French school
Throughout the exhibition a whole. however.
/ says recent visitor writing In The London
| Times" the useful preponderates the orna-
| mental The variety Of fabrics. the wealth
| OF designs. and the audacity OF new adapta-
lions Of material 10 the wants of lie. are all so
impressive that cannot resist peering into the
not distant future when yet greater Developments
OF the creative energy OF Japan will be revealed.
possibly to the CONSERVATION OF the West. What
possesses the most immediate interest for foreign
ers Is not native art and industry but the de-
partment Of japanese manufacture which has be-
come naturazed and in which the products OF
Europe and America have been adopted copied and
sometimes improved. The newly gained confidence
OF the Japancs-. their Intelligence and their in
tentnes~ OF purpose. would overcome almost any
obstacle. But the obstacles are few and their
enterprise Is assisted by certain very great sd-
vantsges 1t is perfectly evident 10 every that
a country in which the wages Of skilled laborsri
only six silver yen month, or say 10 cents
d day must have enormous advantage over
American and European Industries
PROGRESS IN MANY INDt STRIES.
Mention has already been made OF Japans great
progress. In cotton manufacture. She is likewise
extending her conquest in many other directions
Wooilen fabrics. To which the war has impaired
a wonderful stimulus canvas, and the heavier
cotton goods ropes and cordage OF all kinds. car
pets OF cotton and hemp, in which already a
large export trade 10 the United States has been
established. all we'll represented at the kioto
Exhibition. In the great department OF chemicals
Japan really to be abreast Of the most
advanced country. In the Item OF matches her
productive capacity Is to be seen in the fact
that at Kobe d shor; time no less than lo,OD
tons OF them were stored in one lot. awaiting ship
Inent. And 80 through vast range OF articles
great and small.
one turns from the exhibition Of them will
tie rrepressible conviction that there Is nothin.
within the range OF human ingenuity which. il
course OF time. the Japanese will not manufacture
and that whatever they make at al! they VIII make
well and make cheapiy than any one else II
the world. one enormous advantage which SHOULD
here be mentioned Is this that the japanese ar,
still free TO adopt and copy the patented inventions
| OF other countries at their own sweet will Taus
they are possessed OF every secret OF Western
handicraft while their own discoveries they keel