The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-15
Japan regrets that the commerce DO

Japan regrets that the commerce DO
tween these countries is not greater and
more equublc. wish seriously to impress
this upon You. Formerly WE were from
90 to 80 days apart. You used to receive
our goods by tho way of India and Eu-
rope. Today we are only If or Is days
distant We should have better trade
relation. feel that i'll some way your
consuls here have not been energetic in
promoting business. Certainly they have
not been SO Jealous us the representa-
SvAa "f F'r~ianA Germany and France.
l can only account for this state OF af-
fairs upon the ground that your officials
have been careless and Indifferent :"
1 suggested that orr economic system,
which had begotten high wages, togcth-
er with our self supporting indcpend-
enco. had given European rivals II great
advantage ovor us III Japan.
well, " replied the count, 1--WE must
see one of these days what can he done
by some sort Of reciprocal arrangement
to foster n better commercial relation
with your country. am very anxious
about this. ~
Speaking of the general future Of ia
pm, | remarked that an English maya
zine writer had recently predicted that
the attempt to force Japan into a higher
civilization would result in great poEti-
cal discussion, and eventually we should
have, instead of solid. constitutional
monMchy, a group of South American
republics. To this tho count replied:
Il have full faith i'll the pcrmuncncy
of our constitutional monarchy, for il is
rs permanent rs that of England More
over, tho foundation Of our present sys-
tem is quite different from that of South
American countries, laid by the Span
iards 300 years ago The English writ
ers theory, l would suggest hns been
evolved from his absolute ignorance of
Japan and her history"
will Japan" inquired, ."be so set
| mp by her triumphs over China us to feel
like making other conquests? Is she. rs
| is predicted 10y some Of hor foreign foes
| likely to become disagrecablc and often
sivo III tho hour Of her glory, and Will
| 1t bo necessary, as predicted by many,
for the powers to combine and teach her
q lcsson?n
mot at MI" said the count, with
emphasis. This idea must grow ont of
tho fact that we are like the other poo
| pie of the orient. We arc neither Tar
iars nor Turks, We do not lose our
heads nor go mad with victory. We arc
a peaceful and not an aggressive people.
We endured much mt tho hands of
China, and this war came hocauso it was
| forced upon us. All our diplomacy
shows that we did not seek the war,
though we vigorously prepared ourselves
for it. With us there is no ono man with
military ambitions to crafty. We have
no Napoleon, no Alexander, 10 Tanner
lane. We arc one patriotic, peaceful
family.
There is no fear of our being carried
away by our success in this war for we
do not seek conquest We have no need
OF colonies. Our poople are obediont to
law and government, and they c;m socl;
homes III all parts of the world. They
can live in cold as VOL rs warm eli
mates. Our surplus population, for this
reason, cannot trouble MS. Our people
can 20 to Brazil, the southern islands OF
Siberia. We want nobodys territory.
But undoubtedly we shall 20 on increas-
ing orr navy aud strengthening our
army. This viii be necessary for tho
peace of the orient, for the protection
of those who may como under our care.
Ono of the aims Of this war was indie.
pendence and autonomy for Korea. Tins
we must be able to guarantee.
"Nhilo there is no spirit OF agrees
iveness in Japan, we shall he ready Mt
all times 60 protect ourselves. We Will
not submit TO any aggression upon the
part of other nations beg Won that
you will say for us that VIC seek only
material advancement and homo pros.
perity, and that Japan can never play
the bully. T."
While entirely removed from public
service Count Okuna is on good terms
with the cabinet. Ho recently sont a
message to Niscount Mutsu by a mutual
friend, the substance Of which was,
"You are having hard time now. hut
your real trouble will begin when the
war ends. ''-Coloncl john \. Cockerill
In New York Herald.
1