The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-08

nese are not a warlike race. They learned
tious copy Of the Kew Testament what
Christ thought OF peacemakers. They be-
iieved peace to be the chief end of man;
that war was a crime; that the soldier.
because of the calling, belonged to low
grade. that there was no heroism In cutting
Threats; that reverence was due to intel
lect and virtue, rather than to the sword.
The Chinaman, therefore, could only be
moral moral sense: by Competing him to be re-
creant to the teachings of his fathers; by
showing him that military service was nei-
Their a sin nor a crime, but on the con-
trary. the highest duty he could render to
his country. This would be like compelling
the Catholic to dsavow the Real Presence
as condition precedent to military
career.
The persistent isolation of the United
States in the presence of events which
concern us more than any other power is
to be regretted. / do not criticfse Mr..
cy Nor do / censure him for declining to
follow England like a ragpcker, gathering
may have dropped on the way. But we
should have a definite policy with China.
She is our next-door neighbor-as near to
US as Liverpool thirty. years ago. Her COM
merce runs naturally into our channels. and
IN its development is involved the prosperity
Two facts are patent as the outcome of
the contest between China and Japan
l. That Japan is engaged in a war partly
OF conquest ana partly to preserve her
government.
2. That in the destruction of China as the
nineteenth century closes with the ordi-
nance that civilization means war, or an
unceaSing preparation for war
Japan has long been preparing for HOSTILE
ties we are told now of the perfection of
her Chinese maps" every poipt noted in de-
tail Japan has acted upon the belief that
the battle must come some day, and her
energy has for years been concentrated upon
readiness for the issue.
JAPAN'S PREPARATIONS.
saw this in Japan in 1879. The atmos-
phera was then vrarAiIysa rho ,,,litoru ood
naval schools, equal in a measure to our
own, were drilling the young men. The
Mikado wore a soldiers uniform and never
tired of reviewing his troops. This mill
tary renaissance was partly the outcome
of the suppression Of the daimios AID
their two-sworded followers. Deprived of
their weapons and depressed in their COM
bative propensities, they must be armed.
Once armed, and they must fight.
Aiming and ever arming, the military
spirit In the ascendant, heavy burdens to
sustain an army and navy. the japanese
not have itg Whence these ornaments?
thrifty. would have asked the same ques-
tons, Public opinion in Japan and ea-
swept the hour. Unless satisfied the Mikado
must follow the example of Napoleon when
France an1 save his croWs There was no
country to attack but China. and the strife
was forced upon China as the political ne
How far viii Japan. be permitted to go?
The Mfkado fights with q ball and chain
as we have saidis of as much use to China
as the northern districts Of Maine. to the
foothold on the continent, base, offensive
or defensive, so far as China Is concerned,
for all Time And in this there might
an that while she may not object to the in
dependence of Corea, she will not permit
Japan may win the prize, but not, keep it,
The field marshal Count Oyama, and the
f 70 s g.
corruption, bad government, evil civil serv-
ice and other deppra,blse ., things Not since
pair a world out of gear has there been
more eccentric adventure. When I read
baest oeaf Geeretted that
/ could not have called the attention of my
l. Friend Count Inouye to TaInmany Hall For
every reason justifying Japan's interior
ence in Corea there are ten reasons more
emphatic as regards New York. And If
government New York. a ripper and more
inviting field, should not be overlooked
upon Formo Maui with eager ewes She sent
an expedition there years ago and would
have remained, holding the island, had not
Would England now consent to the occu-
patton of Formosa?
points of vantage and she could capture
them without trouble. H6nSow is in the
heart of China and from thence she could
perhaps name a dynasty and change the face
of Asia, Russia would never assent to
Japan's dominance in Hankow and Eng
land, regarding Shanghai as semi-English
port, would prevent its seizure.
The occupation of Canton would give
value and bring japanese commerce into into
profitable relations with the United States
But France would net assent to this occu-
ttDr, ,<rIo 10
| powerful neighbor as Japan lowering over
Hong Kong.
On the contrary, having won a victory
| in Shantung, which opens the way to
| Picking and gives the Japanese command
ers assurance of triumph not altogether
barren, the Western powers Intimate that
the should cease. And with this an
nouncement comes another TO the effect
| that the British admiral has been in
structed to warn the Japanese fleet fronn
the Yangtse. The possession of this mag
nificent river by the Japanese-assuredly
J enable them to bisect the empire and put
| dozen cities under it's guns. But from
| mand that this must not be.
| Japan, therefore, cannot turn without
won u moral victory. She will enjoy hence
| forward a tolerated 'place among the ma
tons She will not be kicked from pillar
to post by foreign ambassadors, as in the
days of Sir Harry Parkes. But where are
the material gains, which should be the
Peking, an advantage, perhaps, to China,
| remembering that Picking is Tartar
| rather than a Chinese town. that its reten-
| ton by the present dynasty is not pleas
| ant to Chinese who revere the memory of
! the Mngs, and that patriotic Cinnamon
! would grieve over its capture about as
| much as Frenchmen would grieve over the
| capture by Russia of Metz and StrSsburg.
Japan may impose an indemnity. This,
however, would be in the interest of Great
| Britain. British subjects now rule the f.
nanceS of China, and q large indemnity
! would strengthen that hold. But in what
I other form can she hope fer advantage?
Dwelling upon tbis-and 1t is difficult for
any one bearing good will to Japan to join
1 in this outburst of joy over her entrance
| into the family of nations" her progress
| her assimilation of Western ideas Nthose
| who knew japan before rude Western
! hands made wanton with her beauty, her
| chivalry and her renown may well mourn
| tho change. What call our civilization
! has done much to make US blush, but moth
ing grievous as the taking of our beauti-
| full Japan out of her cain, exquisite life,
consecrated by the gentle traditions of i'm
memorial years, and giving to her people
arms. teaching them the bell-engendered
| litany OF war. and pIunging them into a
| struggle with a peaceful people of their
own race, and near to them in literature
sentiment and religion. There has been in
| our day sadder event.
THE REAL ARBITERS
1t is but another of those questionable