Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-05-31
aHE MIKADO'S REALM
coLoNEL JOHN A. cockERlLus IN
 yERWEW WITH COUNT okuMA.

ahe United States-Protcctton Not Need- eA as Yes-No Military Aspirations-wiu Not Play the Bully.
 One of the ablest, most experienced and enlightened statesmen in Japan to. aay is Count s. Okuma, ex-minister of finance aud exminister of foreign af- hirs.
 Without ever having set foot outside If Japan, and without understanding a word of foreign language, he seems to hsye grasped the genius of his own 1Eauntry and the spirit of the age more fully than any citizen of Japan with whom have yet conversed. He is a areat force today, though retired from All active political life and public serv- foe. It is the universal belief that should this war result in political revulsion and administrative bouleversement. as now seems more than probable. he will snooeed Viscount Mutsu ip the foreign office, and he may even be lifted into the premiership, now held by Count Ito.
 drove out to Waseda few days ago to visit the count on invitation. He re- ceiyed mo with great cerdiality and presented me to his private secretary. q bright young gentleman. a graduate of our Johns Hopkins university, in Balti- more who acted as interpreter.
 What of the future of Japan?" I seked
 1t will be one of continued growth and intelligent progress, replied the count Our people will never go back ward We wore advancing toward high CT civilization before we came into touch with the foreigners We certainly have no reason to be ashamed Of what VIC have achieved in the last 10 years. Our schools and ouE educational systems arc expanding, and the demand for howl- edge Is increasing This war has been good lesson for our people It has shown them the value Of modern appliances and the necessity for keeping abreast of the timea Our people we'll know that If VIC had stood still, as great China has done, we could not have accomplished what we have. Our prowess is due to onF enlightenment, ouE skill and onx 4Rdern education Our country is one fd progression henceforth and for al time, rest assured o9 that
 What are we to expect of Japan, said l, under the new treaties and the new conditions which they will ereate?'i
 All that can be reasonably hoped for, replied the count. Heretofore we have had some agitation against foreign CTS and hostility to them because many of our people have believed that under the old treaties too much favor was shown them. Our people are hospitable They have sometimes thought that their kindness and hospitality were abused by the foreigners, or at least not appre. eiated This has entered into our peli- tics somewhat. But when Japan assumes entire control of her affairs hospitality toward intelligent and kindly foreignera will be assured, especially toward the people of the United States, who were onE early friends and for whom we on tertain the kindliest feeling. Japan will go bear herself always as to be entitled io6he respect and esteem of the en1ight sGAd nations of the world The twon tetb century is to be one of great ad
 Yagement The people of Europe. be liee, grown weary of their great mih tary burdens, will throw them off. We shall have peace and an era of develop ment of resources everywhere. In this race Japan will be found always active, earnest and sincere.
 The conversation turning upon the economic policy likely to be pursued by Japan under the new conditions. the count said:
 For a time our young men who were sent abroad to study returned to us with an inclination toward the Manchester sohool-that is to say, those who gave political economy any sort of investiga- ton were inclined to be free traders. Today we have very large and intelh- gent class turning toward protection.
 As for myself l do not believe that Japan requires protection at present. We are just beginning to manufacture ppon large scale. Tho satin fabrics the art works which have heretofore bSen turned ont i'll small, domestic way will soon become the products of great factories Our cotton mills and silk factories, iron and steel works, etc., with our cheap and skillful labor, will enable us to enter any market in the world We will be able to withstand the competition of my civilized people, SC for us the protective policy is not needed
 But, :" said I, with organized capi- tai you will soon have organized labor. You will early find your wage schedule increasing The frugality of your peo- pie, their limited wants and the low cost of living will stand you we'll for a time, but eventually you will have the labor union and the walking dele 5ste'"
 @Ghe count smiled. "Our prosperity will be well assured by that time, and we can then deal with the question as 1t arises, but for tho present free trade will suit Japan. "
 Then with marked emphasis he said; tTt ss cyraofIv fo Ina raprattnd that the