The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-30
III, Dill, act tremendously wi
Hoods flllS Hoods Sarsaparilla. sc.
Because British Manufacturers Canno
Compete With Japanese.
New York Sun.


There is no doubt that Great Britain
might be prejudiced in two ways by the
influence which Japan would acquire over
China were the reported alliance be-
tween the two Asiatic empires TO be car
ried out. Should the vast inert mass or
China's. population acquire presently a
vigorous vitality through an Injection or
the western spirit, the example could
hardly fail 20 have, sooner or later. an
electrifying effect upon the scores of mil
lions of ma lives in British INDIA But
long before political consequences of this
kind were experienced, England WUilld DC
apt TO see her manufactures supplanted
by japanese goods in the market not only
of the Middle Kingdom. but in all parts
Of the far east. 1t is this danger which
preoccupies the British public mind, for
the omens of it had been recognized be-
fore the war just concluded had begun.
Let us first note what England has 10
lose in China; we can then examine what
likelihood there is OF her losing IL in the
light of recent statistics. The trade or
China with Great Britain and the British
possessions for 1898 amounted TO sl9o.0co.-
coo, against a trade of SIS. goo with the
whole continent OF Europe except Tur-
key) and the United States. These are
the figures given by the Chinese customs
service, but they should be qualified by
the fact that a good deal OF the trade
passing through Hongkong and Singa-
pore is not British. just how large re-
duction should be made on this score can
not be definitely stated. but 10 show the
overwhelming superiority of British in
forests, let us assume that Hongkong
and Singapore were wiped off the map
with all their commerce. British and nom
British. Even then The trade of Great
Britain with China would stand at &c.
600 000 against Sis5O0. 900 for all civilized
competitors put together In the Chinese
treaty ports alone in 1891 there were $40
British firms and 3746 British subjects.
against ISL firms and ash subjects Of all
the other European powers and the
United States viewed collectively.
Such Is the position OF commercial pre-
ponderance now. occupied by England In
the Chinese markets. and IL furnishes a
measure OF her interest IN maintaining
the status quo in the Middle Kingdom.
What prospects has she OF retaining such
ascendancy after the importation OF Jap
anese manufactures shall be powerfully
stimulated through the establishment OF
close relations between the PCkin and
Tokyo governments2 An answer 70 that
question Is forthcoming in some facts
and figures collected by Mr.. Henry Nor
man For HIS v-alua Die book on The Peo-
plss and Politics OF the Far East" IL ap-
pears that. while IN $50 there was no cot
ton spinning In JaTan. there were IN iSS
about a quarter OF million cotton spin
dies, and IN the following year over half
a million. In the i've years pTSscesting
1898 the Imports OF foreign cotton goods
into Japan were cut down one-half In
quantity, while the manufacture OF ma
tive cotton fabrics rose from less than a
million pounds 20 upward Of 81 oo.0o0
pounds The general Imports OF Japan
rose only from 81. 90 90 10 $4,000 co be-
tween 1913 and 1S3. whereas her exports
Increased from 100000 - $1,000. 90.
Tho British consul n Yokohama IN his
last repoG- declared that ito say The least
the trade IN imports seems likely 10 suf-
FER great restrictions. and IN case OF arti-
cles which come tnuo competition with
home Japanose manufactures. probable
en- tinction.
K Is not only in tha mikad0's empire.
but throughout the far East. that British
manufactures are threatened by Japan-
esse CON tition. For this reason: IL We
take into view the skill and intelligence
of the japanese artisan and al the same
time the low rate OF wages which he re-
ceives. We mus. recognize that Japanese
labor Is the cheapest In the world In
parts of Japan. according to che British
consuls report. wages averaged in 1898
less than 10 cents day per man and less
than cents per woman. Even at Osaka
the chief manufacturing center OF Japan.
a day, and women from 3 70 10 cents:
white girls s or years old worked y
hours day for 6 cents. The results Of
such conditions - that japanese cotton
goods have already gone as far az the
Straits Settlements 1850 dozens OF
undershlTts having been sent 10 the
British city OF Singapore in one recent
consignment. Al Tamsui. japanese u1w-
cling has taken The place % former I'm
fyo.tations. and the consumption Of jap
auesc cottons in 1893 was - per cent
greater than In the previous twelve
month. Nor is X IN cottons only that the
JaTnneee ara vying with Western ma
tons Newchang and Macao have be-
cv,ne customers for Japanese flannel and
blankets. A. Nlngpo. hundreds Of hand
gins OF japanese make have bean I'M
ported In match making the japanese
have driven all competitors out Of the
East; 500. 90 gross ~ MA tchss went last
pear 20 chs British sea port Of TTnnCkong
alone. i Japan watch company is about
- begin watch making on a large scale
at Yokohama. and already japanese
clocks have driven their American rivals
GU; OF the markets Of the Straits Settle
Tnsnss. We adj that Japan ~ horTelf
frx nuf aeturing the rolling stock for the
railway now building in Korea.
Here we sS-en - have conclusive es9-
dence that. sfyualid Japan come % be re-
garie1 BY the Chinese as their firm a'sv
and best friend. she may eventually osIst
England from sse place % vantage which
The isster power now holds with regard
70 the commerce Of the Celestial empire.
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