Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-05-31

l can only account for this state If af 1alrs upon the ground that your officials nave been careless and indifferent. ,,
 suggested that our economic system. which had begotten high wages, toeeth. CT With our self supporting independ- ence, had given European rivals great aoyantage over us in Japan.
 We'll, replied the count. I've must see one of these days what can be done by some sort of reciprocal arrangement to foster better commercial relation with your country. I am very anxious about this "
 speaking of the general future of Ja- pan, remarked that. an English maea- zine writer had recently predicted that the attempt to force Japan into Q higher civilization would result in great politi- cal dlssension, and eventually we should have, instead of Q solid, constitutional monarchy, @ group of South American republics. To this the count replied:
 l have full faith in the permanency or our constitutional monarchy, for it is as permanent as that of England. More over. the foundation of our present sys- tenn is quite different from that of South American countries. laid by the Span iards 800 years ago. The English writ CTS theory, would suggest, has been evolved from his absolute ignorance of Japan and her history. ]"
 twill Japan, I inquired, "be so set up by her triumphs over China as to feel like making other conquosts? Is she, as is predicted by some of her foreign foes, likely to become disagreeable and offen- siye In the hour of her glory, and will 1t be necessary, as predicted by many, for the powers to combine aud teach her lessen?"
 Not at all. !" said the count. with emphasis, This idea must grow out of the fact that we are like the other peo- pie of the orient. We are neither lar tars nor Turks We do not loso our heads nor go mad with victory. We are a peaceful and not an aggressive people. We endured much at the hands of China, and this war came because it was forced upon us. All our diplomacy shows that we did not seek tho war, though VIC vigorously prepared ourselves for it. With US there is no one man with military ambitions to gratify. We have no Napoleon, no Alexander, no Tanner lane. We are one patriotic. peaceful family.
 tThere is no fear of our being oarrted away by our success in this war, for we do not seek conquest We have DO need of colonies Our people ate obedient to law and governmeht, and they can seek homes in all parts of the world They can live in cold as well as warm eli mates. Our surplus population, for this reason, cannot trouble us. Our people can go to Brazil, the southern islands OF Siberia. We want nobedy's territory But undoubtedly we shall 20 on inereas- ing our navy and strengthening our army. This will be necessary for the peace of the orient, for the protection of those who may come under our care One of tho aims of this war was inde- pendenee aud autonomy for Korea, This we must be able to guarantee.
 While there is no spirit of aggress- iveness in Japan. we shall be ready at all times to protect ourselves. We will nos submit to any aggression upon the part of other nations beg you that you will say for us that we seek only material advancement and home pros perity, and that Japan can never play the bully <"
 While entirely removed from public service Count Okuma is on good terms with the cabinet He recently sent message to Viscount Mutsu by mutu friend the substance of which was, "You are having hard time now, but your real trouble will begin when tho war ends. "-Colonel John A Cookeril1 In New York Herald