The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-22

GaTE. was p24ntQ4is ~Az3StEseA-
on May 4 came the intelligence from
Kioto tbat an offer had been made by
Conn. Ito 70 reiinquish the whole Of Man
ehur4a- EXCEPT the southern portion OF The
Jeao.o-- reuinstIIa. on waich Talien and
Port Arthur are situated. This was the
f~z- irt{r9ation OF the miuisiry's resolve
20 yield. ana hsd DISTRESSING effect uPou
tf,e- @~-sa7 ar0e'7- nor herfs'fSe fnnv ra9 at
lowed themselves 10 really believe that
japan could retain her continental acqui-
D. ..- asst sL4e. acre t0ta4ly I'D
r-ena-ed ror so premature an avowal Of
inability 70 resist Many things. IL was
thought. would happen before this step
was taken but a. least IL was supposed
that the worst was now known. The min
listers could not fail TO take 20 heart the
lesson Of Bakan. where they brought woe
upon themselves by negiecting TO ascer-
tain what The European states would ap-
prove or diSapprove. This time. assured
Iy they would formulate no proposition
unless advised of It's acceplability. But
another disappointment was at hand.
Nanchuria without the fortresses was not
enough 10 satisfy Russia and her allies.
The powerful strsngholds also must be IN
cluded in the surrender, and so on May s.
two DAYS before an answer could have
been extorted on any pretense. 1t was an
nouuced To official circles that the whole
4 desire TO exact compensation for the
loss of the territory was expressed, but
no one sees how this can be obtained il
China stands on her rights and says that
since she has ceded land she does not
choose To buy ii back again. The gloomy
conclusion. when the ne@s came was that
japan had suffered an irTetrieVable dis
grace. The question OF ratification was
regarded with comparative slight inter
.Ttk gfcsl +fgas s-aI
of hostiuties was probable. IL not certain,
ia case the exchange was delayed. It was
indeed decided TO some extent by curious
circumstances
on May fresh appeal for extension
OF the stipulated term was received from
China. The Tsung ii Yamen asserted
that they were expecting an important
communication from the three powers
and that until IL arrived they were abso-
lutely deharred from executing their
pledge This time the answer of Japan
was not in the old resolute key. A post
ponement was granted for FIVE days, but
as IL happened the concession was super
huous. a second telegram from China
gave notice that the expected European
message had come to hand. and that the
ceremony need not be Deferred. The dele
gates of the two governments were wait
ing at Chefoo. and the last rurmality OF
same evening
The end Is accomplished so far as can
now be judged. but Count Ito has little
cause 10 congra tulat te himself. He can no
longer look 10 MS countrymen for the re-
ward which only a fortnight ago they
were clamoring to bestow upon him. He
is well aware that from the moment his
renuncia ton OF the Manchurian province
IS publicly known his laborious services
to the state WIFI be disregarded, his in
duStry and ability scoffed at, and his
name held up to eXecration and contempt
Moderation and tolerance are not among
the virtues Of the Japanese people when
their pride is wounded and their self-ese-
TEEN brought low. The ministry of which
Count Ito Is the head, can never stand
against the rage Of the entire community
1t is thought possible that. foreseeing his
fault. he IS already providing for a new
administration. Three days ago the full
cabinet and pTivy council were summoned
TO Kioto, with the purpose, ii IS supposed.
OF recommending pre-arranged change
OF government to the consldera tion Of the
emperor. But 1T is most unlikely that any
ministry In which Count Ito has the
slightest concern will he permitted 10
rule The nation VIII be unitedly arrayed
against him and bis associates. yiscount
MutSu may be exempt from censure, he
sause 1t will be known that the precipi-
tate SURRENDER was contrary 10 his WISHES,
but he can hardly expect, nor would he
probably desire to be separated from his
fellows in their downfall The successor
OF Count Ito win certainly not be man
OF his choosing. Common opinion among
officials is that Count Okuma will be the
intellectual though probably not the NOM
inal chief of the next cabinet. Okuma is
unquestionahly the most vigorous and
energetic statesman in Japan. but he has
many enemies, and the present ministers
would risk much TO prevent him from re-
turning 10 office. Some of them would not
hesitate 10 blacken his reputation with
the emperor and thus interpose formida-
BILE barrier 10 his elevation But high
ability is needed at this crisis and Okuma
so easily leads all rivals intellectually.
with the sole exception of Niscount Nut
su. that the direction Of the government
can hardly be kept from him. l do not
speak OF this as a certainty, but as a
strong probability. Within a very few
weeks the question OF the future leader
ship will be definitely settled.