The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-04-30

Though the arrangements for peace
have not yet been officially promul-
gated, the Government Gazette being
silent on the subject, yet there does
not appear to be farther reason to
doubt that the plenipotentiaries who
have exercised the responsibility of
determining the terms of the agree.
ment precedent to the termination of
hostilities, have finally, after ample
discussion, finished their labors, and
the Chinese negotiators will shortly
take their leave and return says the
japan Herald Mail of April 18th.
Up to this no authoritative an
nouncement has been made of the de-
tails of the compact, though it is not
likely that publicity will be long de-
layed, but it is generally surmised
that they will not be found to greatly
differ from what was originally pub
lished in the Jill Shimpo, and these
were recognition of Korean indepen-
dence; cession of Formosa and the
Pescadores; surrender of portion of
Shingking; payment of an indemnity
of 800, 100000 taels; and grant of GER
tain trading privileges, which are to
form the subject of special conven-
ton.
Upon the assumption that the above.
mentioned demands substantially
represent what has been agreed to by
the plenipotentiaries and without
waiting for the publication of what
has actually been determined, so far
as can at present be ascertained,
speaking generally, the japanese ap-
pear to be far from enamOred of the
result of the labors of Count Ito and
Viscount Mutsu, though what farther
was expected to be wrung out of the
Chinese to satisfy national avaricious-
ness, is not very clear.
Several of the journals are already
writing against the terms of peace,
and some of them published in the
metropolis have been suspended by
the authority of the Minister of Home
Affairs. Elated by its extraordinary
amount of success, both on land and
at sea, the nation knows no mOdera-
ton, and there appears to be no
bounds to its eXultatiOn and its cupid
ity; it has become giddy and exhib-
its just as much rancOr against China
as though no peace had been discuss
0u anu dmlCdDly dfTdDSou'
The present excitement of the popu-
lace is altogether irrational, but as is
usually the case in this country, will
be likely to end in nothing more
formidable than an infinity of useless
talk. The effervescence which pre-
walls just now amongst civilians af-
fOrds singular contract with the pa
cific sentiments which appeared to
prevail so long as it was feared that
the war, with all its trials, might prove
of protracted duration, but no sooner
is there an assurance of immediate
peace than tickle public opinion at
once veers round, and the wars con-
tinuance is the one popular sentiment
of the day. We think that so far from
dissatisfaction being justified, that the
people of this country ought to feel,
and be willing to admit, that their
negOtiatOrs have made prOdigiously
successful and very profitable bargain
with humiliated and victimiZed China.
If the people of that unfortunate
country complain of the hard terms
which have been exacted by their con-
quering foe, which apparently had to
be submitted to in order to stay hos
tilities, nobody could find fault with
them for so doing, and the world will
watch with interest what China finds
to say on the subject.
1t does not seem to have yet oc-
Cured to the Japanese malcOntents
that the emperor, in whom is vested
the prerogative of making peace as
well as that of making war, must have
been kept entirely conversant with
the negotiations as they have pro-
ceeded, and it is consequently with
his majesty's concurrence and ap-
proval that the terms of peace have
been agreed to. The name and will
of the sovereign is so potent that the
cabinet will be able TO still popular
excitement by advising the issue of an
imperial rescript dealing with the
subject; the tempest of popular pas
sion will then be stilled and calm
prevail.
Were it so to happen that the EN-
perOr of China should be advised by
the cOunsellOrs of the throne to refuse
to ratify the agreement Which.sthe
Chinese envOys have signed and
sealed, that would be an act of mex
cusable bad faith, since telegraphic
messages have been frequently pass
ing during the progress of the negO-
tiatiOns, it is therefore to be appre-
bended that nothing Of Importance
has been agreed to by Lii Hung
Chang without previous sanction from
Peking.
Whilst it must be a. subject of su
preme satisfaction to the Chinese EN-
peror and his court, that the capital of