Evening star., 1895-09-21

Ieel very sore over the manner In which
they have been deprived of the fruits of
the victory over China to which they were
entitled by the Interference of Russia,
backed by Germany and France. The hot
heads In Japan were loud In their demand
for war at once with Russia, and all the
rest Of tho world. and Count Ito, an ex-
perienced and sagacious statesman, who
negotiated the treaty and who appreciated
the utter madness Of collision with these
great powers and who conceded their de-
mands, has had to contend with a very bit
ter opposition. Had he not been firmly
backed by the emperor, he would have been
crushed by the turbulent opposition.
The emperor, in the recent war, has dis
played degree of craftsmanship. good
judgment and military capacity that has
not only made him the idol of the people,
but will cause him to be recognized as
among the great rulers of the world.
The war party have been making great
efforts to secure the downfall Of the Ito
ministry and will be likely to make a lively
raid on it in the coming session Of the Diet.
They may succeed in dislodging Count Ito.
but In that event, and should Count Okuma,
who Is the leader Of the opposition, be
called upon to head q new cabinet 1t would
not mean a proclamation Of war upon Rus
advantage Of the war fever to get into
power, but he is a very able and level
headed man. and he knows what folly 1t
would be to challenge a conflict single
handed with Russia and her allies.
The Great Danger for Japan.
But there is undoubtedly an intense dis
position on the part Of the Japanese to
make Japan a strong military power, able
ar~Ik ~, 80 -
Here is where her great danger lies. Japan.
though making great strides toward bus
| mess prosperity, is not yet rich people in
proportion to population. able to stand the
heavy tax of a great war and sustain
| a great armament. A large portion of her
people are always on the verge of starva-
tion, and the failure of the rice crop, or a
gre at earthquake, or visitation Of cholera,
always necessitates a demand upon the
public purse for relief.
The late war with China was so short
and so comparatively inexpensive that the
people did not get realizing idea of what
protracted wars and the maintenance of
war armaments really cost.
The example of Italy, who has bank
rupted herself by her ambition to figure
amongst the great military powers Of the
world, is one to be studied by the Japanese.
The best friends of Japan hope to see
her abandon her lingo talk of Asia for the
Asiatics' or Japan for the Japanese"
and apply her energies to a further extern
sion of the marvellous industrial progress
she has been making for the past twenty
years.
At the rate her trade is increasing and
with her wonderful aptness for the intro
duction and development Of new industries.
ho hat oh fc iYpn
upon all her famous old art products. she
will be rich enough in another twenty
years to talk about another war.
In the meantime she can go on building
up a navy of good quality. but not big
enough to beat all the navies Of the world.
And 1t will be a great mistake II she un-
dertakes to build up an army of a size to
compete with the great armies Of Europe.
1t would be terrible misfortune to Japan
If her busy millions of artisans and la
borers, who are sending their beautiful
products to all parts of the world. and en-
riching their country thereby, should be
converted into the drones and idlers Of a
great standing army.
Americans in Japan.
Americans stand well in Japan. The
voluntary return by this country of our
share of the Shimonesh indemnity Cwrung
from the Japanese by the different naval
powers) has made us very popular in
Japan. And the many kindnesses shown
by our naval officers to suffering Japanese
soldiers has added to that good opinion.
This is shown particularly in the hospital
ties showered by the warm-hearted jap
anese upon Lieut.. Emory and other officers
Of the Petrol, who were present at some of
the fighting and were able to be Of great
Sfc IN M ha dad
and poorly clad soldiers both the jap
anese and Chinese. 1t is pleasant to note
that the heroes Of this affair." Lieut.. Emory
ard several Of his handsome young officers
-Macfarland, Mohup, Sargent, etc, are
Washingtonians
Minister Dun and Consul General McIvor
have earned the entire confidence of the Jap
anese by the tact and ability they have
shown in tho discharge Of their duties dur
ing the war.
Mr. Dennison, formerly of our Treasury
Department, holds prominent position in
the Japanese State Department and is held
IN high esteem.
Col. Cockerill. who has been supplying the
New York Herald with the best political in
telligence sent out from Japan, and Mr.. w.
E. Curtis, who has given the Chicago
Record the most thorough exposition of the
wonderful industries of Japan that has yet
been written, are decidedly at the front in
public regard.
Mr.. Ed. House, who is remembered In
Washington as bright newspaper man of
years ago, is now living in Toxic and con-
tinues to do good work in journalism and
literature.
Gen. George Williams of Washington,
who is now in Japan and was formerly in
the employ of the Japanese government, is
immensely popular there, and If he does
not succeed in getting the building of lot
of Japanese warshfps in American ship
yards it will not be his fault.
DIR. Eldridge, who went out to Japan with
Gen. Capron, is now leading physician in
Yokohama and holds position in the JAP
anese Health Department.
DR.. Hail. another American physician, is
among the foremost in his profession in
Yokohama.
Mr.. S. NJ. Bryan Of Washington, who es-
tablished the admirable postal system of
Japan, is most pleasantly remembered
there.
The venerable and lovable Mrs Scldmore
formerly Of Washington, is now homed
with her son George, who is vice consul at