The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-27
RIVER AT s A. N
AS SEEN BY THE JAP

1t is more than forty years since the
United States sent Commodore Perry
with his guns and Plenipo Harris with
his diplomacy to say to the Japanese
that they must forego their seclusion
and open up their ports to our traders,
because ito maintain convenient reIa-
tiOnS between those who have and
those who have not is the way Of
Providence, and to maintain communi-
cation between the races is the will of
God" Guns and diplomacy prevailed
over pride of race and placid content
ment, and the japanese agreed to COM
munications under restraints that have
been gradually wearing away until
their last vestige will vanish when the
recent treaty becomes effective. But it
is only within recent years that we
have come to understand what kind of
a people it was into whose seclusion
we broke. We hold them in a good deal
higher respect than we did before thew
so cleverly and expeditiously whipped
their big neighbor across the sea of
dustrial development have sent cold
shivers down the backs Of our padded
and pampered Industries.
Taking the words of our embassy
as a text, Shimada Saburo, a leading
member Of the Progressionist party Of
Japan, comments, in the English edi-
ton Of .Kokumin- No-Tomo, on the scare
given our protectionists and their de-
sire to repudiate the policy esta blished
forty years ago. He reminds us that
1t was we who Knocked at the gate
OF this celestial region, starting these
non-coVetous islanders and enticine
them into the world of woe where thew
came to learn of cupidity and taste the
afI1ictiOn in running the race with Ohio,
hatlohs. 1t was We who taught them
that Ito maintain relations between
those who have and those who have
not is the will of God" that "to usa
cheap things is profitable to the 11sers,
ana to break communications now
after having thus piously opened
them, strikes the observer as very had
faith with his people and with Provi-
dence.
The Democratic message horne nv,
FERRY found acceptance in Japan, and
our critic is surprised that the same
doctrine does not now obtain here Tho
reasons given for the change he treats
with scOrn. The cries Of our tariffians
against Monaghan CHEAP labor, ora
the utterances Of lunatics we can
give no heed to such statements. Rttf
is II not great shame for such luna
tics to be produced in the great re-
public?" He cannot understand vhv II
is that not only Ignorant people" but
great speakers and politicians are
against free exchange" which is "not
selling compulsorily articles to those
who dislike Them" but merely "the
natural relations esta blished bv Provi-
dence between those who have and
those who want" With a simplicity
that will raise a smile on the face of
the orator of the Canton lawn. he as
sures us Of the eagerness of his conn
trymen to buy of US if we will sell orr
wares as cheaply as other people will
a doctrine Arthur's commission found
prevailing some twelve years ago
among the benighted statesmen of the
South American republics. "In the
region Of economics" observes this
"uninstructed economist" as ex-Presi-
ident Harrison once admitted himself
to be, there is no bias of nations. A
thing cheap in price finds its way with
out wings into a far-off country. Mr..
Shimada Saburo has yet to learn that
our ''lunatics" now hold that "a cheap
coat means a cheap man under it,"
and that the use of cheap things, -
because they are nasty" is not only
improbable to the users but SO in
furious that it must be prevented at
any cost. Nevertheless he seems to us
to have come very good Democratic