The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-17
JAPAN AFTER VICTORY.
She Resolved to Become Military a.
Well as q Naval Power.

Well as a Naval Power.
Baltimore Sun
The world is congratulating Japan. and
just now she Is IN high feather among the
nations. On the other hand, the stock OF
the people of the pigtal is far below par,
and her general condition Is AZ present not
very celestial"
But Japan's congratulations should not
be given TO her SO unreservedly. for theirs
Is loss and gain, tare and tret, 10
be taken into account.
What does she gain by her victory over
China? She has accomplished exploits,
has developed unknown resources. has ex-
posed the weakness and corruption OF her
sister empire. has brought herself forward
as military factor OF first-rate import
anee in the East, has acquired COM
manding position in the affairs Of Korea,
has had her treasury enriched by more
than 2o0.o00 900 of taels of silver and has
come into possession of the great and rich
island OF Formosa- OF all these acquisi-
tons the latter is by far the most substan-
tial, and doubtless il will add more than
all others to the might and efficiency OF
Japan.
This change of ownership is also most
fortunate for Formosa. 1t Will be devel-
oped better, and the two provinces OF
China which lie just across the straits and
are closely connected in trade with For
mosa will be found sensitive to the evolu-
tionary and revolutionary forces.
The japanese soldier has shown his met
tie, and the staff scored high honors. but at
the same time the fighting qualities of the
soldier or the capacity Of officers have not
been very severely tested. If, instead of
fancy, Haunting banners and the fireworks
OF half-trained coolies, they had TO stand
before the deadly hail of shrapnel and the
crash of well-ordered volleys from disci-
plined troops, their equals in bravery and
patriotism, the result might not have been
invariably one-sided.
Is Japan really better off now than be-
fore the war? What does she propose TO
do with her large indemnity? She has be-
come tremendously ambitious, and now
she is determined to make herself great
military and naval power and to exert a
potent influence In the affairs of Asia.
With the money paid her by China she
is going 10 fortify her coast. buy more bat
ueshipS and get ready for another war
that may grow out of the one that is just
over. All the money received from China
Will soon be spent in these preparations
and the costly navy and the Notifications
must be kept up.
Who is to pay for all this? Japan is not
rich commercial nation. Ike England,
with colonial possessions to draw on, and
heavy tax on her own people, essential
to military effectiveness, is apt to create
grievous inward disturbance.
her in a position in the East that will re-
quire her to spend large sums of money
to maintain her prominence, and she must
necessarily be kept in constant anxiety
for fear her people may be overburdened
in the maintenance of the army, navy and
coast defenses. and for fear that the everA
Watchful Russia may swallow the chest
nut after Japan has cooked ii.
Russia is noted for her logged persist
ency of purpose and she intends TO secure
an opening 10 the unfrozen sea If she has
to fight for 1t. In order to accomplish this
she cannot afford to allow Japan TO gain
any more power.
Soon after the fall OF Port Arthur the
Japanese army would have been in the cap
ital Of China had not Russia indirectly
changed the tide OF affairs.
In the settlement Of the Korean question
Russias fine hand was again seen, and
many OF the intelligent Japanese think that
Japan did the fighting and Russia is reap
ing the fruits of the victory. A leading
Japan paper last week contained this signi-
ficant paragraph:
Japan can supply the men and
Great Britain the naval power, which
would more than balance the Russian and
French preponderance over Japan"
But for Japan to become a party in Eu-
ropean politics means more war, more cost,
more sacrifice and more national uneasi-
ness. IL she had kept at home and devoted
herself to the industrial development OF
her people she would have no apprehension
of a foreign war, and surely she has
enough to keep her busy on her own unique
island. But she has taken the sword. and
its blade may cut her own throat before
It Is sheathed.
The late enemy OF Japan presents an in
teresting study. Today we find In China
the same elements at work which brought
about in India the substitution OF foreign
for native rule.
A tottering imperial autocracy. semi-in-
dependent vice royalties. an official class
as corrupt, ignorant and self-seeking rs
any Indian court could produce; great I'M
paid armies without leaders or discipline
such as Give and Wellesley so easily de-
stroyed. and a people who do not know
what the word patriotism means. and who
will sell themselves 10 the highest bidder
If history repeats Itself IL takes no prophet
or son OF prophet TO foresee the inevita-
BILE.
Il is currently reported that the late
financial commissioner at Canton was ap-
pointed some time since by imperial edict
on a special mission 70 convey 10 St Pet
ersburg a secret treaty between China and
Russia, which comedies 70 the latter the
right to build railways through Manchu-
ria. and IL also grants TO Russia other priv
ileges OF the kind, which proves beyond
doubt the tendency OF China 10 accede 10
the NiSheS OF nation INTO Wnoso ud"|S
she seems quite willing, practically. 20
place herself during the misfoTtunes that
now overshs6Ow her
The fact that China reserves the right 70
purchase from Russia these railroads in
twenty years only proves that her star 81
/ hope Is still twinkling, however dimly. In
the distant sky. All these things are has
tering forWau! the time when the much
talked-of Chinese wall viii entirely crum-
bic before the influences from without. and
when a nation of 490o0o.so0 population viii
| De permeated. let Us hope. by the golden
light OF a new national life