The herald., 1896-01-20
Critical Condition vi chinO-Jap-
anese Politics Plainly Told
JAPAN'S AGGRESSIVE VIEWS
A Great Revolution, Socially, PoIitic ally
and ReligiousIy, Is Now Imminent
Antipodes-Brief Talks With Busy lien
From Various Centers

employ of the Japanese government, as a
marine engineer. said at the United States
hotel: IL was at Wei Hal Wei and when
the engagement was at its hottest, re-
quiring incessant attention to the bells,
was suddenly knocked off my feet, and, in
trying to save myself from a scalding. hurt
myself internally. had every care by the
ships doctor, and on reaching Yokohama
the best advice procurable was placed at
my service, but no one could find out just
where the trouble lay. The government
then gave me leave to return to America,
and got my passage paid to San Fran
cisco, where the difficulty was at once dis
covered and I am convalescent. have
three months more furlough on full pay
and an extra allowance for medical ex-
penses. The Japs pay very handsomely
for skilled American labor, especially that
of engineers and machinists, ard steady,
sober men are paid much consideration.
shall go back for a few years at least, AS
expect that there is going to be war again
before long, Korea being the subject of
dispute, or else the ambition of Japan TO
secure footing in the PHILIPPINES or the
Ladrones. l heard today that negotia-
tions are going on for the purchase of some
steamers idle in San Francisco and other
Iron works at San Francisco will be asked
to figure on the price for number of small
fast sailing guIboats that will average %
knots and carry light armament to be used
in driving the Chinese out of Korea. The
scientific training of the Japanese, their
wonderful gu ckness in mastering difficult
mechanical problems, their daring and
pluck, the temptation to strike hard and
suddenly now that the Manchu dynasty is
tottering to its fall, may at any moment
bring western nations tact to face with
questions that will affect much OF Asia.
The deposition Of Ii Hung Chang is sheer
folly. He is the most capable man in the
whole empire. But, you know, whom the
gods wish to destroy they first make mad.
Among thousands of intelligent Cinnamon
the Japanese are looked upon as friends
and brothers, as the champions of the yell
low races against Tartar and Manchu
usurpers. The one tie between all the al
most innumerabe races that go to make
up what is called China are the tonsure
and Confuciauism. 1t can hardlybe called
religion: that of the masses is a muddle
of Buddhistic idolatry and Shintooism.
They hail the Japanese as the bearers of q
new religious revelation which shall restore
o once pure faith now lost in the dim
past of questionable tradition; so you see
that political and religious motives COM
bined may yet result in Japan furnishing
war began. and on account of the very low
rates for steamer freight between Pacific
coast ports and those of Japan, enormous
shipments of flour in sacks have been
made from this side. as many steamers
carried it as ballast, just as the Atlantic
liners are in the habit of carrying corn and
other cereals for the same purpose. Amer
lean flour is become the favorite food of
the Japanese-when he can afford it, while
his raptures over dried California fru t,
shipped in sacks also, is amusing l do
not take much stock in the story that is so
often repeated, that Japan will become a
serious competitor with this country in the
leading staple manufactures of iron and
textiles. She is going to have a gigantic
ire over which to rule, where all her
manufactures for years to come will find
their sale. Americans all over Japan are
much liked, and treated with a cheerful
and eager courtesy shown TO no other
western nation, and the talk of restricting
their immigration to this country is causing
much anxiety, and would be greatly de-
plored.
Hon. ]. W. Mowbray of Brisbane, a
member of the legislative council of Queens.
land, said this colony is the youngest of
the group of Australasan colonies, having
been founded in 1859, the territory form
erly being part of New South Wales. We
are suffering greatly from depression in
and we blame you Yankees for most of it.
You ship us wheat, barley, oats and maize
for less than the bare cost to us of growing
them, leave alone any interest on capital
invested and labor expended. Now you
are actually shipping sugar to us at less
than we can grow the cane. or even the
beets. And to this may be added boots and
shoes. rubber and rubber clothing, at much
lower prices than we can make Them. or
even buy them in Germany or England in
large quantities. Why, you are actually
beating the Germans oil cheap cutlery,
and they have knocked English goods out
of Antipodean markets. We shall have to
put up fence in the shape of import
duties on the articles named if the clamor
for protection gets much louder, and /
should much regret to see this. | am a
free trader and believe the present condi-
tons are only temporary and will soon
right themselves. | have been waiting for
years TO visit this wonderfully interesting
country, as my wife was born in Grass
Valley, strange to say, and she is forever
saying there is no place like California.
Now she has brought me here, am afraid
1t will be hard to get away. Mrs. Mowbray
said she was in Los Angeles when only
little girl. The size to which the city has
grown is somewhat startling, but she rec
ognizes some of the old churches and here
and there hall or two for meetings, which
were thought in the old days to be splendid
specimens of architecture.
1t is quite treat to get somewhere away
from floods and torrents of unceasing rain,
said 4. E. Ford of Little Rock, Ark. at the