The Portland daily press., 1896-11-24

field is open for the exercise of diplo-
matte skill before an appeal ned be
made to arms.
The failure of the retiring government
was due to just this want Of diplomatic
manoeuvre, to their lack of initiative
and OF expedient In covering retreat
For instance, the retrccession of the
Leao-toDg Peninsula was asentsd to at
once, to the great relief no less than to
the great surprise of the three powers
who had feared fofcible resistance
A strong Japanese Cabinet would have
procrastinated, made show of iron reso-
luton, attacked the weak points in their
opponents position, and. in eventually
yielding, would have managed to secure
an advantage of some kind to themselves.
Such refusal to acknowledge defeat is
the secret of diplomacy; it was well
exemplified by the Greek governments In
their affairs with Turkey ten yenrs ago,
when they saved their prestige by re-
fusal to disarm, persevered in to the last
extremity in the face of the warnings
and the naval demonstrations of the
great powers of Europe.
To take another instance-the affair
Of Feb. II in Seoul, when the King took
refuge in the Russian Legation, nullifed
our benevolent intentions to foster the in
dependence and reform the administra-
ton of Korea. We did not, as We should
have done, on that occasion, by recall
ling our representative, breaking up the
legation, and withdrawing our troops,
relinquish our rights for the moment ia
order to await later favorable oppor-
unity for their recovery, as did Russia
in Bulgaria; but, adopting laisser
aller policy, we allowed ourselves to
drift with the current of circumstance
from our position of influence. Our idea
of entering into an understanding with
Russia was merely temporizing expe-
dent, and in the event we lost prestige
at home and abroad.
1t is such cases as these which prompt
US to call for a Cabinet which by adopt
ing an active, independent, and encr-
getic policy in foreign affairs, may ex-
tend our national influence
1t is time to awake from our dream of
stay -at-home ssolusion and give reins to
the bold Japanese spirit Of adventure.
race must make itself felt eastward
through North end South Amerion and
the Indies, westward through India, and
southwark throughout Polynesia, domi-
mating everywhere the white inhs bitants
and snpplan ting the black races.
The making of Greater Japan should
not be limited to the piecemeal extension
cation must be encouraged and emiRra-
ton facilitat ted by the authorities at
home, while abroad legations and con-
sulates must be established at once for
the protection and assistance of our colo
nists.
japanese settlers have already openad
trade in the groups of islands, English,
Dutch, French and German. lying be-
tween Formosa and Australia. and of
late years the tide of Japanese emigra-
tion has set southwark with almost ir-
resistble force. The islands tmmedi.
ately adjacent to Formosa, viz, the
Philippine and Caroline groups, belo ng
to Spain, and there Is danger OF our
spheres of influence elashing. To guard
against this. an agreement delimiting
our respective territories was drawn ND
after the war, but the south-going tide
of Japanese emigration is not to ba
stayed by the power Of man, and CONTACT
and complications between Japanese and
Spaniards are inevitable. The murder
of a Japanese by u native in an island
of the Caroline group last February Is a
Cnso Ill pUluts 4uo Juuru0T6f Was let
off, and redress was thereupon claimed
through our Minister in Paris, from
the Spanish government. but, there be-
ing no envoy specially charged with
Japanese interests in Madrid, the matter
could not be cleared up and satisfactory
ly settled. Not only are such complioa-
tions bound OCCUR, but, further, the
Spanish authorities, mistaking our nat
ural expansion for simple aggression, are
devoting attention to military defence in
the Philippines. 1t appears also that
at the close of the war Spain was for
joining the Triple Alliance, with a view
to r3hbing US of the fruits Of our vicrory
in the south. To prevent the occurrences
Of such Observation-Disclosures and TO tran
sact the diplomatic business arising from
the proximity of our possessions 1t is
most necessary that Minister Plenipo-
tentiary should be appointed to Madrid.
Hawaii is the country of the hiRhest
Importance and brightest prospeots for
our emigrants, who already number more
than 20, 600 Of the total population of 10.
600. Every year some 1000 JAPANESE
who go, the majority stay after the
expiration Of their contracts. The
growth of our influence has naturallv
made us an object of jealousy to foreicn
countries such as America, Portugal and
England, and there are persons in the
present hawaiian government who favor
theEidea of union with the United
States. In view Of these facts and Of
our great and growing interests in the
country, japan can no longer he content
to be represented merely BY Consul-
&c neral, and the appointment of Min
lister resident is desirable
Brazil Is a country of great natural
fertility and much potential wealth. and
a scheme has been set on foot to promots
the err igration thither of GO. 200 labor
eIs. To this end the government recent.
y concluded commercial treaty with
Brazil. and the Tatitications will shortly