The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-20
A POWER THAT WILL BEAR
WATCHING


Nearly two months ago the Journal said:
IF the United States does not desire or
intend that Hawaii shall become possess
sion of any foreign power, it should not
place too much reliance in the bland and
friendly assurances of the Japanese minister
that Japan has no designs upon the islands
The Japanese are not only aggressive, but
exceedingly adroit and sly in their meth
DDS, and it would be quite in keeping with
their foreign policy to colonize Hawaii and
have it captured and anchored before the
United States suspected what was going on
The reasons that existed for these remarks
two months ago have been strengthened
since. Japan has been "nosing around" the
islands more than ever. Japanese immigra-
ton has increased and the demand of the
government for fuller recognition of Jap
anese rights in Hawaii has become more
urgent. In estimating the force of these
circumstances the present status and po-
litical methods Of the japanese government
must be taken into account Japan is in
flated with pride on account of the victory
over the Chinese. Like Turkey she feels
that she has taken a new position among
the powers. She has. demonstrated her mill
tary and naval strength, especially the lat
ter, in no small degree. She has some pow
erful war ships and has established new
shipbulding plants. Having exacted large
war indemnity from China she feels COM
Portable financially. A spirit OF aggressive
ness and territorial expansion has developed
among the people and is encouraged by the
government. 1t has been given out that
Japan intends to enter on a new career of
national development and international
competition. The acquisition of considerable
territory from China seems to have ere
ated a desire for more, and. ca colonizing
spirit has developed. New steamship lines
on the Pacific have been or are soon to be
established, and there is an evident pur-
pose to develop ocean trade This involves
a necessity of coaling stations, harbors and
halfway places. japan has been trying to
get hold of the Caroline islands and is sus-
pected of fomenting the instruction in the
Philippine islands with a view of taking
them from Spain if opportunity should Of
fer. What more natural under the circum-
stances than that she should covet the Ha-
ness and unscrupulousness, should be try
ing to COLOMBO and capture them? 1t would
be great exploit and a fine Illustration
Of the power Of new and progressive Japan
If she could get possession of group of
islands lying only 1000 miles west of San
Francisco and in the middle pathway of
Pacific ocean commerce. Once seated there
she would be very hard to dislodge. and
with the islands swarming with Japanese
it would be very difficult to keep them out
of the United States. If Japan intends to
pit Eastern civilization against Western and
try issues with great Christian power it
would be very natural if, in her present
spirit of pride and aggressveness, she
should desire to get a foothold near the
Western coast of the great republic where,
with Oriental craft cunning and patience,
she could wait, watch and scheme. It is
quite within the limits of possibility that
the new policy of Japan contemplates such
a contamination, and that positive knowl-
edge of the fact by the administration is
the secret of the annexation policy. Six
months ago Secretary Sherman was out
spoken against annexation The President
in his inaugural address spoke with dis
favor of territorial extension. Now they are
both in favor of annexing Hawaii There
must be some reason for this change of
view, and there is none more probable than
that the administration has positive proof
that Japan has designs on the islands
Japan is the unknown quantity in the equa-
ton of the twentieth century. She will bear
watching.