The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-10-07
Some Fear That Late Vic.
tories Worked Harm.
Surrounded by the Sea Japan
Does Not Wish to Extend
Territory.

Count Okuma has thoroughly studied
the existing conditions in Japan, and
is familiar with the details of civiliza
tion in that country. His views on the
future of Japan, as published in the
Far East, in an article signed by him
self, are of considerable interest and
Importance. He says: I'm some quar-
ters, the recent activities shown by
the Japanese are looked upon with a
sort of misgiving. AS the defeat in
1870-71 has been called by some dis
guised blessing for France, so there
are some who are not sure that our VIC
tory in the late war will not prove a
disguised curse for our nation. AS a
consequence of the success of the strug-
gle, it is feared, we have assumed too
heavy responsibilities and the present
high pitch of national aspiration is
though to be disproportiOnal to the real
resources of the country. Pessimists
are found in all ages and all places,
and they certainly see side of the
shield. 1t is always well to keep in
mind the warnings of these people, in
order to avoid becoming over-sanguine.
In my opinion, however, the gloomy
outlook in regard to the present sit
uation is nothing but result of short
sightedness. Altogether, our victory
over China was much too easily won,
so that the sudden stimulus given by
it may have proved too strong for the
time being. If there be signs at pres
ent which make certain people uneasy,
l conclude that it is owing to- this rea-
son. There may be difficulties, internal
as we'll as external, which we shall
have to face from time to time. But,
taken generally and viewed broadly, I
do not see any reason to be pessimistic
about the future of the Japanese.
Though her history is traced to very
old times, Japan is quite young coun-
try, so far as the experience of foreign
intercourse and the development of
material resources are concerned. Our
forefathers, self-satisfied and confined
within the boundaries of the Islands,
had not the key to open the store and
to take out the treasure bountifully
bestowed by Heaven. The needed key
was given us with the advent of for
eign intercourse. To show the re-
sourcefulness of the country, it is not
necessary to enumerate various
branches of industry promoted in it.
1t sufices to notice that, extending for
nearly thirty degrees of latitude from
the north to the south, facing to the
Pacific Ocean on one side and to the
Continent of Asia on the other, and
being longitudinally divided into two
halves by ridge of mountains, japan
is favored with a remarkable variety
of climates and other physical condi-
tions, and that the people have only
begun to take advantage of those con-
ditions by the use of scientific appli-
ances. Though the new regime was es-
tablished thirty years ago, the first
decade of the present era was still a
time of commotion. 1t is, therefore.
only a score of years, since our people
really betook themselves to adopting
the Western civilization and to devel-
oping the resources of the country.
I'VE see an increase Tin the popula-
tion) of about 26 per cent in % years,
which rate is little greater than that
of Great Britain in the same period"
After showing the development of in
dustries in the country, Count Okuma
states that in 1872 there were 96 regis
tered steamships with a tonnage OF
| 23,364 tons: in 1895 the number was
S27, with 213,221 tons. In 1872 there
were Is miles of railway, in 1897 there
| are 2,637 miles
| "Nor has the recent progress of the
TaDaneSp nation hapn confined tO the
development of material resources
| The advance of mental culture and in
tellectual equipment may be best indi-
Gated by the conditions of education
and publication. At the end of the year
| 1895 the number of educational insti-
tutions was 2S,22S and that of students
3S02,1 1873. Of this number 26,631 were
| primary schools, with 3,670,345 stu
dents, and the rest secondary schools