The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-29

and more evident For every two ships
built on the Atlantic one ship should be
built for and on the Pacifa, the source OF
naval supply for the Asiatic station as we'll
as for its OWL waters.
Japan has entered into a novel phase
politically, which its friends hope is but
temporary. The party in power is secur-
ing its ascendancy bv the sroils system
and other more defensible means Of cor
ruption. This extends even TO the grant
ing of the subsidies, which are large
enough to make the foreign lines profit.
able ana are not always secured by cred
liable means. The officials of japan
which has an internal administration
patterned somewhat after France, are
many In number, are poorly paid, ana
the greatly increased cost of living affects
them. As result, corruption and en- bez-
Element have increased very greatly, and
the integrity of its official life To which
the japanese used to point so proudly and
the same way as in past years. This
paucity of income TO ofiieehoiders will be
n serious matter as prices iise and as the
foreigner becomes subject TO the new and
somewhat exberimcntal judicial system
Of Japan. This danger is not unknown
to the rulers OF Japan, and an increase of
salary, with combination OF civil and
criminal jurisdiction to the Judge 10 re-
duce the number of the judiciary, is in
contemplation.
1he approach of the day when the for
eigner is placed uDder the Japanese civil
ard criminal judicial system is viewed
with fear by many foreigners residing in
Japan. The system in vogue Ia Japan
has no trial by jury but that is met with
in Continental Europe. There are no
Christian oaths- required nut still per-
jury exists at home. What seems more
particularly dangerous is the want Of
weight given to the character Of evidence,
the shading and oredibility due To tie
standing of u witness. In civil cases the
wellknown low commercial morality OF
the japanese merchant will be serious
matter until the merchant finds that as q
matter Of policy it will te necessary to be
honest and faithful to his word nr he will
perpetuate the foreign middlemen in his
dealings with the outside world.
Formosa Is still undigssted by Japan,
and this rich Island bids fair TO be a
colonial task that will call ior the best
efforts and administrative skill Of the
Japanese rulers Corruption ard malsd-
have teen rather the order
Of the day there, and. with the Japanese
failure in Korea. leads many to question
the colonizinR power of Japan. Even the
Liu-Chu Islands have become restlve and
petitioned the Japanese government for
autonomy Of internal administration and
their old rulers
The coclie element in tho treaty ports
is at the present moment very turbulent,
and especially so in view Of Hawaiian
matters toward Americans. In Kobi
there has been succession of troubles
which has demonstrated the ircapacitv Of
the police and possibly the tolerance Of
tho officials. l say possibly, TOR no ono
knows, The japanese are he most sec.
reiive people that l have met in the
world. They pick the plums from the
rest Of the world and give nothirg in re-
turn. AS .he Russians say and they are
not the mcst communicative people in
the world III wa only knew what the
brown fellows were thinking Of"
IL Is well To know that, so far as we
are concerned. they are seeking com
mercial and naval EXPANSION. one may
neutralize the other so far as we are con
cerned. but n taey ever join hards then
we had letter look out and count the
C, st.