The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-10-07

higher schools, universities, etc. That
these educational institutions have
been efficient in performing their func-
tions may be inferred from the fact
that the aggregate of the graduates of
the Imperial University up to last Oc-
tober amounted to 2,777. In the year
1896, the number of books published
was 26,367, and that of periodicals ex-
listing at the end of the same year was
7S3.
''The preceding figures are not, of
course, intended to furnish an exhslus-
tive survey They are selected because
of their representative character, IN
order to give a general idea of the re-
cent progress of our nation. What has
been done in 80, or, rather. 20 years,
is only a beginning of what we are
destined to do.
Japan has not only rich resources
in the interior, but she has wide
field for her activity outside the cOun-
try. The lands surrounding the Paci-
fic Ocean and the countries of Asia con-
stitute the best market for the future
commerce of the world. There is room
enough in this market for Japan to
have share without causing a friction
with other nations Geographically,
Japan is in very favorable situation,
and the nature of her people is differ
ent from that of Western countries, SO
that what the nations of Europe can
not profitably undertake in these parts
of the globe will naturally devolve
upon our countrymen. Already the in
crease of our trade with countries Of
Asia and Australia has been remark
able.
sIt is not our desire to increase the
territories. In a country without free
outlets to the sea, territorial extension
may be an absolute necessity for the
growth of the nation; but that is not
the case in a country surrounded by the
sea on all sides. For the Japanese the
ocean is the field of activity. This field
is, as matter of course, to be utilized
in common by all the nations of the
world, only we hope to take advan-
tage of our geographical position. To
be factor in the development of the
Pacific and the Eastern Asia seems to
be the destiny of our nation. AS the
future of these regions is full of hopes,
SO the future of the Japanese is promis
y,
simistic as to entertain anxieties about
the present situation, even if there be
temporary difficulties in our way?
"But we must be always on the alert
and make efforts with more energy
than ever to continue and accelerate
the progress we have begun. All our
undertakings and enterprises should
be made with the eye to the future,
and not according to the mere con-
venience of the present. Special at
tention should be paid to the improve
ment of intellect and moral character
of our people, for, after all, nations
permanent prosperity can be based on
no other foundation. 1t is particularly
desirable to adapt our moral standard
to the new conditions arising out of
the development of foreign trade. Last
of all, every means should be employed
to secure the peace of the world in
general, and of the Far East in par
ticular Peace, above all things, is a
necessary condition for progress. Even
the war with China introduced into
our finance certain abnormal states
which have made men of pessimistic
disposition quite uneasy. If we take
measures to improve our means of ma
tional defence, it is in order that we
may feel absolutely sure against all
possible dangers and that we may
pursue entirely undisturbed our course
Of peaceful progress
SHIGENOBU OKUMA.