The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-24
JAPAN AS 1T Is TO-DAY.
1T CONTINUES ITS CAREER OF EX-
P1SSJOy IN EVERY DIRECTION.
Prices High. Labor In steady Demnnd-StriLea
Tho Korean CooiIc In Jnpnn-Emisrn
ton Cen.Ing-Thc Army and tho Navy
VScnL Point. or n FOO Rapid Expansion.

y.,,.. NIL, u,hor IN steady Demnnd-StriEe
Tho Korean CooiIc In Jnpnn-Emisrn
tion Ceauing-Thc Army ana tho Navy
wcnL Point. or n Too Rapid Expansion.
NAGAsAKI, Sept. l7.-Japan Is still a pros
porous country, II not the most prosperous. still
one of the most prosperous nations OF the world.
II continues it's career of expansion in all di.
rcctions. Prices. generally speaking, have gone
UP by strides during the last few years, and
wages have accompanied this advance, making
tho increased cost Of living felt in every direc.
ton. For skilled and unskilled labor there
seems a steady demand, and this demand has
checked the emigration tendency and the coloni.
cation enterprises That have been in the air for
tho mast ic~ wears. The emigration schemes to
southern Brazil have been stopped. and tho
grand coffee plantation scheme in Mexico is still
more or less in tho air. Our sentimental friends
who are anxious about tho Japanrsu laborers in
the Hawn ian Islands have no ncel to no so con.
cerncd, for employment is ready for them when
they choose to return to their native country.
As military colonists they may he useful to
Japan in Hawaii; rs ordinary skilled and I'M
skilled laborcrs they are needed at home.
With the scarcity OF labor in places come, rs
n natural sequence, strikes, and in this vicinity
these have given rise 10 much trouble among
the coal mines that abound in this island OF
kinshiu. In fact, so much trouble has been
caused that at least enc mine owner has i'm
ported coolies from Korea as being more tract
able and equally Industrious. Tho Korean
coolie is getting n good name ms a sober, in
dustrious fellow, and the reports from those
engaged upon an American entcrprise-thc
railway from Chcmulplo to Seoul speak well
OF his industry and fidelity. similar state.
mcnts come concerning the Korean coolie Mt
work In Russian Siberia.
japan is expanding in mining, manufacturing,
and commerce.. She lacks development in her
iron industry, but though tho ore is said to
exist in abundance. it Is not well placed as to
its necessary coal and tlux. Shipbuilding is
undertaken to n considerable extent, but all of
the material. plates, frames, rivets. &C., come
out via Suez from England already tested and
framed. Freiphts are wonderfully low. both
by steamer and sailing vessel, 80 that this is
not so much Of q handicap as one may suppose.
The Government is also resuming shipbuild.
ing, and there is to be at least one large
cruiser laid down a. Tokuska, the principal
naval station. The increase Of shipping owned
in Japan is almost marvellous. / am well in
bounds when ! say that the tonnage and num-
Der Of mercantile vessels have doubled within
the last three years. Orders for vessels OF
largo size arc being constantly placed in Great
Britain, while the yards of Japan arc busy
upon vessels, from the little c~oasting steamer
tHdt IL loiuu III HuIlucrS upon the lnlanu sea
to the large deep-sca steamers for the lines
that carry the japanese flag to London, Ant
werp. Melbourne, Bombay, and Seattle.
The navy is being expanded in all directions,
but principally in battleships and cruisers.
Just at this moment the United States has
naval supremacy on the Pacific Ocean. In a
few months. or weeks it may be, the arrival of
the Fun and her sister ship will shift that
superiority to Japan, and in two years the
completion or two OF the largest class OF battle.
ships yet designed will confirm that superiority.
WITH no rlns-isthnian canal and with the
demands Of the Atlantic seahoard, the United
States requires two naval forces or fleets. one
upon the Atlantic and the other upon the
Pacific, and. barring Hawaii and its needs. with
the growth Of our Pacific coast: this need be-
comes more and more evident. For every, two
ships built on the Atlantic one ship should be
built for and on the Pacific, the source of naval
supply for the Asiatic station as wei as for its
Japan has entered into a novel phase politi.
Galy. which its friends hope is but temporary.
by the spoils system and other more defensiblc
means OF corruption. This extends even to the
granting of the subsidies, which are large
are not always secured by creditablc means. The
officials OF Japan; which has an internal admins.
tration patterned somewhat after France, are
greatly increased cost Of living affects them.
As n result. corruption and embozzlcment have
increased very greatly. and the integrity OF its
official life, to which the Japanese used to point
so proudly, and in contrast to China, no longer
exists in the same way as in past years. This
paucity OF income to. ohiccholdcrs will be a
serious matter as prices rise and as the for
cigner becomes subject to the new and some
what experimental judicial system OF Japan.
This danger is not unknown to the rulers OF
Japan, and an increase OF salary, with u com
bination OF civil and criminal jurisdiction to
ihcJudRe to reduce the number OF the judiciary.
Is in contemplation.
The approach Of the day when the foreigner is
placed under the japanese civil and criminal
Judicial system. is viewed with fear by many
vogue in Japan has no trial bv jury; hut that Is
met, with in Continental Europe. There are no
Christian oaths required, bat still perjury exists
at home. What seems more particularly dan.
Rerous IS the, want OF weight given TO the char
due to the standing OF a witness. In civil cases
the wclI'known low commercial mo rality Of the
1mpnneSc ,merrhnn, VII be a serious matter
policy 1t Will be necessary to he honest and
faithful to his word or he will pcrpctuatc the
side world. "''" Nv '0'
FormS'e is still undigcsted by Japan, and
that will call for the best efforts and admins
%trativc skill OF the Japanese rulers. Corrup.
ton and maladministrAtion have bccu rather
csc failure in Korea, loads many to question
tbn GI9 sIonIl +, pc Power Sero Of Japan: l.. Even 9 The Lin;
the Japanese Government for autonomy Of in.
teTmal administration and their old rulers.
the present moment very turbulent. and cspc.
cially so in view Of Hawaiian matters toward
Iessipm Of ,r on k@'i WHIST ,he5' b has d been a ra sue;
$500 h''H - w.
the incapacity Of the police. and possibly tho
tolerance of the officials. | say possibly, for
no one knows. The Japanese are tho most So.
]GSrrctive, people that ] have met in the world.
They pick the plums from the rest Of the world
and give nothing in return. As the Russians
say. and they are not tho most communicative
people in the world: III we only knew what
the brown fellows were thinking of"
1t Is well to know that. 30 far as we are con.
cerned, they are seeking commercial and ma
val expansion. One may neutralize the other
so. far as We are concerned. but II they ever
join hands, then We had better look out and
count the cost.
The, Japanese have a genius for organiza.
ton, have, n fno military and naval general
star (which, we have notI, a definite and pro.
gressivo scheme for naval expansion and
supremacy on the Pacific (which we have nol,
and should the first victory go to them, wc would
have II very hard maritime war before us.
Victory in the first battle counts very much
everywhere, but with people Of the niercurial
temperament Of the Japanese il counts far
more than with any other civilized nation.
Victory in tho first fight is due as much to
systcnatic and, continuous. preparation MS any
one thing. This method of preparation exists
at the present moment in Japan. 1t Is always
lacking with us, and at no time more than NOW,