Evening star., 1898-06-18
JAPAN's COMMERCE.
1t is Increasing and New Industries
Are Starting Up.

1t is Increasing and New Industries
Are Starting Up.
From London Engineering
japanese public men, who are watching
the expansion of the commerce of their
country, find much satisfaction in seeing
not only that it is increasing at a rapid
rate, but that the increase Is in dire ction
which shows that Japan is becoming an in
dustrial country; for each successive year
the quantity Of new material entering the
country, and of manufactured articles
leaving the country. forms a greater pro-
portion of the imports and exports. The
population Is increasing at rapid rate.
from 33.OOO.OO0 in 1872 to 42,OOOOOO in 1896,
and. as Japan is not by nature a country
suited for agriculture, and already her pop
ulation is denser than that of many Euro
pean countries, the means of livelihood in
the future must be sought in industrial de-
Velopment rather than in agricultural re-
sources This is being earnestly put be-
fore the people by the press and the lead
ing men in public addresses, and the legis-
lation OF the country is directed to has
tening the process of converting Japan
from a purely agricultural country to one
whose chief industry will be manufac-
turing.
In recent number of a japanese journal
Count Okuma, one Of the most distinguish
ed Of Japanese statesmen. takes up the de-
fense of his country against those who are
of opinion that Japan had been spending
on its army and navy and on the develop
ment of its industries more than was JUS
titled by the extent of its resources. Count
Okuma has had experience in almost all
departments of government, and he is
pccially strong in all that deals with
finance. He was called to the position of
minister of finance at a very critical peri
cd Of his country's history. and by his
wise measures he overcame the difficulties
in the way. AS minister of foreign affairs
he mol
at once firm and conciliatory In the ar
ticle alluded to he combats the idea that
Japan is living beyond her means and that
her resources are overtaxed by the large
undertakings upon which she las launched
In the sequel of the war with China. He
admits that victory came to Japan more
easily than was perhaps altogether whole
some, and that 1t created an industrial and
commercial stimulus stronger than the cir.
cumstances actually warranted; but he Is
persuaded that the situation contains no
really disquieting elements. and that the
country'S future may be regarded with
hope and confidence. The line of argu-
ment leading to that conclusion is that the
development of the material resources dur
Ing the past twenty years more than justi-
heS the bold course now pursued
Mr.. Brenan states that in 1872 the whole
value of manufactured articles exported
by Japan did not amount to S5OOG00 and
that in 1896 it reached S45.000 600 or 40 per
cent of her total exports In the earlier
year the whole import trade may be said
to have been In manufactured articles;
now the value Of the raw materials inn
ported into the country amounts to s4G,-
100000, or some 80 per cent of her total
imports. 1t is chiefly in her trade with
Asiatic countries that this increasing i'm
portation of raw material is noticeable.
Speaking generally. Japan's trade with
these Asiatic countries may be said to con-
slst CT imports of raw materials and ex-
ports OF manufactured articles. Mr.. Bren-
an however, is of the opinion that at least
Tor considerable time to come Japan will
not be competitor to any great extent
with European nations in eastern markets.
and that she will supply the semi-civilized
nations OF Asia with such articles as she
already manufactures for her own use and
With others initiated from foreign patterns
and designs, which are already in demand
In Asiatic countries. The commercial pol
Icy advocated by those in authority is to
strive to attain perfection by assiduous
practice. and meantime to sell the work of
thelr prentice hands to semi-cvilized peo-
pies who are satisfied with cheap and in
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