The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-25
Japax.s CRITICAL coxprrrox.

JAPAx-s CRITICAL CONDITION.
The peace Of the world depends upon
the action OF japan. and whether that
action In to be wise or not depends err
tlrely upon the man who directs at
fairs. The japanese are a shrewd peo-
pie. but most Of them still think In
japanese. The only ministers who have
ever shown themselves to be capable Of
holding their own with Western diplo-
mats are Count Ito, Count Inouye and
Baron Nishi. The last named is. perhaps.
the best informed of ali Nearly thirty
years ago he studied Ia Europe, re-
naming for A considera bic time a. st.
Petersburg. lie was ordered 10 return.
but obtained permission TO remain at
his own expense. IfasrnZ very little
means he suffered great hardshlps. ant
finished his course aud GRADUATED as
master If law. He was afterwards
appointed interpreter - the legation a,
Paris, and yas afterwards secretary to
the legation In st. Petersburg. Return
ing TO Japan he served In the imperial
household. and was the companion OF
Prince Arisugawa Taruhito, who rep
resented japan at the coronation of the
late czar. He was then honored BY be-
ing sent to ST. Petersburg as minister.
He is, therefore. thoroughly familiar
with Russian diplomacy. and well
equipped to hold the office of foreign
minister.
The best man having been selected
to carry on the contest in diplomacy,
the next question is whether japan ia
in a condition TO fight. Russia is no
doubt determined to humilIate Japan
before ii becomes too powerful. Japan
has large navy. but her financial
condition is not very good. The last
budget shows deficit of "A. o00 900 yen.
and the ostensible reason for Okuma's
withdrawal from the cabinet was said
to be his opposition to further taxation.
The probability is that he resigned be-
cause OF public dissatisfaction with his
foreign policy.
Toward the close OF last year the
financial condition was shown TO be
bad BY the failure of two or three of
the principal banks and several of the
wealthiest merchants. If the mer-
chants or the industrial classes had
anything 10 say about ii, there prob
ably would be no war. but they have
not.
The government of the country is
In the hands of the Shizoku. of whom
there are 400. 600 families. They are said
TO be intensely patriotic. frugal. indus
trious and brave. Indeed. the patriot
ism of the japanese Shzoku is almost
pathetic. MIR. Akiyama. the commits
tie the troubles there. and whose mis-
sion proved a failure, has three times
attempted to take his life since his re-
turn. so mortified was he. A writer
who has spent some years among them
says that while they may quarrel and
fight among themselves as TO who shall
be prime minister or head of a depart
ment. they form a solid phaianx when
the honor or glory Of their country is
threatened by one OF the despised white
race. This class is elated over the re-
suit Of the war with China. Its pa
triotism is not always accompanied by
that knowledge OF foreign powers nee
cssary for good judgment, and ii may
not be realized that war which VIII
certainly involve Germany, Russia and
France. Is Il .ery different thing to
war with China.
England viii not take part In the
next war IL she can help 1t. she has
gained her point about the opening OF
kiaochau as a free port ana will at
tempt TO carry her other points by
diplomacy.