New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-27

degree many of the qualities essential to COM
mercial success He is quick in forming de-
clSlOns. He Is not prone 10 sacrifice the SUB
stance OF large present gain to the shadow or
still larger future profits. He has the courage
TO avert disaster by accepting definite and en-
durable loss. Above all. he knows the value or
integrity and credit. None Of these qualities ap-
pear 10 have been vouchsafed 10 the japanese
In equal measure"
Where free from official rapacity. the progress
OF China's mercantile class Is indeed aStOnlSh-
ing The trade Of Hong Kong is passing more
and more into their hands. while in the Straits
settlements they are Weather and own more
land than any other section or the community
In their own country their money is LAID out IN
restaurants. theatres. pawnshOps and other
petty establishments likely TO escape the raven
ing eyes Of their mandarin. but if once they FEEL
secure in the possession OF their capital IL VIII
be brought out in abundance TO promote every
form of local enterprise Let but the opposition
at present offered by the proud and ignorant
mandarins to the employment Of skilled Western
labor be removed and the internal fiscal arrange
mentS Of the country placed on proper FOOT
ing and the craving of the Chinese LOT WeaI'h
Will ere long overcome their antipathy TO Tor
eignerS scientific methods or agriculture, MIN
ing and manufacturing will be introduced. and
China will enter on brighter phase or existence
Chan she has yet known. SO far. her one steam
ship company and her one coal-mining venture
are in the hands Of mandarins. her roads are
practically non-eXistent. her waterways are
where possible closed TO steam traihc ana llheu
with custom houses, entailing ru-nous expense
ana delay. Yet llt inspector ~Nf'h'l al "a N''''''
is already able 10 remark that cheap labor and
raw material are abundant. and. with the con-
tinuance Of the advantage which the East en-
Joys by the fall in the gold price or silver there
is every prospect Of China becoming most I'M
portant manufacturing country, which will lead
to a keen and formidable competition in textiles
between the East and the West
If China may at present 10 compared 70 a
sluggish almost stagnant, stream, the water or
which is fouled by masses Of decaying NeGe'a-
tion. Japan presents the appearance al TINS mo
s2fs
sparkling. impetuous. We watch its course WIN
a great deal Of admiration, a little amusement
and q keen desire to know whether X VIII hNd
its future as a majestic gliding river or as a
number of hurrving streams-beneicial in their
way no doubt, but lacking the uuIlty OF me
broad expanse of water on the bosom Of which
the kcels OF the world may float
JAPANs QUICK DEVELOPMENT.
Who could have believed that some forty years
only after Commodore Perrys barely Jtst!ldn.e
expedition ITO insist on the cessation o. Japan :
policy OF isolation" she would present the spec
tacle Of A nation possessing an army OF some
two hundred thousand men, equipped literary
TO the last gaiter- button" with the latest I'M
Elements Of war. and attended ny CoIi' tno,
sariat and medical corps from which 1t has peen
said that even Germany might take lesson
while her navy. exclusive OF some hiteeh gun
boats and sixty torpedo boats huinpels 10
thirty ships Including three batteshlps) or IVo-
600 ions displacement. 10000 indicated morse
power and mounting $50 guns. and the Value 81
Ner foreign trade amounts 70 some TWO Hullui -
and thirty millions Of dollars! To some. indeed
Japan's lean into the forefront Of the World ;
commercial battle appears pregnant win coih-
ing disaster for the Older-est aoiiShed cOIHud-
tants They look gloomily forward 10 not ais
taDt period when the mercantile nag OF hiEld no
shall no longer faunt supreme IN the "alets "a
the East when Japan (with CHINA perhaps III
her wake) shall supply that quarter OF the El1pe
win It's every want and the Western trader
shall be cast out seek new fields Tor ms enter
rrisa Such a demonstration does not appear 90
he justified by either logic or history. II i ~
tho case that the natives Of the East are capd-
lie Of supplying themselves with everything
thov desire at a less cost than theE can Op'd'i'
= from the West: IT, which is virtually the sam
thinr their labor is in every respect more I'm
.iau, than that of their European riNAls' tii'i
mo East NAV rise to glory on the ashes oi til'
West. but to assume that this Is the Cdse pe-
cause certain articles formerly Suppileu ~ 'Il0
1att4r are now being manufacturer ny inc ioI :
-n4r eeerns TO he entirely irrational. ChSSS We
drf,e o,lr trade from US by perpetual strikes on
~ r,art Of our labOrers. or H-Judged lnttr4ei-
enca with free contract on that or our Govern
-,an+e the euperiOrity of both our intelligence
ord r.bysi1le IS hound 70 assert ltSeIr anu.
Inch IN channels Of our trade with the haS'
nv change its volume viii steadily increase.
W.. should we stand aghast at the slght OF
Eastern States Increasing in wealth are hOl
-irh customers as advantageous 10 a nation d.
hoy are 10 its shopkecpers. ana ooeS lhe Iacl
tbat = particular class OF merchandise Is no
longer acceptable necessItate the pu'NHS uP "a
shutters and retiring from business!
u