The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-25
JAPAN'S DECLINE.
Life in the Islands Not All Sunshine,
Flowers and Geishas.


Flowers and Geishas.
From the Chicago Times-Herald.
Japan is disappointing to the prophets.
1t has not yet appeared as a great factor
in international politics, though 1t was ex-
pected TO be of vast aid to Great Britain
in enforcing the "open door" 1t has not
fulfilled the predictions of its industrial
awakening and its conquest of the mar
kets of the world. In fact, Japan is stag
nant. Development seems to have reach
ed its highest point
This is the impression that cannot but
be gathered from reading of the Japa-
nese newspapers, though it must be ad-
mitted that our information comes for the
most part from the English newspapers
published there and in China. The YER
nacular press, more vainglorious, is not
so prone to admit Japans failure in its
attempt to rival the Western nations, but
| even it contains evidence that all is not
well.
In the first place, Western political in
situations have not proved a success in
| Japan. The limited monarchy which the
| Mikado himself confident i'm the ability
of his subjects for self government, es-
| tablished, has not proved the wisdom of
| the measure. Party government along
! Western ideals is a failure. To so great
an extent is this true that party govern
ment has been practically abolished, and
the new cabinet is framed on non-parti-
san lines in accordance with the wishes
of the sovereign. There is a strong party
for the Acknowledgement of the people. It
is easy to extend the ballot, but not so
easy to limit it. So there is no likelI-
hood of the success of such measures.
Japanese politics would put any Ameri-
can politician to blush. Ballot-box stuffing
and bribery are carried to an unprecedent-
ed extreme. For instance OF 500 votes cast
in a precinct at a recent election ii is esti-
mated that 300 were secured by bribery. 1t
is estimated that one-half of the Japan
csc voters are purchaseable, which prob
ably is much larger percentage than OBJ
tains in the First ward of the city of Chi
caeo. And the First ward is nonparen
The politicians are no better than the vot-
ers. The spoils system is carried to a great
extreme Civil service reform does not ex-
list. Offices are a matter of barter and
sale Merit counts for little or nothing
With such conditions it is no wonder that
the constant struggle of the politicians has
led to the Inauguration of various sociaIis-
tic schemes The proposed government
ownership of railways, plan which is we'll
under way owes its adoption largely to
wish 10 create new offices for the greedy
japanese ofice-seekers.
In diplomacy the japanese have been a
failure. Successful in war with China-and
how could it fail to be successful, even
with only a smattering of Western methods
against a country ruled by a week-mind-
ed emperor and with a power behind the
throne intent only upon making money at
whatever sacrifice of the national veal
japan has shown herself unable to retain
the fruits of that victory. Russia has out
Unanswered her in Korea. The territory
gained by Russia and England in China is
better and more important than that gain
ed by Japan. The Mikado did the fighting.
Like the bird in the fable, he sang while
the foxes picked up the cheese.
And so in the controversy over the parti-
ton of China and the struggle for the
Eastern trade, Japan, in spite of its para
mount interest, has been thrust con-
temptuousy aside and ignored. Her only
resource is to fight, and the Mikado's
statesmen know we'll enough what would
be the result of such a struggle.
In trade the japanese are faring no bet
ter. They have pirated some American
patents They make some things well,
but are unable to keep pace with Ameri-
can labor-saving machinery. The threat
ened IS bicycles, l cent a gross matches
and 7S-cent watches have not material
lze3 There are some who still say these
tn .lgs will happen. But they have not,
in spite Of the cheapness of japanese la
Dor, and the fact that the patent laws
are purposely framed to encourage pirat-
ing.
There is an industrial crisis I'm Japan
to-day. The people are poor. The man
ufacturers and merchants are without
money The banks are hard pressed. AL
II.
methods for supplying the people with
work. But the treasury is becoming emp
ty and there is no money to throw into
such a bottomless pit.
There may come a time when the Japa-
nese more skilled in the realities Of West
ern life may take a prominent place in
the world. But 10 the disinterested OBJ
server that time seems much farther dis
tant than 1t did two years ago.