The age-herald., 1898-11-20
THE DECLINE OF
 THE NEW JAPAN

 Herald.
 Japan is disappointing to the prophets. It has not yet appeared as a great factor in international politics, though it was ex- pected to be of vast aid to Great Britain in enforcing the "open door It has not fulfilled the predictions of its industrial awakening and its conquest of the markets of the world. In fact, Japan is stagnant. Development seems to have reached it's highest point.
 This is the impression that cannot but be gathered from reading of the Japanese newspapers, though it must be admitted that our information comes for the most part from the English newspapers pub lshed there and in China. The venacular press, more vainglorions, Is not prone to admit Japan's failure in it's attempt to rival the western nations, but even it con- tains evidence that all is not well.
 In the first place. the western political in- stitutions have not proved source of sue cess in Japan. The limited monarchy which the mikado himself, confident in the ability of his subjects for self-government estab- lished, 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 government has been practically abolished, and the new cabint is framed on non-partisan lines in accordance with the wishes of the sover- eign There is strong party for the dis franchisement of the people. It is easy to extend the ballot but not so easy to limit it. So there is no likelihood of the success of such measures.
 Japanese politics would put any American politician to blush. Ballot-box stuffing and bribery are carried to an unprecedented ex- treme. For instance, of 800 votes cast in precinct at recent election it Is estimated that 300 were secured by bribery It is es- timated than one-half the Japanese voters are purchasable, which probably is a much larger percentage than obtains in the first ward Of the city of Chicago. And the first ward is nonpareil.
 
 The politicians are no better than the voters. The spells system is carried to a great extreme. Civil service reform does not exist. Offices are 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 icu to tLo ulduS uTdtlOn or Var1OuS S0Clal- istic schemes. The proposed government ownership of railways, plan which is well under way owes its adoption largely to a wish to create new offices for the greedy Japanese offce-seekers.
 In diplomacy the Japanese have been failure. Successful in war with China-and how could it fail to be successful, even with only smattering of western methods against a country ruled by weak minded emperor and with a power behind the throne intent only on making money at whatever sacrifice of the natinnal veal Japan has shown herself unable to retain the fruits of that victory. Russia has out maneuvered her in Corea. The territory gained by Russia and England in China Is better and more important than that gained 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- tion of China and the struggle for the east ern trade Japan in spite of it's paramount interests, has been thrust contemptuously aside and ignored. Her only resource Is to fight, and the mikado's statesmen know well enough what would be the result of such struggle.
 In trade the Japanese are faring no bet ter. They have pirated some American
 
 are unable to keep pace with American labor-saving machinery. The threatened $5 bicycles, 1 cent a gross matches and 7S- cent watches have not materialized. There are some who still say these things will happen, but they have not. in spite of the cheapness of Japanese labor and the fact that the patent laws are purposely framed to encourage pirating
 There is an industrial crisis in Japan to- day The people are poor. The manufac- turers and merchants are without money. The banks are hard pressed. AL ready there is talk of resort to SOC alistic methods for supplying the people with work. But the treasury is becoming empty and there is no money to throw into such a bottomess pit.
 There may come time when the Japan csc, more skilled in the realities of western life, may take a prominent place in the world. But to the disinterested observer that time seems much farther distant than it did two years ago.
 
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