The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-04

cede so far as 20 open ports for foreign
intercourse this ill-iudged feeling Only
added oil 10 the fuel. precinltatlng se-
ries OF tragedies which began with the
killing OF Russians az Yokohama, ana
ended with the Mamamue. affair ln the
last incident tho EngiIshmen no DOUBT
Invited death by ignoring long establish
Cd customs OF the land and the firing
upon foreign vessels at Shimonoseki was
certainly not without excusable ground
on our side But looked az from Euro
pean point Of view, we cannot but be
said 10 have acted I'm a barbarOus way.
on both these occa siOns. The result was
We had 10 pay $4,000 indemnity for tne
Namamugi outrage. after suffering the
bombardment and devastation or kagos-
hima. while the ShimonOselt episode cos,
us three million dollars. And all We got
in return FOR their pains. was to be hence
forth regarded as a nation Of uncivilized
and treacherous beings That was the
sole legacy Of the anti-foreign spirit OF
those turbulent days.
BLOCD-STAfNED HISTORY.
The Jill then gives the story or the
Revolution, and continues: Bod ana RAD
ical as was Che coup. the ueW-srder of
things once established. 1T became impos-
sible 90 reverse the tide. and for fourteen
years the country had marched along the
straight path of progress and enllghten-
ment and the anu-foregn spirit had To
cover I'm a corner. forgotten and neglect
ed until M a moment NJ miscalculdled
assurance the government about the
wear 1851 inaugurated that unfortunate
policy OF announcement Co the preserVa-
tion of things antiquated. Then was set
I'm motion that reactionary movement
which reklndled the dying preludlces ana
fanatfcism so that we had soon the
misfortune OF Witnessing the aS-dsslni-
ton OF Minister MOri. the murderous al
tack on Count Okuma and the most
dastardiv attempt ON the life OF me Rus
sian Crown Prince. This was ai the s't-
of fhat evil geni. the anti-forelgn spirit.
Al present the hubll of calling foreigners
Keto. Akahige. etc. is nothing more or
less Than the survival of this dep.oranie
spirlt who can tell but with its blood
stained history, 10 may not again prove
the source of trouble in che days Wheh
the revised treaties come into operation.
This. then. IS the view OF "a thoughtful
patriotic japanese, ana represents tnht
of all OF his class. VIII the new treaties
20 into effect at the appointed time? /
doubt H. and shall consider 10 "a serious
misfortune for Japan If they DO, for We
have had again am instance of this anti
foreign feeling among the coOlle element.
The British steamer pdthau was cOaling
9t Mail. bon the strait of Shim0nOsk. Tie
chief engineer discovered. cor Thought hr
discovered. am attempt 10 furnish short
weight. and am alteration ensued in
which the coolies proceeded To- violence.
This has happened so frequently that
steamers are prepared for IT, Coolies
swarmed up the deck but Captain Day
called his men. and. although the odds
L. pom
set 10 with such @ Will that victory re-
NAMED with the white man. IL was PROV
cd conclusively that. when &c comes To a
question of muscle and hard knocks, the
japanese coOlie is not I'm IT, While the
fight was on. the PONCE kept neutral con-
hGent that the coolies would obtain AN
easy victory. But when they were beaten
off they lodged a complaint that those
cCnfOunded foreigners would not allow
them 10 beat them American captains
are warned 10 arm their crews when they
have business I'm Hiog0 or Moii
MURDER At THE POLLS.
The elections are over. There is i'm
America still am opinion that Japan is q
small country. Nothing illustrates better
tho error of this opinion than the NUM-
Der OF crimes committed against the
election laws and the interview of the
Shmbm. BOO this election were reported
2t3 bribery cases. eS acts Of violence. ~
homicide and battery 50 violations Of thc
election ordinance. Yet NiscOunt lOshl-
laWa. the Tome Minister. cOngratulates
the Cabinet upon the good order stating
that in 1892 there were twenty-six killed
and over 2l0 injured. while the year after
the number Of injured during the election
rose 10 over 800. Considering that tho
number Of electors is comparatively
small owing 10 the property qualification
inseparaole from the right Of suffrage
japanese electioneerlne is connected with
some danger. As 1 have foretold. the gov
eminent has a small majority
Since the gold standard was adopted las
October. a considerable amount OF gold
has been exported. IL is reported that
mp 10 the end Of February 81 900 90 yen
had been coined az the mint. The ex-
ports amounted 10: October. 1897, 200l 500
yen: November. 1897. 420S $50 yen; Deem
Der. 1897. 2392 so yen; January. 1893 40.
600 ven and for February &c was estimated
that five million yen will be taken out
OF the country. IL is natural enough that
such drain Is seriously felt in business
circles; at the same time. the panic Is
pretty well past. and II the indemnity is
paid when Il Is due. all will be well. But
there IS the rub. VIII II be paid2 ! repeat
what 1 have said before that / doubt II
very much. China has not the money
and its rich men. like our old friend. IL
Hung Chang who could pay the balance
and not feel IL. would nOt advance the
ffth part of a nickel 20 his Imperial Chin
csc Majestys government. n the Cuban
affair leads TO war with Spain. l shall
not be surprised In the least II Russia
leads the dance here sooner than expect
ed. There is no power that understands
better the art OF fishing In troubled wat
ers But at any rate. we are resting here
on our oars. ready 10 pull as soon as the
order Is given. Here is a little Item that
points the way the wind blows; By
notification No. II OF the Department OF
Finance ~ has been announced that wal
loan bonds TO the amount OF l,29'0o yea
will be ISSUED. the issuing value being M.S
ven per 100 ven face value. The Japaneso
are economical IN their expenditures and
a million with them goes long way
In the meanwhile We are having good