The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-09
3.s24.75O II 6


Balance 3.s24 80 II
The ostensible reason for Okuma's
withdrawal from the Cabinet was the dis
agreement with regard to the question
Of Increased taxation. In the budget TO
be submitted TO the coming Diet, there
is "A deficit Of yen 2i0co,oOO. and 1t was
decided TO increase the taxes on land
and sake Ohe national drink. a sort OF
gin made OF rice). Okuma admits that
he Is not absolutely opposed TO the IN
crease. but gives 1t as his opinion that IL
is impolitic at this time The real cause
of his resignation Is the failure to carry
out his strong foreign policy in relation
TO the Hawaiian question, and his dread
Of being called upon for explanations
The worst thing that can befan the Japa-
nese Shizoker is 10 be made ridiculous
and that is what would happen 10 the
Sage OF Waseda.
But even before the political horizon
was obscured by the precipital act OF Ger
many In KyaO-Chao. there was pehy
of evidence Of the approach or hnahcia'
panic. In the latter half OF NoverS%er
two or three OF the principal banks nau
suspended payment. and several or Inc
wealtbiest merchants had gone into bank
ruptcy Matsumoto. who is considereu
one Of the greatest individual capitalists
and promoters, and whose holdings IN
I stocks run up i'm millions, has had the
greatest trouble in securing loan OF yen
/ 500 900 from the Nippon Ginko Baih OF
! Japan, occupying the same position TO-
ward the Government as the Bank OF
| England toward that Of Great BrltMh)'
| shares are down and dropping still, so
! that II will be impossible for Matsucoto
10 pay the interest Of his Indebtedness,
| unless the market RECEIVERS. lchibei
| Tamaka president OF the osaka Shosen
Kaisha osaka Steam Navigation Com
! pany) and OF six other companies. is as
| heavily involved. II these two merchants
| fail. the effect will be felt in Tokyo and
Yokohama and it will be some time be-
| fore Japan RECEIVERS.
| THE DESPISED WHITE RACE.
| The time TO engage in war is, there
| fore. not propitious for Japan. but the
! chances are very much that she will
plunge into it. l have stated repeatedly
| that neither merchants nor any member
| Of the Industrial classes have any voice
I'm the direction of affairs. They are In
the hands of the Shizoku or "Oficial
| Glass" of whom there are 100000 families
| These SkiZoku are intensely patriotic
| frugal Industrious and brave But they
| have an immense idea of their country.
| which to them in fac. as well as in name.
| Is Dai Nippon. or Great Japan, and as 10
| their opinion of themselves. they modestly
| think that they are perfect. and look
down upon us Of the poor white race as
| UNNECESSARILY their interiors. While they
may quarrel and fight among themselves
as to who shall be prime minister or head
OF a department. they form solid pha-
lanx where the honor or glory Of their
country IS threatened by one Of the
despised white race. And soon az
these gentry clearly perceive that there
IS a movement on foot. disputing to Japan
her -ank as the greatest. most civilized.
and most progressive country on earth
why. they will fight.
The question remains: What will Eng
land do? It is impossible TO foretell.
Lord Sallsbury's policy I'm the far East
has been an unknown quantity ever since
the Revised Treaty with Japan was sign
ed July lG 1870 Neither Korea nor
Marchuria are a promising field for Eng
lish enterprise. and a war in the far
East means war in Europe n Japan
secures British assistance her statesmen
| will deserve to be named with the fore
most DIPLOMATS Of this century.
VIII Ito take again the helm? After
all he is one Of the few Japanese states
men who knows European politics, and he
has shown his ability. But Ito is not anX-
ious for cffice. patriot though he Is. He
has spoken only once for the public since
his return from Europe. and his speech
was a warning to the japanese. IT was
AZ the meeting Of the Ryamonsha a
social association Of which the Presi-
dent Of the First National Bank. p.
| shibueawa. IS the leader. Ito said: IN
view Of the approaching mixed residence.
| (the time when the revised treaties VIII
20 into effecO peonle saw that we must
not fan behind foreigners. This atti-
tnde however will prov" dangerous
when accompanied by anti-forei2n senu-
n,cnt What. for instance. n some soshi
were 10 attack successful foreign Nor
chant bocause Of his monopolY M Oh"
expense Of the japanese? An internationnl
question viii be raised and the For''tn
Minister will have TO apologize; this WEI
cause an attack on the Minister ior ms
weak po'icv Thus the Foreign Mlnlst'"
viii M hammered I'm the dischargo or MS
official duties and the nation VIII gam
Nothing hut DISGRACE ] am in favor OF
Turoneanlzation: that is 10 say ] WISH
,o introduce European civilization INTO
tbe country. II we intend 20 REGARD for
eiqners as enemies IL would 10 better
no, 20 allow mixed residence. We should
rather secure the fruits OF CIVILIZATION ny
uniting with and utilizing foreigners.
This remarkable statement or an aoie
and natriotic statesman confirms the
doubt as 10 the wisdom Of tho new treaty
II. 5.