The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-30

OF great regret, and as having indicated
his sense OF the mistakes committed by
Count kabayama and Viscount Taxa
shima, to which he attributed the present
embarrassing state of affairs Here is a
specimen of japanese politics for you.
But there is one thing highly commenda-
bic In all this. japanese statesmen may
dabble in politics. but IL they make a
mistake such as would reflect upon, or
hurt Dai Nippon. there can be only one
end. and that this. hara-kiri. If this or
some similar unwritten law became the
fashion in the United States. a good
many politicians. / fancy. would go out
Of the business. and try some other wa
OF making a living.
This is the last week of the year, and
business has been extremely dull, far
more so than In other years, so old resi-
dents say. Money is tighter than 1t ever
was before, and there is scarcely any
prospect Of relief. The papers are dis
cussing the ACCESSIBILITY Of inducing for
cign capital TO make investments. but
Japan must change her attitude towards
foreigners completely. and infuse a little
more integrity into her merchants before
any foreigner will trust his capital.
There is another matter which / would
place before the public through your paper.
The legations of almost ali the treaty
Powers have beautiful buildings. owned
by the governments by which they are
accredited. The one of the United States
is an exception. See here What a promi-
nent paper a y of it: las for the Lega-
ton Of the United States. the hardness
of the Washington Government TO pro
vide for a suitable building is
becoming the subject Of public
" Ia l. AA.fAA aAI
admirably situated. but the house is a
wooden structure of the himsiest descrip-
ton. Hastily run up and roughly put
together at the outset. the passage of
years has deprived 1t of its only title TO
responsibility. newness, and 1t Is now
a yeritable eye-sore, as ugly as il mus
be uncomfortable. 1t can never have
been intended 10 be anything but a very
temporary structure. for IL is huddled
away I'm the southerly corner of the
grounds so that the principal rooms face
west and north. aspects almost unendur-
able for a residence in the climate OF
Japan. sss We must say that consid-
oring the immense wealth Of the United
States and the magnitude Of American
interests in Japan. the Governments
carolessness in this matter is unaccounta-
Bile. The Consulate-Genoral in Yokohama
Is 4 door tIbuEn dAdi III al ''AA''ANh''f
but the Legation in Tokyo is incompara-
bly, poorer" | may add to this that, mex,
To sending professional diplomats-not
politicians-to represent this great re-
public abroad. a suitable Legation would
enhance our prestige.
CURRENT EVENTS.
The Crown Prince has reached his
majority. and has entered the House OF
Peers. The mourning for the Empress
Dowager is not yet past. and conses
auently there were no special demonstra-
tons. II is, besides. rather doubtful If
his health will permit his succeeding t.
TIE throne.
There was a huge fire ut Yokohama. Il
broke out at II o'clock at night In a
warehouse near tie railway station. and
spread TO the adjoining storo-houses,
which were all burned to the ground.
The coolies. who were quickly on the
scene. reaped a rich harvest, helping
themselves to anything handy. II seems
strange that, by tho very efficient police
force in Japan. such disorder can happen.
But the japanese Cop or bobby" Is
a sort OF an automaton, and hates to take
an initiative, probably from bear Of be-
ing raped over the knuckles by his
superiors. The loss is over 100000 yen.
and almost all uninsured. 1t will fal
heavy on the losers. the more since the
astonishing tightness Of money prevents
he obtaining of loans from the native
banks on almost any consideration.
Another murder Of an American sailor
IS reported from N~agasaki-Frank Epps
Of the United States flagship Olympia
THE man" says the Nagasaki Press
paid a visit to Nnasa on Sunday even
INC. and on returning hired a sampar
native boa) from hat village TO pu'
him on board. His cries were heard, anf
his body was found. The police arrest
cd two boatmen. This affair will b
hushcd up also: 1t IS not astonishing tina
American sailors begin 10 feel ugly. anc
that. unless this Government takes steps
o prevent and punish the cowardly muir
1erers. our blue jackets will take the mat
ter into their own hands.
The export of strawbraid from Kobe
shows a remarkable increase. In 1896
there were l.92i.97S bundles. valued a
yen SSl. OOS. and from January to October
1897. there were 2.6Si.4SS bundles, repre-
senting yen 1,437,G9l. II. ).