The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1898-01-06
JAPAN is WIDE AWAKE.
Takes Advantage of Whatever Will
Increase Her Advancement.


Increase Her Advancement.
Whatever the popular opinion may be
regarding the present attitude of Japan
toward the United States and the pro-
test filed through it's legation here
against the annexation of the Sandwich
Islands by this Government, Il is
forced to admire the cleverness with
which this little country has in the last
quarter of a century conducted her
domestic and foreign affairs, and to
Wonder at the position to which she
has raised herself among the nations of
the earth.
Her phenomenal progress dates from
that period when she became i'm!
pressed with her own limitations. AS
soon as she realized them she set about
improving and strengthening herself,
and she owes more to the fact that SHE
has laid stress on the education Of hel
people and has aided and encouraged
them in their efforts, selecting hel
functionaries from the ~cleverest Of her
students, than to any other cause.
The present minister to Washington,
for instance, Is a man thoroughly
versed in his profession. A long resi-.
dence in this country, when the OPPOSE
ton party was in power and he prac.
tically an exile, has given him an ac-
quaintance with the internal affairs Of
the United States which has been OF
incalculable value to him in his diploa
matte career, and perhaps no one Of his
colleagues is better equipped to man.
age the delicate matter he has at pres
ent in hand.
His predecessor, who will be remem-
bered as having been successful in
making for his Government a new
treaty with the United States, was at
n time a student at Harvard, and it
is safe to assume hat all future minis,
tiers from Japan to this country will be
selected from those who have had an
opportunity Of studying the institutions
and people of the United States at close
range.
1t is surely fiattering that Japan
models so many Of her institutions af.
ter those of this country. During the
last year-for many years past, in fact
japanese delegations have crossed
the Pacific for the purpose of studying
various subjects in the United States,
from stock breeding to electric rail
ways, and there is hardly a time when
some distinguished japanese are not
staying at the capital for the purpose
of investigating matters of especial in
terest to their country.
There is at the present time T. Kochi-
be, a professor in the Imperial Univer-
sity, and director of the geological sur
vey Of Japan, and N. Tsuneto, an agri-
cultural expert, holding a high position
III that department, who are on their
way to the international geological con-
gress, which will meet in st. Peters
burg this summer. Mr.. Kochibe and
Mr.. Tsuneto have been the guests of
Prof. Walcott of the geological survey,
who has had much pleasure in making
them acquainted with the workings Of
his department.
Japan boasts a thriving geological
survey, founded in 1879, whose first
uIlCSloI vas Il Nclludu, III. Lulllulu
Naumann. It has grown constantly
since its organization, and in recogni-
ton of its work received gold and sill
yer medals from the Paris exposition
of 1880. From the Worlds Columbian
exposition It also received three med
ais, awarded for its exhibit Of maps,
typical specimens Of soils, minerals,
rocks and fossils.
There is also staying in town Nassau
Mazda, former minister Of agriculture
III japan, and Mr.. Furuya, the repre-
sentative Of some japanese commercial
companies, who acts as his secretary
and interpreter. Mr.. Mazda is here in
a strictly private capacity; has no off,
cial mission, and his purpose is to fur
ther trade relations between Japan and
this country. He believes that a great
reciprocal trade could be built up be-
tween these two nations and is working
enthusiastically for that end.-New
York Tribune.
A Peculiar Eunoro1