New-York tribune., 1899-08-20
FROM ASIA.


picture of his own designing, representing west
ern civilization, pcrsonifed by Europe and the
United States, as mcnaced by a dreadful Eastern
spectre formed by fusion of China, Japan ana
the other yellow races of Asia, there was dis
position to sc1ff at his expense and 10 ascribe
the fears expressed In his drawing to a dsor-
dered mind. Yet during the last few days the
yellow peril predicted by the Kaiser has be
come an accomplished fact and a grim reality.
The alliance between China and japan has been
definitely concluded, in spite of the most siren
uous opposition on the part Of all the Western
Powers represented at Peking, who. realizing the
danger by which they were confronted. banded
themselves together to Illustrate the projected
union sinking for the nonce all their differences.
japanese diplomacy and Chinese statecraft have
for once in a way, however got the best of
the white mans cleverness An agreement be
tween the two principal nations of the Orient
has been effected, and henccfOrth Europe and
the United States are confronted by combi-
nation consisting Of the most populous, indus
trious and prosperous empire in the world, pos
sesscd of undevelopcd wealth to an incalCuable
extent, banded together with another Asiatc
Power which while retaining its Oriental char
acteristics. prejudces and code of morality, has
science and invention could afford, and which
has developed such a spirit of restless enterprise
Of progressiveness and Of military aggression as
to have raised her during the short space of
generation from petty Oriental State that
could be bullied with impunity. even by Portu-
gal to the rank Of a great Power which Rus
sia Great Britain and Germany forced to
treat with consideration and respect Thus the
WI apprpnenu
Chno-Japanese combination than any one else.
since it is primarily directed against himself, has
not ventured to present his objections to the
alliance to the Court of Toxic, but has addressed
them to that of Peking where he has given it to
be understood through his Minister Penipoten-
tiary a son OF the well known Russian states
man De Giers that ne is opposed to China's
forming any alliance with Japan, and that If she
persisted in going contrary to his wishes in the
matter the consequences would be most serious
THE BISMARCK OF JAPAN.
To the Marquis Ito often styled the Bis
marck of Japan" belongs the credit of negotiat-
ing this alliance the importance Of which is so
vast that it may be well described OF the
most weighty events OF the nineteenth century
and it cannot be denied that the Mikados power
full statesman has in his dealings with China
taken so to speak, a leaf out Of the book Of his
German prototype For in the same manner
that after the close OF the war Of 1866, Prince
Bismarck insisted on moderation toward the de-
feated enemies namely. Austria Bavaria Hessc
etc, with the object of bringing them into an
alliance federation, Of which Prussia would
be the predominant partner and hold the rcins,
so did the Marquis Ito prefer, after the close of
Japan's war with China to forego nearly all the
fruits of his country's magnificent victories in
the hope of eventually inducing China to become
an ally OF Japan and an instrument Of over
whelming and irresistible power in the hands of
the Mikado
ITOS FAR SIGHTED STATECRAFT.
There have been many times since the close Of
the war with China and the peace of SimonOseki
when Japan might have established herself on
the mainland Of China and have acquired terri
tory there on the pretext of lease, in the same
way as Germany, Russia, Great Britain and
France for she had far stronger means of press
ure upon China than any of the four Powers in
question. Her naval forces on the Pacific coast
of Asia were superior even to those Of England,
while she has under arms force Of two hun
dred thousand men, fully equipped. ready to dis
EMBARK on the coast Of China within a space Of
less than week. Nor would any Western
Power or combination of Western Powers have
ventured to intervene in order to prevent her
from securing a foothold on the mainland. Yet
In spite Of this japan carefully avoided availing
herself of the opportunities thus offered to her.
She even went so far to evacuate We-Hai-
Wei which she held fer a time under the treaty
of peace, although she thoroughly aware
that as soon as she took her departure from
there England would step into the place, having
tCrced the Pekng Government to give her the
ease thereof.
Knowing the extent Of Chinese pride, and