Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-12-15
JAPAN OVER PREOOCToUs
Her Rapid Advance May Lead to Tn.
ternahOnal Entanglements.

The Extremes and General D,sn.r,,,-
Among Her People Make Her -,
thing But Cntaed NatIon---Thron,,.,
the Beautiful Inland Sea.
NIPPON YUsEN KA1sHA. SIS
Oct. Is, 1900.
After about 20 hours run through tbs
inland Sea we are now at Moi. the ebaD-
mel eading to the open sea, receiving col
before departing for Nagasaki. Not oniv
the men and the boys, but women and
girls stand in the lighters shoveling ana
handling coal, and it is commonly know,
70 be next TO the quickest coalipS station
in the world, its superior being Nagasaki
where this method OF coalinp often 6Us
ship with over 1000 tons in about fon-
hours. Il is rare sight to see the sam
pans swarming around the sides of the
ship eager to get a chance to unload ana
the speed with which the natives mass The
little baskets of soft coal is far more effect
i've than slow steam hoist would be To
accomplish the same thing. and the ex-
pense is hardly calculable.
Here at Moi, within sight of the boat
IS the spot where Count Ito and Ii Hung
Chang signed the peace treaty after the
war between Japan and China, and apro-
pos Of the war mentioned, the japanese
are keenly awake in realizing the signif.
canoe of their victory, and lose no chance
to remind you of it in the theatres or in the
songs OF the street Ministries. Volumes
have been printed relative to their sweep
ing victories, pictorial pamphlets are ALWAYS
apparent, and at the mention of the war 4
Jap. will swell up, smile, and be superior
to everything in existence. In fact the re-
suits are daily developing and the prevail
ing appreciation and realization of their
advance in the scale of worldly nations
stimulates them to a sense Of pride
and an expression Of pomposity which
makes them naughty and will ultimately
place Japan on very firm footing, cause
everything to advance in price, and make
the expense of life in the empire as much
as in America, which they try to initiate
in every detail.
However, such an impetus and craze for
prominence is apt, according to me. to lead
the previously dormant and inexperienced
nation into grave errors and undesirable
complications, for like a rapidly-growing
child whose growth saps the vitality and
veakens the system, the mushroom rise
anda mbitions of Japan may run her into
require more experience and slower de-
velopment 70 handle and support with
credit and benefit and healthfulness TO her
self and her prosperity.
Her diplomatists and administrative Of
fcials are very shrewd, active and am
bilious, but the traces of feudalism are still
discernable, the masses are yet unsophisti-
Gated and illiterate, the institutions for
Advancement still in their infancy, and
the class distinctions too clearly defined
TO make the nominal administrators the
leaders of the superstitious, self satisfied
semi-educated masses, whose religion alone
keeps them in touch and harmony with
the emperor.
Even though Japan shaped China and
then whipped her for objecting, the innate
characters of the Japs. as a nation would
seem to be a serious drawback to her If
she should ever stand in the way of a
stronger power, and il seems to me that
Japan will henceforth live solely on her
reputation of the Chinese war, and would
be making herself more influential in the
affairs of the world if she sells herself TO
the highest bidder from a diplomatic
standpoint) in the questions of the East,
and refrain from any attempt to assert her
desires by force independently. Her navy
may be strong, her modified troops loyal
and well-equipped, and her intentions
good, but the extremes and the general
disparity existing among her people makes
her anything but unified nation capable
Of finishing strong in fight.
To return to the Inland Sea and the
Kobe Marn," which is an averaged-sized
coasting boat, American captain and
Oriental officers and crew, the trip was
thoroughly delightful. The shores and
its mountainous background, coupled with
the innumerable little islands which often
seemed to choke our passage ahead, all
combined to make the voyage resemble
trip through a vast lake. Millions OF
iunks and japanese fishing boats dotted
the calm blue water and added life TO the
ever-varying scenery On the shores the
autumnal hints and the variety of greenish
hues produced by the rice fields and BAN
boo forests which surrounded the galleried
gardens of a japanese halmet, made
panorama indescribable in words, and IN
doubtedly sight characteristic OF the In
dian Sea" c. FRED CHILDs.