The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-17
THE NEW ERA FOR JAPAN.
MoMENToUS CHANGE IN HER CONDI-
TI0N TAKES PLACE TO-DAY.

Tho New Treaties Go Into Eject, and from
| This Day Forth Japan Will He Recognised
ms an Equal by the Chief Powers of
the World-Grent Event in Her History.
Special Gable Ds,pateh 10 THE sur.
TOXIC. July 16-The revised treaties be-
| tween japan and the other powers will become
| operative tomorrow. when Japan will be
thrown open to all western peoples. France
and Austria will retain their consular jurisdic-
| tion until Aug. 4.
WASHINGTON. July LEON Nov. o. 1894. w.
| O. Gresham. then Secretary OF State. and Mr..
Kurno. the Japanese Minister, signed q treaty
! which revolutionized the conventional rela-
tons OF Japan and the United States. Among
other stipulations 1t was agreed that. with tho
exception OF the extradition treaty. all previous
| treaties, conventions. arrangements and
| agreements" should cease to be binding on
July II. 1899. and. lin consequence. the juris-
| diction then exercised by courts OF the United
| States In Japan. and all the exceptional privi-
| leges, exemptions and i'm munites then enjoyed
| by citizens OF the United States as part OF. or
| appurtenant to. such jurisdiction, shall abso-
| lutely and without notice cease and deter
mine. and thereafter all such jurisdiction
shall be assumed and exercised by japanese
courts" The treaty also restored to japan
| the control OF her tariff. which had been
| restricted by the convention of 1896 under the
| terms OF which Japan could not levy any GUS
| toms duty greater than per cent. ad valorem.
| For the unconditional favored nation clause in
| the old treaty conditional agreement was
substituted. making 1t impossible for elther
| party to demand OF the other any privilege
granted to third nation. except on the same
or equivalent conditions" The old stipulation
was wholly one-slded. the construction main
tanned by the majority Of the treaty powers
| being that Japan could not grant privilege to
| one nation. no matter how valuable the con-
sideraton received In return. without giving 1t
| Immediately and without compensation to all
! of them.
The new treaty contained other important
changes. restoring to Japan the right to exercise
| the prerogatives OF national sovereignty. which
| were temporarily suspended when she made
her first treaties As result the United
| States and Japan now stand on an equal foot
Ing in their treaty relations. The same is true
| OF the other treaty powers. with all OF whom
| treaties similar to that with the United States
| have been concluded. the first on July 10. 1894.
| with Great Britain. and the last on Dec 5.
| 1897 with Austria. To the treaties with
| France. Germany. Great Britain and Austria
| conventional tariffs have been appended. in
| Guiding some Of the principal imports from
! those countries. These tariffs are terminable
| at the end OF twelve years, and under the
\
tho treaty powers will enjoy the trade benefits
they establish. Articles not mentioned in the
| conventional tariffs will be subject to the gem
| eral statutory tariff Of Japan. BY special ar
| rangement both the statutory and the conven-
| tional tariffs went Into operation on Jan. l.
| 1899. July II. 1885, was selected as the date
for the inauguration of the new treat les. To-
morrow therefore, this momentous change In
Japan's condition takes place. and from this
time forth she is formally recognized as a co;
that pertains to the free and untrammeed ex '
erclse OF tho rights OF national sovereignty
have taken place in that island empire in the
far Pacific during IN, the past at three decades; and
Ffn Gfs ns al ss RaSf the sS with
e Gang Of this ait change may not appear az
thing that their country has achieved since It
first emerged from the secluson in which 1t
OF wears ago Commodore Perry. by persuasion
iavred srGngy 81
mat 0f%eG %tast
PEOPLES. but Ss no other Oriental nation Sas
done or 1ttGSmpe4 to dos do what Jspan
prove that the Japanese are superior 70 other
| Oriental peoples. They are not lacking In
c nIr o 9H hss % .sa
the path they have chosen. without, pausne to
from the, traditions OF those TO whom they are
supposed to be enthusiastically related The
than the Eneishman in France OF Frrenehmcn.
b. but to one thing avery fsir-mlnded Observer serve:
must admit. and that Is that they strive earn
| prove their condition.
Perhaps the, most striking evidence o., the
m s9SS se hy t whf mas ns
exultant triumph in the press and in the ut
terances OF public leaders at this important
ton as matter Of course. but it satisfaction
sobered by contemplation OF the newand oner-
Gus responsibilities. which the nation is about
| to assume. Above the chorus Of congratula-
ton sounds distinct note Of warning not to
goal OF her am btion. but rather to remember
that she has still before her the task OF proving
herself worthy by works Of the, confidence
| be found the surest promise OF successful
for Ms1 know that what
| cured by chance or by accident, but by upre-
hitting effort and at the cost of many sacrifices
The inequality and even injustice Of many OF
the old treaty stiR rh were painfully evl.
ago. It was not confined to the, mere request
changed: that would have beenIhopolcss, The
TEy Tas m TO
reformation of the laws. the elevation OF
hs and sS mstTods Of pub S
lie administration and other cognate re-
plish the desired end. and when. finally. sue
cess in all Of these directions had become as
sured. Japan was in position to demand that
which before she could only ask as a favor
That. in brief, is the history OF the revision Of
| the treaties Tomorrow witnesses the crown
ing act Of all this long struggle for the reRen-
| Grafton OF u nation. Japans material progress
and military prOwess may have attracted wider
attention In the past. hut no event In her his
| tory is moro notable than that which will be
marked by this days occurrences.
Americans. almost equally with Japanese.
may find Just reason for self-conRratulation In
| this event During the whole OF Japnn's
struRgle for recognition. the United States has
| been her firm and helpful friend. From tho
time when Commodore Perry tempered lrm-
| ness with exact Justice and considerate kind
ness. through the years wherein Townsend
Harris,s great ability was exerted on behalf Of
| the embarrassed and distracted country. where
he was as much guide and friend as public
Representatives. down TO the present time. the
record is one of which Americans have good
reason TO- be proud This, Government
| ,Ianon'S demands SOma reformation