Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-11-01

rlSkS involved, even where prospect
Of large profit is alluring"
One or two OF the facts giveu by
Mr., Bergen may be mentioned to
show what small heed is paid either
to the written laws or the rights of
foreigners, In 1889 the English third
officer OF Japanese mail steamer
was attacked in his cabin by tho
Quartermaster n Japanese. The
Epglishman Knocked the Japanese
down and had him arrested, The
Quartcrmaster retaliated by having
the Englishman arrested, The court
released the native on his own rcCog.
pizance, hut kept the Epglishman con.
fined siNty-eight days. and ended by
sentencing him to six months Of rigor-
Gus imprisonment Emholdeucd by
this evident miscarriage of Justice, n
Japanese merchant named Otaki Motu
brought suit against the old and high
ly respected firm OF WorCh \ Co OF
Yokohama, asking FOR the restitution
OF 10000 cases OF alcohol deposited
with the firm as security for loan
of $4,000 yen, The firm does not even
know this man. never lent him any
money and never handled tho alcohol.
But OtaN Motu trusts to the bias of
the judge and expects decision In
his favor What security is there for
outside Investment in Japan where
the courts will Couutcuauce such lilo.
gal and dishonest proceedtngsC
Assaults of foreigners by natives.
Mr. Bergen says, are of tho commons
est occurrence. Those attacked are
usually ladies' or gentlemen OF the
best class OF Americans or Europ-
cans; quiet, Industrious, reputable
merchants or missionaries; and the
men committing the ofronsc are often.
il not most frequently. of the class of
merchants or shi2oku. There is at
present absolutely NO safety for a
foreigner In Japan, and ladies aspect.
ally are liable to be insuucd any.
where and In broad daylight. II IA
out of the question to obtain redress"
The traditional right of parents to sell
their daughters for immoral purposes
seems an irradicablo custom, and
! continues despite the new Constitu.
ton. The courts have ovou ruled.
quite recently, against young women
who have prayed to be released from
such degrading bondage The great
mistake, according to Mr. Bergen. was
the failure of the treaty powcrs to
mako proper Investigation OF the now
! codes before signing the treaties
Japan merely copied institutions or
gave high sounding civilized names to
! innovations the scope OF which not
per cent of its people understood.
| The emperor and a fow of his sup
portcrs, such as the Marquis Ito, may
earnestly wish to see the written laws
enforced and the now constitution up
held, but the vast majority Of the
people do not understand them and
continue according to the old tradi-
lions.
In presenting those facts about
Japan MIR Bergen has performed n
| distinct service TO Americans and
other foreigners. There has boon a
quite general impression that Japan,
under its new conditions, offered n
peculiarly attractive field for invest.
mont; that It's people had taken roadl.
ly to the changed order, and that
| foreigners not only were wanted
there but that thoy would be warmly
welcomed But Mr., Bergen has given
| another view of the case which viii
| cause intending investors to pause un.
I'll the Japanese field has been more
| thoroughly investigated. If the solemn
pledge of treaties has had no effect
upon the natives In general perhaps
n sharp brush with such nation ms
Russia might persuade the Japanese
| that laws are made to be enforced
that their immoral traditions ana Gus.
toms viii not be tolerated and that
the rights of foreigners must be re-
! speCtpd.
The New York Journal and Advor.
! tisor says Bnrthodl's statue of liberty
on Bodloes island Is IN doplorablo
condition, md an expenditure of
from $4,000 to 100000 Will be re-
/ CURED to put II in proper repair. II
these repairs are not made soon Il
much larger sum will be needed to
keep 1t from falling into ruin. Sey.
oral efforts have in years past been
made to have congress appropriate
sufficient money 10 complete the
pedestal and grounds, but tho bills
have always been defeated.