Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-11-01
GLOOMY VIEW OF JAPAN.
Disclosures About the Country Not at
all Pleasant.

all Pleasant.
1t is less than year since the
Japanese in their poetic enthusiasm,
celebrated what they called the COM
ing of age of their country. For
twentythrco years the ilowory king
dom had been clamoriug for admit
tanco into the circle of full self
governing nations and the Conso-
qucnt adjustment OF eNtra-tcrritorial
privileges enjoyed by foreign resi-
dents But it was not until 1894,
when Lord Salisbury signed the re-
vised treaty with Japan, that the
other treaty powers fell into line
Five years later the most ardent de-
sire of the Japanese was fulfilled.
There was widespread rejoicing
throughout the kingdom; all classes
seemed persuaded that the new era
would prove golden with opportunity
and achievements, Only the compare
lively few foreign residents who wCrC
so situated that they could not we'll
leave the country had misgivings and
order of things. 1t may be too soon
TO Judge the use tho japanese may
make of their full independence, but
it cannot fail to be instructive to
listen to testimony which, showing
present conditions, may enable out
sders to make some reasonably pos
sble forecasts.
In the Review Of Reviews r. Van
bergen, writing on iapan's New Era,
does no hesitate to say that the re,
yised treaties and consequent free.
dom from consular supervision were
not only a grave mistake but a crime
AGAINST Japans real progress. Mr.. Der
gen maintains that the trcaty-making
powers acted in tho matter with too
much haste, They took the assurance
Of Japan that written code had
been in force a year too much for
granted. 1t should have been duty
TO examine these codes to see how
far they were likely to cover the new
conditions. Had this been done the
discovery must have followed that
while they might suit a Christian ma
ton, from which they had been copied,
il would have been ridiculous TO OK.
pect an essentially oriental people to
obey them Even now, when less than
q year Of the new era has passed,
these codes have been quietly ignored,
and Mr. Bergen believes they will be
II g. 80 IA
original Is left The new codes, which
if enforced. would have given protoc-
tioE to foreign residents and interests,
thus stand worse than a dead letter.
They are ignored by the courts when
ever the interests OF a japanese and
foreigner clash; and the traditional
hatred Of the natives for everything
foreign seems as far beyond the con.
trol Of the local authorities as 1t Is
past that of resident consuls.
In view Of such conditions there Is
new interest to Amer" ms, as well az
10 the other treaty powers in the
present menacing attitude OF Russia
md the imminency OF a serious clash
"''eHrAA NieN 'OA4bi anu japan Jul
Nmericans are particularly interested.
Japan has shown In marked degree
desire for the investment OF American
napitaI 70 aid in the development OF
it's resources. But American capital
has all the canniness OF the typical
Scotchman. II is ready for invest.
ment, but II wants assurances OF
Dormancncy and security as well as
profit and II Mr. Bergen's Indictment
be corrcct--and he is not niggardly
iu presenting facts--Japan, In the
cannot offer the first
two essentials. With an antiforeign
prit predominating among the
Japanese; with judges paid smaller
salaries than the earnings OF
an industrious iinrikisha coolie, with
widespread contempt and disregard OF
the written codes upon which the new
treaties were based, what American