The Florida star., 1901-04-26
The WONDERFUL RISING sun Land |
Great Amhitlon and Startling Progress {
the Japanese People.


Special Correspondence Of The Florida Star.
YOKOHAMA, March 25.-Superior mil
itary and naval discipline enabled the
Japs to move ike an avalanche upon
the bowling. running mob or yellow sol
oilers In the war between China and
Japan. Ever since through her agency
they we deprived OF Korea as the
legitimafe fruits OF their conquest In
that war the Japs have "had it in" for
Russia. They hate her as the French
hate Germany. They have been pre-
pairing for a tussle with Russia from
that day to this. A feverish activity
has pervaded the construction depart
ment OF the Jap navy for half dozen
years. AS the enemy OF Russia, japan
became the friend OF China so soon as
she had given her a whipping. She en-
couraged China likewise to modernize
herself for war.
A time soon TO come may see Japan
and China linked as sworn allies
against their mutual foe, Russia. With
the lighting Japs to lead them, the
Chinese probably will not run bowling
when it comes to defending their ter
ritory against the Russian. The In
tegrlty OF China In a way guarantees
the safety OF Japan.
In the fight which seems sure to
come later If not sooner between Rus
sia and Japan the island empire counts
upon the backing OF England. moral
or otherwise. England is aware of
this.
I'm afraid these reckless little ban
tams will get us into trouble with Rus
sia. They will rush into a war with
her and expect us 10 help them out"
say Englishmen in the orient.
Even now Japan and China united
under the leadership of Japan would
be a match for Russia and would
scarcely need the support OF England.
Patriotism is a sentiment unknown
In the orient except among the Japa-
nese. but these possess it to OverfOwing.
They are STEPPED in Ii to the lips.
They love their country as In the days
OF the American Revolution Nathan
Hale and Washington and Williams
and Van Vert loved the republic that
was te-be. No American who had been
a member of the presidents cabinet
would afterward be willing 10 serve as
a plain, common congressional repre-
sentative. yet Mr.. Innkal. the Japa nese
statesman whose portrait here appears,
is doing that very thing AT present. He
was formerly one OF the mikadO's min
listers. He Is now n member OF the
Japanese house OF commons, working
for the advancement and glory OF the
empire as he can.
Few western nations are aware OF
Japan's immense strides in the COM
merclal marine service in the past ten
years. Today as sea transportation
corporation the Nippon Yusen Kaisha
Japanese Mail company stands ut the
head OF merchant marine fleets. The
company owns 50 steamships. and the
flag with the blood red globe upon
white field ~ seen in every port of the
old world and in San Francisco. Seat
tie and Vancouver i'm the new. The
longest steamer line On the globe is one
covered by Nippon Yusen Kaisha YES
sels. beginning at Yokohama and end
Ut Ut lOuCu at
HongkOng. Singapore. Penang and co
lombo. then cross the Indian ocean and
pass, the SueZ canal, stopping at Mar
seilfes on the way TO London and Ant
werp. The flag OF Japan is seen in the
worlds commerce ten times as often
as that OF the United States, for Japan.
the country OF islands. mus. lie Eng
land, achieve greatness on the sea.
The transactions of Japanese busi-
ness men are. however, marred by one
lingering trace OF orientalism. which
makes IL difficult for white merchants
to deal with them on the square trade
principles OF the western world. Ii is
almost impossible thus far TO convince
u japanese business man that when
once he makes contract he must stick
to il. even ut temporary loss To himself
He cannot understand why for n mo-
ment he should accept price he has
agreed TO take for goods when there is
a prospect OF getting more. Neither
can he understand why he should not.
according to the custom OF the oricn
tails. ask ten times as much for an arti
Gle as he is willing TO sell ii for. In
consequence Jap merchants have sOmp
what a name for unrelia bility. But
they will learn haftAr