The Washington times., 1904-02-26
THE NEWCOMER
AMONG MODERN NATIONS

America has had much to do with the
development OF Japan. An American
seaman. Perry. opened the country
to the trade of the world. The Ameri-
can Minister Harris made the first
treaty with Japan. The first election
under the japanese constitution was
held on July T. 1890. The United States
Government gave Japan her first for
eign order for a ship-a small gunboat
wanted in a hurry for the Philippines
The United States first moved at the
beginning Of the present war to pre-
serve tive integrity of China. which is
all that Japan, as champion Of freedom,
wants.
The dates Of JaDan's new birth are
conveniently remembered The Perry
expedition landed in 1853. Previously
foreigners could not enter Japan; Jap
anese could not leave it. The civil war
and the reconstruction period in Japan
roughly corresponded with our own.
New Japan dates from 1861. Az the
great material changes have been made
since that year. The new constitution
vent into effect and the parliament as
sembled in 1890.
Japan's government is neither a des-
potism. like Russia's, nor practically re-
There are but 2,p00.O0o voters qualified
for general elections out OF a total pop
ulation of 100000. The Emperor is as
sisted BY a council and by ten ministers.
comparable to our Cabinet officers, ex-
cept that they have more power. For
instance. the japanese minister of the
interior has general charge OF police
matters. and most Of the railways and
the telegraph and telephone lines are
government monopolies-
Japan has 1000 miles Of railways. her
merchant fleets are eighth in size among
the worlds peace navies. her banks are
RAPIDLY increasing in deposits. Japan is
successful I'm cOlonizing the island Of
Formosa, taken from China in the re-
cent war.
Missionaries sympathize with Japan.
though she is technically heather.
Really. Japan is rapidly becoming Chris
tianized There are 1850 Christians.
people of more than average influence.
Besides. japanese rule means freedom;
Russian means despotism. On this point
Clement says in his newly issued Hand
book of Modern Japan" Her (Japan's)
aims i'm the Far East coincide with ours
and with the dictates of civilization The
supremacy Of Japan in Eastern Asia
means far more for America and Ameri-
can institutions than does the domina-
ton Of Russia. Japan enjoys rights I'M
known in Russia-social freedom. pOiiti-
cal privileges. representative institu-
tons, local lf-government intellectual
liberty. freedom OF assembly and Of the
press and religious liberty. Japan is al
ready far in advance OF Russia. and In
many respects abreast of Germany
In local government Japan rather re-
sembles France. Each district or large
town has its local legislature and a
governor appointed by the Emperor The
scope Of the local legislature is rather
less than that OF our State Legislatures.
but the governor. according to Mr.
Clement. usually interferes little with its
actions.
The pay of workingmen in Japan Is
very small. and there is neither great
wealth nor extreme poverty in the EN-.
pire. The Mitsui Bank. more than 200
years old. is putting up in Tokyo the
first steel frame building in Japan. COW
ering two and one-half acres. The total
trade of Japan has grown from SIS OOO.-
900 in 1S6S-the year after the revolution
to $254. 900, 900 in 1901.
There are about 1000 newspapers and
periodicals in Japan, all of recent found
ing. Books are plentiful The new
growth in China OF the scientific spirit
Is fed from Japan. In printing books
OF science. language. law. and Htera-
ture for Chinese use, the reformers
translate not from European tongues
but from the japanese; the japanese
have already made selections and
adaptations useful In the East. This
fact, according 20 Mr. Clement. illus
trates the leadership OF Japan in the
Pacific That leadership Is also shown