New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-31

Gar. whom all are disposed to admit Is a we'll
meaning, humane and progressive man, ham
pered and INSTRUCTED IN the execution of his
best intentions by n bureaucracy which.
by of its vaStness and completely he
has neither adequate supervision nor control
In one word, Japan at the present moment
stands for the open door in China. The lat
ter with its teeming population Of four
hundred million people, is the most valuable
market on the face Of the globe to every nation
possessed of manufacturing and commercial in
terests. Countries whose prosperity is derived
to such an extent from their trade as the United
States Great Britain, Germany, italy and
France cannot afford to submit with equanim-
fly to the prospect Of the principal markets OF
China being barred TO their industries. None Of
them. however. anxious to take up arms
AGAINST Russia to go to the length of de-
cLaring her IN order to keep these
markets ouen But they all OF them glad
to find japan disposed to undertake the work
In their stead and that is why they are giving
TO her their sympathy and their moral support. |
To every who has lived in the Orient and |
who has acquired experience Of the Asiatic |
character the question must occur TO what
degree Of dependence be placed upon the
undertaking that Corea, Manchuria and the rest |
OF China VIII remain open to the trade of the |
United States and of Europe in the event Of
Japan obtaining control of the situation by |
mt ans Of actual war; or perhaps, even, by mere |
Diplomatic pressure. True, Russia has a sngu- |
la!iy unfortunate record in the matter Of the |
non fuflment Of official pledges and treaty
obligations. There few countries. however, |
whose skirts absolutely unsoiled in this |
connection, and there is no guarantee whatso- |
ever that Japan will not eventually follow in |
tbs particular, too. the example set by so many
Western powers, and decline to live up to her |
promises. The morality of the japanese mer- |
chant in the matter of his obligations has long |
been a byword throughout the orient. and has |
frequently been denounced in consular reports |
ard in books Of travel 1t remains 10 be seen |
whether the japanese government Will manifest |
q loftier regard for its promises. when the in /
terests of her merchants. OF her manufacturers |
ard. indeed. Of the prosperity OF the entire land |
Of the Rising Sun. are at stake
Should then. Japan attempt to reserve the |
Chinese markets for her exclusive use excluding /
herefrom all those Western powers which are |
now giving her that moral backing which is en- !
eouraging her to resist the advances OF the Rus |
fians. the situation VIII have become fraught
with much greater difficulties than Il is to-day /
Already the disposition Of the Chinese govern
ncnt and people to confde In the japanese |
that is TO say in fellow OrientaIs and IN fellow |
hoathens rather than In the Christian foreign
ers-ts very marked. In the event Of Japan OBJ |
tanning the upper hand In her present conflict |
with Russia, her prestige and her influence
would inevitably become TO such an extent
paramount in China that the latter would sub
NIT entirely to her guidance. 4 victorious
japan would undoubtedly lead TO the organiza-
ton and mobilization OF the Chinese millions
frto vast and successful army. With their
similarity Of race. religion. history ideals and
customs, the japanese and the Chinese might
quickly develop into military entity the power
OF which, once aroused and modified would
dwarf into insignihcance any horde OF conquer
OTIS the world has ever seen. To-day the Japan
ese are willing to be guided in a measure by the
counsels OF the United States government OF
Great Britain and OF other Western powers 1t
IL doubtful whether she would continue to
do so if she had all China behind her She
would in that be more inclined to die
tate than to defer, and tine Occdent would
then be confronted by that problem to which
Emperor William some ten years ago drew at
tention in a widely copied picture entitled THE
Yellow PERIL" and which has furnished the
themes Of earnest warnings by General Sir An
drew Clarke, Field Marshal Lord Woseey Cen
eTal Gordon OF Khartoum, and, indeed of nearly
every soldier. statesmen. official and merchant
whose knowledge of the Orient is derived from
actual and personal experience Under the cir
cImstances 1t cannot be too strongly urged that
the United States Great Britain and other West
bowers should insist rInor tho rnoet ox+a,