The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-02-20
RUSSIA, JAPAN AND THE WESTERN
POWERS.

| 100000
have been fully verified. The imme
date phases of the war, naval and mill
tary, are necessarily of absorbing in
terest, and it's fluctuations, if there b
any, will be closely observed, especial.
when reports are published from tn
great newspaper correspondents, wh
are probeoly now at the scene Of &C
ton.
The effect of the hostilities upon tn
destiny of China and upon the question
of preponderance in Asiatic trade, com
merce and civilization, is, however, the
deeper question upon which the thought
of statesmen, diplomatists, and the ado
vanced representatives of business
education and enlightenment, is con-
centrated. Broadly stated, the under
| lying issue is between the Western
Powers, with which for the time, if not
permanently, Japan is Incorporated, and
Russian medievalism and exclusive
ness.
The effect of the treaties between
| China, the United States and Japan,
| lately ratified, has been already dis
cussed in these columns. They have
certainly largely contributed to the
qualification of western influence
against the Muscovite. Secretary Hays
note to the Powers, inviting them to
make their neutrality effective and to
conserve the integrity of China was a
most astute piece of national strategy,
founded upon principle, and has already
met with marked favor and explicit as
sent. Japan has definitely promised to
and Korea, and, in that respect, as in
all others, stands committed to the free
access of America and Europe to the
Asiatic continent. The United States,
autonomy of Korea. Manchuria is part
of China, and even Russia, on paper,
has been compelled to acknowledge our
treaty rights. The response of several
leading nations to Secretary Hays note
is an answer to the contemptuous
threat of Lessar, the Russian Minister
at Pekin, when, speaking of China
standing in the way of Russian designs
in Manchuria, he said; Bah! Wen pull
her queue until she bites
The seed planted in Japan by Com
mo6ore Perry has yielded much fruit. ;
1t is undeniable that Asia supplies the
most inviting field for commercial ex-
pansion in the Twentieth Century, and
t is remarkable that an Asiatic ma
ion, occupying a comparatively small
nsular area on the western verge of the
Pacific, should have been so rapidly
transformed into the active representa-
i've of Western ideas in that part of
he Asiatic continent. She has become,
20 to speak, the sentinel of modern
rogress at the Pacific entrance to Asia,
md she proposes to keep that entrance
pen, not only for herself, but for the
civilized world.
1t is said occasionally that commerce
S selfish. The French once derided
treat Britain as nation of shop-keep-
rs. Brother Jonathan has been iron
cally complimented on his wooden nut
negs, his gimcrack watches and his
harp bargains. But Uncle Sam has
uperseded Brother Jonathan and, side
y side with John Bull, though en-
angled by no alliance, has acquired,
ot merely territorial but moral, in
and financial supremacy. The
andmaids of commerce have ever been
reedom and intelligence, and. even
hough in dealing with inferior races
here has been much fraud and brutal
y in past ages, still those character
tics or disfiguring features of Teutonic
larches are rapidly disappearing from {
ae onward movements of this century, {
/ which all races are gathering them
elves to burst the bonds of ignorance
nd stolidity. The door to an isolated
alton once pushed open, not merely |
'ade but the arts, the sciences, educa-
on, religion, morality rush in, and the !
and elevating effect are ;
oeediiy apparent. g
Japan has studied, copied and origi- b
ated beyond prediction. In China,
rain is abundant and the integrity Of +
s merchants is proverbiaI. But Chi
ase methods have run in narrow :
rooves, set thousands of years ago, !;
nd, with the possibilities of a develop q
manhood within its own teeming /
opulation, China has remained virtual
imprisoned for many ages. Its OPP /
is near at hand through the G
open door," which is about to be lifted p
ON its hinges. Already the stirring a
new life in that isolated empire is :.
onspicuous. This fact may be illus
ated even in the line of military force,
which during the war with Japan,
1ly ten years ago, there was a defici- t
Icy, so notable as to attract ridicuIe. ! t