The National tribune., 1906-12-13
JAPAN AND WAX.

I AMI
The improbability of Japan entertain
ing any strong desire Cor war must be
In the first place, Japan has just gone
thru a terrible struggle which strained
her physically and financially nearly to
the breaking point. Japan Is not at all
a rich country, and yet she has had TO
carry on costly war which would have
| been a severe burden 10 very rich
| Nation. We get an idea of how keen
the financial strain has been from The
| fact that she has actually been COM
PEELED to mortgage her customs revc-
nues. When a Nation has to resort to
this last desperate eXpedient She is on
the verge of bankruptcy. Only such de-
crepit Nations as Turkey and Spain,
with possibly such imitation Govern
ments as Haiti and SaEta Domingo,
have been forced to this last desperate
recourse.
Next. the losses of the war and the
6isorganization of family life and in
dustries must have been TERRIBLE. Every
| nbuSeilciu III japan ii'H ''obSblI W
mourn the loss of somc member. Fields
have been left untitled, factories have
not been able to carry on their opera
tions aud the whole business life Of the
| country was seriously interfered with
by the exertions and The drain of men
for the war. While the japanese show
cd wonderful public spirit and patr:ot-
ism liz meeting these gigantic demands,
yet the terrific strain could not help
leaving them very sore and make theia
shuGdcr at the thought OF anything in
volving repetition of the efforts and
sacrifices. After so great a struggle
the last thing that people want TO hear
about is more war.
| Thirdly, the taxes that they are bear
ing and must continue tu bear for years
are a perpetual reminder of the wat
and an admonition to peace. We all
remember how II was in this country.
where everything was taxed from th.,
match with which we lighted the iil,e
in the morning to the soothing sirup
we gave our babies at midnight. Tn
taxation in Japan must be even more
| drastic and searching. because she is
amount of wealth.
Fourthly. Japan acquired as the re-
suit of the war the great territories q:
Manchuria and Korea. These were in
tended and will be made extensions OF
the japanese Empire. but they must lie
| improved, governed. pacified and
brought to condition that will make
| them harmonious parts of the Nation.
This is in itself task of the greatest
magnitude, and will engrOss -Japan's
utmost efforts for quarter of a cen-
tury at least. Probably the Japanese
soldiers will flock into Manchuria and
| Korea as our oldiers did into the coun-
! try west of the Mississippi. They will
develop Korea and Manchuria ..on the
| Japanese plan, which will involve a
great deal of friction and trouble with
the people already living there and with
! China. This will bring up problems al
the time that will be of the utmost per-
| plexity to the Government, which will
/ desire to give its entire attention to
| them and not be disturbed by foreign
4 complications The japanese know that
i IL thev were to engage in another war
| Russia would at once seek to take ad-
vantage of this to recover Korea and
4 Manchuria. So far from the japanese
wanting the Philippines, they are most
likely to be very glad that we are hold
4 ing them and will continue to hold
them, SO as to give them no bother in
their own difficulties in Manchuria and
Korea. The men who talk about Japan
being eager for another war show theii
own ignorance of conditions in Japan
which must have followed the recent
war ana still exist in their greatest Sc
verify.