Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-05
JAPAN'S FUTURE.
Industrial Development Of Nippon
After the War


Baron kiyoura. eX-Minister Of State for Arr,cul.
lure and Commerce in Pacific Era.
We have placed a few years OF peace
between the war and ourselves The
glory that was OF steel and fire shines.
perhaps. with as much luster as ever. We
think. however that we should not be sat-
lsned with 1t. To add to the glory Of war.
another light, which is neither of the
sword nor cannon fire-the glory that IL OF
the ripening fields of the growth and ac-
tivities OF our factories and shops. that IS
greater pleasure to us. Not only q
pleasure but 1t ought to be q national
duty. as well. On many things does the
economic life Of country depend. For
example. Its geographical position has a
great deal to do with 1t, its climate. tha
production OF its soil. the transportation
facilities through which the country can
solve the problem of distribution ana NOT
only these natural tendencies, conditions
and gifts. but 1t also depends upon the
sentiment Of the people. their habits. the
way they live. The student who would
solve rightly many tangled problems in
the economic life Of a race must take into
consideration the strength or the weak.
ness, the poverty or the richness Of the
race.
In England America. Germany. France
in these or any other powerful states.
you can see on the very surface the ex.
preston Of their power. their peculiar an.
dowments. the conditions that enable their
people to achieve what they have-their
economic enterprises are an open book ire
which you can read their peculiarities,
Nippon is different-far different from
these states Our country Is small: its re-
sources are limited. Unlike America, the
natural products of our country are
neither great in quantity nor rich in quail
lily. We are not overwhelmed with a su.
perabundance OF the graces of nature.
Neither Is ours like the British Isles: our
country has not the wealth Of coal ana
our people do not possess that peculiar
aptitude In the handling Of machinery
that one finds In England. Again. we do
not nave at our command a great capftal-
.he accumulation OF many, many years Of
shrewd and farsighted financial policies
and. financial habits Of the people-with
winch one could work great commercial
undertakings to advantage
10 develop q great shipping and greater
shipbuilding enterprises calls for an i'm.
mense aggregation Of capital. which is not
common In our country. Neither are we
like France. She is the mistress Of the
central market Of all the world; We are
not 1t was Frederick the Great of Prus-
sla VINO said once upon a time that the
geographical position Of his country did
not anord as many conveniences as other
states that the soil of his country was
not rich as that of others, the climate
NOT as mild and kindly; that because his
country was unfortunate enough to incur
the displeasure of nature, 1t had. of neces.
slty to overcome the natural disadyac-
tages by human efforts. We have seen
how. since h, day. industry and economy
have become the distinguishing traits of
the Germans. Since the victory OF 1870 in
her program for popular education. we
nave seen how Germany took specIaI
means to encourage practical education in
diverse industries among her people. We
Uar of,,ro
day. Germany has the distinction of Civ
ing to the world economists great sci.
ent1sts. men rich in experience and knowl.
edge OF practical and applied arts The
world looks up to Germany in admiration.
IN her achievements in one line more es.
pecially than in others. and that Is the
many new applications of scientific prin.
ciples in the development Of her indus
tries and In her practical arts by her SCI
entists. Germany Is very far behind
America in the natural resources and
wealth OF the country. AS far as the
vastness and scope OF commercial enter.
prises are concerned. she cannot be mem
toned In the same breath with Great
Britain. Moreover. she is a rather Young
member in the household Of great powers.
With all that, none will deny the prestige
and power Of Germany today, and this
high position, and the distinction with
which she holds 1t among the great now
ers of the earth. Is solely based on the
wisdom which enabled her to perceive her
own weakness. and the same wisdom that
enabled her to see her weakness told her
how to build up the national traits for in.
dustry and economy.
Changes have been many in the devotion.
ment of industrial Nippon: she is still call
Ing for a radical and fundamental innoya
ton. not only in this and that branch Of
activity, but in her very life and consti-
tuition. The modern industrial world Ia
complex. The marvellous de-
velopments and achievements of science
are adding more and more to the already
numerous branches OF IT. The striking
novelty. the skill. attractiveness in ap-
pearance, the consideration and harmony
Of colors which one sees today shining out
from the shop windows of modern streets.
from almost every department OF scien-
titic manufacture, are quite enough to
make one pause in amazement.' Amazing
indeed as the number is wonderful as its
the application of scientific
principles to the manufactures OF today
has not reached its apogee; 1t is not even
thinking of stopping in a near future. On
the contrary the indications of the time
promise more complexity and greater
scope OF new applications Of scientific
knowledge to the practical arts.