The Washington herald., 1908-05-08

Se@-44~ ol NDIlu pei4liCS Which Japan -
playing against the powers Of the Occi-
dent Is China. The Celestial empire is
the oldest, the biggest and the slowest
of the nations. also potentially the rich
est It's awakening means that half a
billion people will demand Occidental
wares. and the business Of supplying this
trade viii make great nations greater and
small nations large. But once before in
the history of the world has anything Of
ike Importance to commerce taken
place. and that was when Columbus
sailed into the unknown West and null
tiplied the world by two.
To dominate this half q billion of hu-
man beings. to- control their affairs. and
10 act in all things as an intermediary
between them and the Oecident is what
Japan aspiTes 20 do If Japan plays a
desperate game. IL has at least the jus
tincation that the stake is worth taking
chances for. For a variety Of reasons
the United States Of America is also in
this game, but not cOntending for the
whole stake. The American idea is that
China shall be opened 10 the whole world
and free competition permitted 10 all
merchants, no matter what flag they
sail under The United States IN 1900 oh
tanned the pledges OF the powers that
the territory of China should not be cut
up, The Chinese know that the United
States is the only nation that has not
tried TO grab piece of their territory.
The Chinese also know that every other
power has attempted 10 take some ter
ritory, and that Japan wants it all Is
II strange, therefore that the Chinese
are saying among themselves that when
the american fleet comes 10 the Pacific
there need be no further fear of japanese
aggression?
Japan, brought to its present state by
the aid and counsel Of the Western
powers, and for d long time the
pet of the nations has lately fallen
under the displeasure of most Of them.
If this dispieasure should grow into i'm
patience. and impatience into hostility,
the fault viii lie only with Japan. Jap
anese diplcmatists promise 10 stop emf
grafton TO the United States. but emigTa-
ton goes on. japanese diplomatists
promise an open door in ManchuTia but
the door is closed. japanese diplomatists
promise observance of trademark rights,
but counteTfeits continue 10 multiply. In
short, japanese diplomatists continue TO
make promises which the japanese people
do not fulfill 1t IS apparent that, al
though the Japanese nation claims recOg-
nation as a civilized power, apologies
must constantly be made for it,
The japanese idea seems TO be that inn
itation and industry will win for them
everything that the Occident has They
copy Western processes of manufacture
and work hard, but they utterly fail
10 grasp the vital fact that Western
progress has been based on a certain
code Of morals without which it would
fall TO the ground. Thus il is that great
Japanese business firms must pay cash
in advance for goods. while the rest cf
the world enjoys credit Thus il is that
the business man in the Orient VIII not
risk cent on a contract with Jap
anese firm. Thus it is that the Japanese
themselves employ Chinese cashiers to
handle their own money.
To justify its claim for extension or
influence in China and on the Asiauc
continent, Japan declares that 1t has pros
pered by its adoption of Occidental civ
ilization, and that 1t must now be per-
mitted TO carry that civilization TO its
kindred peoples of Asia. Grave doubt eX-
lists in the minds of many Of the closest
and fairest observers as TO the sincerity
Of this japanese mission OF philanthropy
They see that Japan has not given this
civilization 20 its own lower classes. eX-
cept in a limited degree, and only after
tempering it with japanese ideals. There
is good reason 20 believe that Japan's
aim is TO exploit China. rather than to
upiift It,
But granting that Japan is sincere. and
does wish to conquer China for the puT-
pose Of extending Western civilization,
even then IL must fail, for it could not IN
q quarter Of a century become a At
Of the ideals of the West, born
of a thousand years of blood and toll
The japanese tell the Chinese that they
have selected all that is best in West
err. learning, and that the royal road 20
knowledge Is by way of Japan China
listens to this and sends its thousands
Of students 10 Tokyo, employs its thou
sands of japanese teachers, and reads
millions OF European and American books
translated and published in Japan. But
the japanese teachers have failed: the
Chinese students could not learn every
thing in a few months at Tokyo, and the
books tell Of a broader and richer field
beyond Japan If China is to receive
Western civilization, it must have other
than the japanese, for their
very pretensiOns Of knowing all that is
best Is additional proof Of the fact that
"a little learning is a dangerous thing"
Japan is playing a serious game now.
and with grown-ups The time Is past
for looking with wonder upon the sim
plest thing II does merely because Il is
Japan. II demands that IL be treated as
one of the world powers, and the equal
OF any OF them. Therefore il must come
up 20 the standard with its actions as
well as its pretenslons. It holds itself to
be full-grown, and its accountability
must be IN the same measure. It hopes
70 accomplish its purpose by force. In
stead OF trying to build up its indus
tries by taking advantage of its cheap
labor. and making goods to be sold In
open competition, 1t seizes Korea and
binds up Manchuria to make an especial
market for Japanese wares. If China
does not wish 10 buy japanese goods.
then China must always be in danger of
a sound whipping
The japanese do not look ahead or be-
meath. They initiate the appearance Of
things with supreme disregard to copying
quality They are willing to sell a cheap
for immediate profit. and depend
for future orders on their strength TO
keep out competitors. This characteristic |
IS shown In their diplomacy which selzes
upon a small thing to-day for temporary
for instance the San Francisco |
school affair, without looking forward to |
see what larger advantage might be gain |
ed by holding hands off 1t is shown in |
their business by the fact that industrial /
concerns divide their earnings IN dlvi- |
lends Immediately and leave no balance |
for working capital. They have initiated I
he superficial appearance of Western /
hings without eomprehendlng their spirit. |
So they are brow-beating old China to- /
law and attempting TO keen the rest of /