The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-07-17
Orient
Would Resist
American
Intrusion
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
By ST. NIHAL SING


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Copyright by Joseph B. Bowles.)
1t is but recently that the oriental
has begun to awaken to an apprecia-
ton of himself Hitherto he has not
only allowed himself to be treated by
the occidental as chance ordained, but
has measured his ability with the critic
rions set up By westerners. 1t is but
yesterday that the Asian assumed an
aggressive attitude and vowed that
he would resist the intrusion of the
European and American, employing
the occidental weapons to accomplish
that end.
The change in the attitude of the
east towards the west during the last
two decades has been phenomenal. 1t
has led the Asiatic to resent the west
ern insinuation that the oriental is the
inferior Of the occidental in mental and
moral caliber. 1t has also wooed the
Asiatic out of his inaction and leth-
argy of ages inspired him with the de-
sire to break the shell of his limita-
tons and set his face towards modern
lZaClOn and evolution.
Time was, and not long ago, when
the rank and file of even the cultured
orientals were obsequious in their at
titude towards even the mediocre
westerner To the Asiatic, white"
skin was synonymous with superior
talent and character. The white man
represented to him great strength of
mind and body and skill of arms, Of
fensive and defensive.
The Asian no longer mentally or
physically prostrates himself before
the Caucasian. To him, no more the
4nglo-SaXon boast of surviving as the
fittest has any weight. A brown or
yellow hide has come to be, to him,
as good an index of character and cal
iber as the white.
This attitude has found expression
in many and diverse ways. The Russo
Japan war was one indication and full.
fllment of it. 1t was also the means
of further advancing these sentiments
The greatest and most trustworthy
signs OF this metamOrphosis, however,
are to be found in the boycott move
occidental products and men in sew
eral Asiatic countries. The boycott
of American goods in China, the boy
colt OF English goods in India and
the once-threatened boycott of Amer
lean goods in Japan, though probably
failures in
yet vitality significant of the way the
occidental views things western.
What the new occident wants to-
day is reciprocity. 1t demands for it.
self perfectly even privileges in re-
westerners within its gates.
This attitude is likely to assume
more aggressive and intensive form
as the awakening proceeds apace and
as the oriental succeeds in learning
the arts and crafts of subjugating the
forces of nature. and utilizing them.
Considered in this light, it is easy
to understand the oriental view of
Asiatic immigration to North America
and the British colonies. The first
thing to be noted in this connection is
that the oriental is no longer prepared
to brook the aspersion that he is the
inferior of the Americans or British
colonials. Another and more impor-
tant feature is that the hostile treat
ment Of the oriental immigrants can
not but lead to untold and vexatious
trade complications.
The peddler who sold his wares
from door to door had no status in
the minds of his buyers and he could
well afford to cheat as he never
wished nor expected to duplicate a
sale. The modern metropolitan de-
partment stores find that it is essen
tial for them rather to lose a sale
than dupe customer. In business
circles more and more the retention
of good will and the satisfaction Of
the purchaser is becoming the sine
qua non of success. 1t is not the
new-fangled salesman, who induces a
state of hypnosis and dupes the
buyer into taking some article that
he does not need or that is not it's
moneys worth, who is the cornerstone
of successful store; nor is the impa-
tient and unobliging man behind the
counter or at the desk the keystone of
a business enterprise In the long
run, both prove failures and represent
the capitalization Of penny-wise-
pound-foolish philosophy.
AS 1t is with internal trade, so is it
with international commerce. The
economic is an essential feature of
inter-continental trade relations; but