The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-05-23
advertiser Correspondence, Copyright
by Frederic j. Easkin.)

N~ANf CT IASof correspondence, 1Opyrlgn|
by Frederic j. Easkin.)
TOXIC. May s.-The stake in the
great game OF world politics which
Japan is playing against the powers OF
the Occident is China. The Celestial
Empire is the oldest, the biggest and
the slowest of the nations, also poten-
TALLY the richest. Its awakening
means that a half billion people will
demand Occidental wares, and the
business of supplying this trade will
make great nations greater and small
nations large. But once before in the
history of the world has anything of
like Importance to commerce taken
place, and that was when Columbus
sailed into the unknown West and
multiplied the world by two.
To dominate this half billion of HUI
man beings. to control their affairs and
to act in all things as an intermediary
between them and the Occident is what
Japan aspires to do. If Japan plays
a desperate game. it has at least the
justification that the stake is worth
taking chances for. For variety of
reasons the United States of America
is also in this game, but not contend
ing for the whole stake. The Ameri-
can idea is that China shall be opened
to the whole world and free COMPETE
ton permitted TO all merchants, no
matter what flag they sail under. The
United States in 1900 obtained the
pledges of the Powers that the terri
tory of China should not be cut up.
States is the only nation that has not
tried to grab piece of their territory.
The Chinese also know that every 9TH
er power has attempted to take some
territory and that Japan wants it all.
Is it strange, therefore, that the Chi
nese are saying among themselves that
when the American fleet comes to 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
and for long time the pet of
the nations. has lately fallen under the
of most of them. If this
should grow into impa-
thence, and impatience into hostility,
the fault will lie only with Japan.
Japanese diplomatists promise to stop
to the United States, but
goes on. japanese diplo-
natists promise an open door in Man
but the door is closed. Jap
anese diplomatists promise observance
IF trademark rights, but counterfeits
anese diplomatists continue to make
promises which the japanese people do
lot fulfil. 1t is apparent that al
hough the japanese nation claims re-
,ognition as a civilized power. apollo |
yies must constantly be made for it.
The Japanese idea seems to be that |
imitation and industry will win for
hem everything that the Occident has. |
They copy western processes of manu- |
acture and work hard, but they utter |
V fail to grasp the vital fact that west !
I'm progress has been based on a GER
ain code of morals without which it |
would fall to the ground. Thus it is |
hat great japanese business firms !
must pay cash in advance for goods |
While the rest of the world enjoys |
.redit. Thus it is that the business /!
nan in the Orient will not risk cent |
N a contract with japanese firm. |
Thus it is that the Japanese them |
selves employ Chinese cashiers to
handle their own money.
To Justify its claim for extension OF
influence in China and on the Asiatic |
ointment, Japan declares that it has |
,rospered by its adoption of Occidental |
utilization and that it must now be |
permitted to carry that civilization to /
Is kindred peoples of Asia. Grave /
loubt exists in the minds of many of I
he closest and fairest observers as to |
he sincerity of this japanese mission !
f philanthropy. They see that Japan |
las not given this civilization to its |
,wn lower classes except in limited /
Iegree. and only after tempering 1t /
With japanese ideals. There is good /
eason to believe that Japan's aim is !
O exploit China rather than to up |
lift it.
But granting that Japan is sincere |