Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-13

whether the deposits of cca,. iron and
petroleum from its outlying dominions
viii ever give Japan a position in iron
and steel comparable with that of the
United States or Germany is very du-
bious. But Japan is not likely to be out
done In the ocean carrying trade Of the
Pacific. The manufacturing and indus
trial future of Japan will doubtless lie
In the textile industry. She is. of course,
the most important manufactured ex-
port. but cotton yarns and various prod
dues OF split bamboo. such as mats. are
important. Nor has the earlier mastery
of the .astic arts, nor. indeed, any trade
where digital deXterity is important Lee;
Japan without important subsidiary ex
port industries Porcelain and earthen-
ware, lamps and matches still contribute
heavily to the consignments that seek
foreign shores.
Honesty in Trade.
Perhaps the NEST interesting feature
of Japan's industrial growth is the i'm
proving morale of trade upon which Mr.
KEENAN, and other japanese authorities
are laying such stress. The contrast be-
tween the Japanese and Chinese mer-
chants honesty has often been pointed
QUITO the disadvantage of the Japanese
hitherto The explanation lies in the past
social history and structure Of Japan.
For centuries precedence and dignity in
that land have been accorded to the
Samurai, the warrior class. Next below,
but iongo intervallo. stood the farmer.
whose sedulously titled rice garden was
the principal support of a people almost
entirely addicted TO cereal diet. Third.
came the artisan class-the smith in IRON
and the woodworker, who often formed
part of the encourage of the warrior
gentry. But below them all was the mer-
chant, the trader. the retailer. whose
gains were supposed to he al the expense
~ IL III.
respect or honesty. To "a nation OF shop
keepers" this may seem an undue dis
arrangement of a necessary and useful
function. But 1t is characteristic not
alone of feudal Japan. but of many a
western nation in the same stage of
economic immatur:ty. Aristotles stric-
lures on the trader or hucHster but re-
fleet the dominant view held a generation
ago in Japan of the merchant.
Whenever the history OF japanese NOR
ais is studied. the fact always comes to
the top that while personal loyalty to
ones superior was nowhere so splendidly
developed as in Japan: TIL homely, every
day virtue of honesty was left to vege-
tate. But the old order changes in Japan
as elsewhere. and the Samurai families
are increasingly betakirg themselves to
trade and commerce, to banking and
manufactures. This has the double effect
Of relieving commercial pursuits of the
stigma that has so long rested on them
and Of enlisting in trade the flower of
the Japanese people. The questionable
practices of Japanese merchants in the
past have been sometimes condOned by
their compatriots who discovered how
various nations of the west. in early
treaties and conventions. had outwi1led
the unsuspecting Japanese. 1t will not do
therefore. FOR the west to adopt snug
complacency. and to congratulate the
Japanese on their improving standard
of commercial honesty. If the descend
ants Of the Samurai can erect a STANDARD
cf commercial integrity at ali comparable
to their fine past record for courage and
loyalty. shall be their debtors, and
not they ours.