The Washington herald., 1908-05-06

lization comparable with that of Europe
in the Middle Ages and has taken gank as
rival Of the great world powers. All
this has been accomplished under the
leadership of the same men who still rule
the country. Men Of their ability and ex-
perience cannot fail 10 appreciate the fact
that their policy is draining the country
Of its very life blood This brings up the
/ question. Why continue this enormous
use of money in preparation for war?
To that inquiry there are two replies
vouchsafed. The japanese in authority
/ declare that 1t is merely TO place the
military and naval establishments of the
/ government on q sound basis in order
/ that war may be insured against. They
/ declare that great army nd navy is
| necessity TO an isolated nation, especially
/ 10 one that is Just beginning to compete
with other great countries and which.
/ therefore, must be prepared TO contend
with envy and jealousy. The other reply
/ is that of those students of the far East
/ who see in China the theater Of the next
/ great world-contest They say that Ja-
/ pan country without raw resources and
without rich territory, must find an out
/ let for It's energy. II Japan can gain po-
/ litical and commercial control of China
/ it viii retain its place among the first
] class powers, supplementing Ia a com
mercial war its victory of arms There
/ fore, Japan IS bleeding its own people in
order 10 prepare the army and navy that
viii back Up Japanese domination Of
China and assure the ultimate prosperity
/ Of the Mikad0s subjects.
! Whatever may be the ultimate purpose
I Of the present policy in Japan. its pres
ent effects are apparent and appalling.
/ All over the country banks are falling.
/ the little factories are closing down. the
people are feeling more and more the
burden of the great taxation. Business
men who have upheld the hands Of the
! governing party are beginning to sound
warnings 10 which the government turns
a deaf ear Foreign capital IS frightened
/ by the history OF the corporations which
/ have been taken over by the government
without warning. Even the largest sub
! sidiZed concerns are leaning heavily on
I the few great banks Of the nation. Look
/ ing 10 the future. the Japanese business
man can see nothing but bankruptcy.
| The Japanese statesmen, however. look
ahead only to the glory Of their nation
/ and counsel the people 70 bear all Ills pa
tienuy Tor a while and then Japan will
! be the England of the Orient, the mis-
/ tress of the Pacific. and the queen Of
/ Asia. They will not admit even the pos
sible danger Of financial disaster. With
/ clever bookkeeping they show the people
/ how the debt viii be paid in a very few
years without additional taxation. For
/ the purpose Of playing 10 the foreign
world, they arrange "A great exposition at
a cost of many millions, all TO be borne
/ by the government. They plan great rail-
ways, great factories, great hotels-all to
/ be paid for from the public funds. And
/ they believe that the virtue Of the ances-
tors of the Emperor and the matchlass
patriotism Of the Japanese people viii
/ bring them safely through. But even in
Japan there are business men. equally as
patriotic. who canrot see any other result
/ OF the present policy but national bank
Tuptcy.
Copyright I50s. b. Frederic j. Haskinl
TO-mOrrOw-Japun's Diplomatic
Game.