The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-04-23

ANONYMOUSLY failed. He has formulate
a policy Of which Japan declares tn
keynote to be consideration for Ko
rean interests, and from that he ha
not deviated one hair s breath since b
assumed control. Only his great nam
and influence saved him from the op
position of those of his countrymen
who, at the outset, advocated a NOR
rigorous and radical policy.
So far as the commercial rights o
foreigners in Korea are concerned
there never has been any reason TO
legitimate protest. Since Japan OBJ
tanned control the principle of equa
opportunity has been serupulously OBJ
served. The only complaint comes
from those foreigners who found profit
in the old corrupt order of things but
even they can allege no just cause fol-
protest regarding interference with en-
joyment of rights then acquired.
AS regards the question of trade in
Manchuria, the American and English
began to "holler before they were
hit :" They did not give the Japanese
time enough to clear away the debris
of war before they began to protest
Curiously enough, the protests were
confined to what was happening in
Southern Manchuria under japanese
influence, while nothing was said about
the equally good grounds for protest
in Northern Manchuria. Undoubtedly
there was ground for complaint in
Manchuria, but it was not the fault of
the government, but of individuals. It
is only fair to give Japan time to
straighten out the tangle. It is pledg-
ed to do so, and the japanese govern
ment has never failed to keep its
promises.
Japan undoubtedly has great in
terest in the impending crisis in the
domestic affairs of China. All the
other nations have expressed such an
interest because of the Importance of
bhSA1 tldtC III SAIhCoC JOI14JOIfs OOcS
not Japan have the same right to in
terest itself in behalf of its commerce?
Indeed, is not it's interest more vital
than that of other nations when it is
remembered that japanese factories
depend largely upon China. both as a
source of raw material and as market
fa1
welcomed thousands of Chinese stu
dents to it's universities that they
might light their lamps of learning
from the flame of modern civilization.
Have not England and America also
welcomed these students7 If the stu
dents who come to Japan go back to
their homes feeling kindly toward their
japanese teachers, and ready to turn
trade in their direction, is the same
thing not true of the Chinese who have
studied in other countries9 When a
Chinese railroad engineer who was edu-
Gated in America buys supplies, he goes
to America. IF he obtained his profess
sional knowledge in England, he buys
his materials in England. Do the
Western nations consider this unfair
on their part? IF not, then it is not
unfair for Japan.
The war with Russia, so far from
being the first blow struck by Japan
in its purpose to establish world
conquering Asiatic empire, was a blow
struck in self-defence to save itself
from humiliation by European power.
The aggression of Russia in Korea and
Manchuria was such that it threaten
ed japanese national growth and ex-
istenee. japanese surplus population
and japanese trade extensions could |
not be directed toward Europe and |
America for obvious reasons Russia |
was nanifesting the intention of shut
ting out not only Japan, but all other
countries, from the territory immedi- |
ately adjoining Japan. Other nations
also recognize the danger of the Rus
sian advance, and England entered into |
a treaty of alliance with Japan. When !
that war was in progress, the japanese
had the moral support of most of the
nations, especially of England and the
United States. When the victory was
won, what nation, placed in like cir
would have abandoned the
territory involved to its old inefficient
government, and thus lay open the way
Tor the same Russian aggression which
had been repealed at such cost of
blood and treasured
Japan realized that its position in
Korea and Manchuria would invite
close scrutiny and provoke much criti-
,ism. 1t also realized that some mis-
takes would be made, for, after all, the
Japanese are not the gods which en-
friends made them during
their late war. They are merely hui
man beings. But Japan expects that |
the scrutiny shall be honest and the
criticism fair. 1t can ask no more
toa L h ;eGo 1,