Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-08
THE EMPIRE
OF JAPAN
By
Frederic
J. Haskin.
I.Japan's
Greatest
Problem.

Japan BY
Greatest Frederic
Problem. j. Haskin.
TOKYo.-Japan's greatest problem is
fiscal The question Isl How shall a small
poverty-stricken nation raise funds suf-
feient to finance the most ambitious I'M
perial program mapped out since the day
OF Napoleon? Cold-hlooded and heartless
statecraft upon the part of the rulers,
whole-souled and unquestioning patriot
ism upon the part of the ruled; make the
solution of the problems less difficult in
japan than IT would be to any other ma
ton on earth. Never before has civil
med nation imposed such burden of
taxation upon its people as the Japanese
statesmen have ordained for purposes OF
imperial extension. The burden is borne
almost without complaint. In Nippon 1t is
the duty of the people to obey the rulers
of the state as the child obeys it's honor
able father and its honorable mother. No
Questions are asked, But for all that
revolutions have occurred even in japan.
and there is a point beyond which even
Japanese patriotism will fail and the
boosted spirit of ''bushido" prove futile
The Japanese statesmen must be wise
enough not to push their schemes beyond
that point. or the new Japanese empire
will be attacked from within.
Great Britain reached it's emirence as
the greatest of the world powers through
a series OF fortuitous circumstances. The
British empire today represents the great
est achievement Of statecraft in history,
but 1t was built up little by little and
without definite plan. Not any one states
man nor any one group Of statesmen In
England laid down the program of en-
pire. Like Topsy, II lust growed." The
German empire is the outgrowth OF Prus-
sian ambition and the genius Of Bis
marck, but rapid as its growth has been
1t has dealt with one problem at time
each !n its own good season. II the next
venture is TO attack the sea over OF
Britain 1t will como as the logical result
of imperial growth: not because such a
venture is the next number on the set
program The great American republic
is one of the chief nations of the world,
but no one has ever accused 1t of having
a definite policy. much less Of adhering
to a fixed plan of procedure.
Japan is different. Resolving to enter
the concourse Of modern nations because
therein was the only hope of safety, the
Japanese early decided upon a course of
international policy to which they have
been singularly faithful. That course is
imperial in the fullest sense Of the word.
and its ultimate object is the establish
ment Of the Japanese empire as the
chief power in Asia, II not In the world,
with respect both to military and CONNER
cial dominion. Every act Of japan In the
sistent and persistent accordance with the
aims and purposes of this policy.
The adoption of western methods of
civil and military administration, result
ing In the constitution and the victorious
army and navy, are the things too we'll
known of Japan to require relation. Then
there was the long and patient struggle
for a revision OF the treaties with the
powers. resulting finally in the abolition
of the right OF extraordinarily and
the inclusion OF foreigners under the Jap
Japan full rights as an equal nation,
rights which will be confirmed next year,
when the treaties will be renewed without
time limitations. The war with China
In 1894 was the first indication Of the
japanese purpose to obtain a foothold
upon the Asiatic mainland at the cost of
war The territory then captured was
returned TO China under pressure from
Europe, but as Japan collected an indem-
nifty OF 800, 000,0 900 yen for a war which cost
only I59, 900 900 yen the result did not stop
the onward march of Japanese imperial
ism.
The formation of the alliance with Eng
land, the war with Russia and the seizure
of Korea were the next steps, Now, in
flat violation of treaty obligations and
diplomatic promises, the Japanese hold
upon Manchuria As frightened The Japa-
nese are in Manchuria to stay, The jap
anese today exercise a control in Korea
- trrfo oI1to
that exercised by England in Egypt; and
does not the whole world regard Egypt as
essentially a part of the British empire.
despite the twin fictions of Turkish sover-
eighty and Khedeval government. To put
the thing bluntly, japan has more than
doubled its imperial area in the last five
years.
The Japanese imperial program does not
stop with territorial or governmental ex-
pansion. The commercial ambition is, in
fact the greater. Never did nNtion at
tempt such a stupendous commercial COM
paign as that now being carried on by the
Japanese, Other nations have encourag-
ed their business men to capture foreign
trade and create new business. Japan as
nation and in its capacity is actually
engaged in all sorts of commercial and
industrial enterprises, either as full owner
or silent partner.
The fiscal problem in Japan is to pro-
vide sufficient money to maintain the
army and navy and to constantly increase
the latter; TO pay for the administration
of affairs In Korea and Manchuria; to
meet the deficits OF countless business
concerns with treasury subventions; to
pay the subsidies which keep the enor-
nous Japanese merchant marine on the
high seas; to maintain the most expensive
and extensive diplomatic and consular
service In the world; to finance number
less schemes for Industrial development
and business exploitation of the newly ac-
quired Japanese possessions" on the
mainland; and TO meet the enormous OBJ
legation Of a huge imperial debt.
The people from whom all this money
must come are the poorest, albeit the
thriftiest, on earth. The arabic area Of
japan, which supports a population of
81, 100000 people, Is less than the area Of
West Virginia. II every human being
in the United States. Canada and Mexico
we're to be forcibly removed to the state
of Kansas, then Kansas would not be
as crowded as japan is today The best
rice In the world is grown in Japan, and
rice growing is the chief industry of the
nation. Yet the farmers are so poor that
they cannot eat the rice they grow. They
must sell II and then buy the cheaper
grades OF rice from French Indo- China.
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