The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-02-23

dtlo dO1Ii1S great part OF -Inat time
was in Washington, D. C. That was
when General Grant was President
and Mr.. Boutwell, Secretary of the
Treasury. General Grant was very
kind and Secretary Boutwell, put all
the information of your Treasury De-
partment at my disposal. 1t was
through the studies that I made there
that 1 was able to formulate the finan-
cial system which Japan now has, and
to acquire other knowledge which has
been OF benefit to me, and I hope also
to my country"
Japan Doe Not Want the Philippines.
But how about this. talk Of Japan
wishing to acquire the Philippines?
1t is said by some of our
that o seek a war with us in. the
hope of adding the Philippines to your
territory?"
THAT also is ridiculous" replied
Prince ito. The subject of the Japa-
| nese ownership of the Philippines has
never been discussed in this country.
and it certainly has not been men
toned in the councils of our govern
ment. l have no doubt that those is
lands are rich and valuable. and that
they will be of good to your people
in attracting their attention to the
great field of Asiatic trade. l believe
that they have already done SO. and
that the increase in your business in
this part of the world is owing some
what to that interest. 1t seems to
me that the United States cannot af-
IOIu 10 let TIE lSLdIUS go ana lnaC as
a world power it must accept the sit
uation and work that problem out to
a conclusion.
LAS to the Asiatic market, you will
need IT more and more as time goes
on. You have enormous upplieS of
raw materials and your skillrin manu-
facture is such. that you must have
a world market. One Of the best mar
kets Of the future will be found on
this side of the globe"
: The Future OF Japan.
What is to be the place of Japan
in that market, yoUI ~highness?' l
[ asked.
: 1--WE hope to do a great deal Of the
trading, and We ought to do a. large
part of the manufacturing" was the
, p w are here right on the edge
! of China, with an supply OF
: labor, which is comparatively cheap.
!, and which is both artistic and adapta-
I bic to the handling of machinery.
There ought to be opportunities for
e combination of American capital and
: American raw materials in the manu-
q facture OF goods for us here on these
islands. tor the great market of China
We are on the ground. We understand
the field and the natives of the coun-
tries about us, and we nave suchttrade
n connections in h way of steamship
lines and other things that I believe
working together could do better thar
+ either could alone We very mucI
desire American capital"
That brings up the financial con
dition of your empire. Japan is now
in the throes of hard times. What is
to be your future along such lines?"
Il think we shall rapidly recover
+ from the distress we have been latel,
e experiencing. We have had a bis
war, and in we have al
y enormous debt which must be paid
We are rich, however, in resources 81
r many kinds, and by holding back q
h little and economizing much the bust
o ness of the country will soon AXE care
Of iself. AS ii is today, Japan is no.
Y alone in having financial oubles
Similar conditions have existed dur
ing thep past year throughout your owr
country and also in Europe"
Not a Nation OF itato
q speaking of manufacturing" sale
[, your highness has frequently heard
n the statement made that the japanese
cannot DO original work along sucf
lines n that you are only a nation
= of coDyists and imitators.
- That is not true" said Prince Ito
The japanese are naturally inventive
and creative and the world is rapid,
finding them so. When we began tt
adopt the new civilization we had t.
initiate that which had already beer
invented. The field was new to Il.
and we had to learn it before we at
n tempted to make any improvements
= The fact that we have copied ant
successfully reproduced SO much O.
1.-The work of the western nations is il
itself remarkable. But that is not all
J. OF late years there have. been man,
Japanese inventions. Take the nev
things along the lines of modern war
II fare which we have created. We hav,
rifles of our own make, field guns in
1T vented by Japanese, and also our pow
der and other explosives. At the clos
Of the Carbohydrates war I though
we ought to be making our own guns
le and ! spoke to a steel superintendent
to IN our employ. lie repiled that II
is would give MN the money TO- tn
j. purpose he would rganize a factor,
We ana Dul!u the guns.
a. But said I, 1.-The making Of gun