New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-10

INDIES. BY A. CaDdtOn. TRANSLATED,
and with a preface, by Bernard Mall.
With a map and AZ Illustrations. 8vo.
PIP XVI, 376 Charles Scribner's Sons.
In the many discussions by Occidental
writer's. American, English, German and
French, of the awakening of the East"
and its significance for the West-dis-
cussions that have stretched all the way
from Japan and China across Asia 70
Turkey in Europe and the Moslem re-
vival in Africa-the Dutch colonial en-
pire in the Malay Archipelago has gen.
orally been either entirely neglected or
only lightly touched upon. To the stu
dent of history in the making as to the
globe trotter, this island world remains
terra incOgHitd, vaguely known only as
the source Of the vast wealth Of the lit
tie kingdom on the North Sea. Japanese
ambition is generally assumed to reach
from Formosa TO the Philippines and
thence to this chain of islands, large
and small, and their immeasurable and
as yet only partly developed agricult-
ural, mineral and commercial possibili-
ties Equally general is the impression
that Australia is determined that under
no circumstances these Dutch posses
sions shall be allowed to become part OF
the Mikado's dominions.
Japanese prestige has reached Java
and impressed the Javanese, there can
be no doubt Of that. 1t is equally GER
tain that Japan is endeavoring to
strengthen her influence in the island,
and that not alone by organized COM
mercial competition with the Chinese
feared by Dutch traders and watched by
Dutch administrators. But the Japan
csc have already been found to be ham
pered by les dCfGutS de letVS qualities. If
the West respects them and also sus-
poets them, the East is beginning to dis
like them. They have been called the
Yankees of the East" According to
most writer's on the subject, including
the author Of the present book, it would
be far more accurate to call them the
Germans Of the East" owing to GER
tain national character traits that their
recent victories have served to accentu-
ate On this subject Mr.. Cabaton re-
marks:
Although the japanese, legitimately proud
as they are, and perhaps carried a little
away by their late success, are seeking 10
make friends of the people of the archipel-
ago. of whom more or less plausible
theory makes them the distant cousins, 1t
does not appear so far as though the native
masses are particularly impressed. The
aristocracy alone recognizes their signiti-
canoe. but has been more than once re-
pulsed and wounded by the intractable
pride with which the japanese have long
been reproached, and which makes IL less
easy TO do business with them than with
the adaptable and obligng Chinese; and
the example of their relentless seizure OF
Corea has given many pause to think.
There is native question In Java,
but 1t cannot be summed up in the cry
Of Java for the Javanese." The aris-
tocracy, the native princes and heads.
hitherto nominally associated with the
rulers in the administration Of the coun-
try, are demanding the advantages OF
Western education for themselves and
their people Intellectually perhaps as
richly endowed as the japanese and
Chinese. but lacking the warlike quail
ties of the former they acknowledge
that they could not rule themselves
without Dutch guidance but they GER
tainly do desire a greater measure OF
actual share in the government in addi-
ton TO the impressive semblance, and TO
this end they know that they must
learn the ways Of tho West, tho Ian.