The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-03-27
TAXES RIGHTFUL PLACE
JAPANESE MERCHANT RAISED IN
SOCIAL SCALE.
Heretofore Only the Soldier Has 5een
Looked Upon as Following a
Worthy cslllns-Emperor Has
Changed This idea.

Japanese business methods have
been widely criticised, especially IA
the last few years, IS lacking those
standards Of Commercial honor which
prevail smoug Occidental nations. A
writer IN the Atlantic says that the
question most frequently put to him
since his return from the Orient has
been.
Why Is 1t that the japanese are so
dishonest that they cannot even trust
themselves. and have to employ China
men at the head OF all their great
business concernR7'
He explains this almost universal
impression by saying that the average
tourist usually has business relations
only with the branches Of the three
great banks established in the treaty
ports. When he cashes his letter Of
credit be observes the singular fact
that the money is being handled by q
Chinaman instead Of BY a native
THE simple truth" !" says the writer.
Is that these three banks-all Of
them, by the way, foreign concerns
are the only business houses ii the
entire empire so conducted. When
Japan was opened and tsese foreign
corporations IN China sent their
branches into the new field. they sent
their Chinese compradores with them.
'Yes. while all this can be said.
and should be said. in the interest Of
simple Justice. it is nevertheless unde.
niable that in Japan the ideals OF
commercial honor and the methods
adopted IN the conduct Of business
are not what they are ln the west
and there Is much Of which the Occi-
dental may justly complain.
There Is a historical reason for
this The fact that IN the olden days
In Japan the merchant was placed at
the bottom Of the social scale and the
soldier at the toy, while in China ex-
actly the reverse was the case. fully
explains why Japan has produced a
splendid soidiery. and has woefully
suffered IN her mercantile life. while
the army IN China has been The sport
Of the nations though her merchants
have attained high place IA the
world Of business credit.
'But even though the cake OF Gus
tom is The hardest to break, It's pow
er Of resistance has been already ma
terially weakened by the wise policy
Of the emperor; and the merchant is
no longer the pariah Of the realm
Prominent among those who by the
emperor's favor have risen from the
social dust into places Of highest
honor is a family whose history Is sig
nihcant.
The Mitsui family Of japan havs
been called the Rothschilds Of the
east: but while tho fame Of the lat-
ter has gone abroad over the world.
the Mltsuis have remained practically
unknown except to a few western
merchants who have had extensive
dealings with the Orient The Euro
poan family owes us great fenOWn 70
the fact that for century there has
been no slightest stain upon Ia COM
mercial honor.
But its career, it should Be Temens-
bered, has been passed IN q world
where business itself has been held IA
honor; while the Mitsuls. engaged in
q pursuit utterly contemnsd By pub
&c sentiment, for three centuries, IN
spite Of the demoralizing influence Of /
the social ban. have been trusted BY
soFernment and people alike, and
have kept the honor Of their name VI.
stained Now. thanks b tho new
spirit anlmating the naii0n, they 10
l9nger staad - eoneplcuaaaIg aigna