New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-15

financial position shows that unless she
! abandons her militsrist and expansion
ist policy she will sooner or later be
brought face to face with national
bankruptcy. The burden at present
presses most heavily on the insrtioulate
/ classez. Reverence for authority in
stilled by centuries Of feudalism has
hitherto prevented any open opposition,
but as education spreads in japan t is
certain that the masses will give ex-
preston 70 their discomfort with pol
| lev that makes for their impoverish-
ment
Feudal System Still Exists.
Although the feudal system has been
abolished In theory II exists In prac-
tics, and the lower classes are as here
/ tofore exploited BIZ the military sris-
| tocrats who hold the reins Of power.
| The rise Of Japan to the position OF
world power has brought no better
ment OF the condition Of the people as
opposed to the ruling and official
/ classes. There has been in Japan,
since the Inauguration Of what IS
| euphemistically termed representative
government, a marked neglect OF legls.
! iation destined to improve the lou OF
] the WORKER. w men sum lNbASAosAS@'. 4ts~"
been passed II has not been acted upon.
! If the experience Of other countries
can be taken as a criterion, the hsredi-i
tary rule of the successors Of the feu-
| dali chiefs, the naval and military
castles. will not continue much longer
unouestioned. The danger is that be,
| fore the people of Japan have summoned
up resolution TO insist on being gwen
an effective voice in deciding the policy
Of the country the militarst party VIII
have either involved II in financial an
! fculties from which eXtrlcatlon Will De
| impossible or will have plunged 1t INTO
/ further martial adventures that VIII be
/ lust as disastrous for the country,
/ whether they be attended by success or
failure.
Ruling Glasses Disdain Money.
The hereditary military aristocrats,
the present day Samurai and follow
ers OF Bushi who rule the destinles OF
Japan. have no idea Of the value or
money. The thought of money is be-
meath them. The faint Of trade was
degrading 10 them. Viscount Kentaro
Kaneko, former Minister Of State,
aptly described the ruling class when he
said:
Even hunger could not break down
this aloofness. Such men as these
have been holding the reins Of the
land for thirty years, and do not feel
the need for economies. They feel no
| need for earning money and they will
continue TO serve our country only in
| their capacity Of rulers"
| Or as DR.. ". z. Grifs says in "The
| Japanese Nation in Evolution:
| "Japan's greatest danger is even yet,
| In this twentieth century, from her
| military men, who under the plea Of
| necessity danger or the glory Of
Japan beyond seas may exalt the
| sword as the sacred emblem Of the
| nation"
The peace Of the Far East, the har-
| nonizatton OF the civilization, the
| equality of the races, the integrity Of
| China and the application of an Ash
| attic Monroe Doctrine are the shibbo
| leths now most frequently employed to
| Justify the huge expenditures on arma
ments. Japan is nearing the end Of
her resources. Unless some new
| sources Of revenue are discovered (and
| there arc none IN sighD her militar-
| ism must end in bankruptcy be
| justified by conquest. Who Will pay
Japan cannot. VIII China be forced
TO foot the bill?
| IlF. hlQOWl lAkhUdShlf INC NAoN4a4'
| guished Japanese economist, has just
DublIshed a book on "The Wealth oil
| China" in which he estimates The
| wealth OF the republic at S53,000,000,'
! 900, with her natural resources yet un-
: touched. He asserts that "shoulc
China come TO have a stable govern
ment and try TO develop her wealth in
earnest she would bo able TO have an
annual revenue Of S750,000,000 and be
come strong and wealthy Field Mar
shall Yamagata once said:
Granted 8 strong Emperor, It would
be more easy 70 change China than u
was 70 change Japan. The Chinese
could be trained to become excellent
soldiers, and with China's almost in
finite resources Of men and treasure,
strong Emperor could have at his
command a most powerful army and
become a most serious menace 70 all
the ncighboring nations"
Somebody Must Pay"
Il the recent interference with the
restoration Of the monarchy under
Yuan Shih-kai an indication OF the de-
termination Of Japan that China shall
never become regenerated under a
/ strong Emperor? Is the wealth of
China 20 pay the bills of Japan before
the former can protect herself against
aggression? Somebody must pay.
The pretensions Of Japan in China,
her ambitions in the Pacific. her deter
mination 20 stand between the Western
nations and China as the official inter
prefer or go-between, her declared in
tention 70 enforce the quality OF the
races, and Count Okuna's idea OF the
mission OF Japan in the world" the
war talk OF her editors and statesmen.
the wrought up emotions Of her masses,
IN combination with her liked and unal-
't.-'. --- t.... .ss