Evening journal., 1917-10-15
"A Modern Miracle,
Commercial Japan
lFrom the New York Trlbune.l

What inspires wonder or admiration
because Of some sudden transforma-
ton, is called a miracle. Things equal
~ marvellous in their change, but
slower in operation, win less atten-
ton. After the recent japanese Special
Mission in which Emperor and Gov
eminent. diplomacy, army and navy
were represented, with rank, uniforms.
decoration and medals, what is there
besides2
OF the sixty-fve million souls in the
Empire Of Japan, all, except the little
folks in bright colors, and a frac-
tional number Of adults, wear plain
clothes. Il is the men Of this sort that
are now among us. They represent
trade. school, railways and the daily
needs and interests not Of the classes,
but Of the masses. The entire popu-
latlon Of the most progressive country
OF Asia. the mother continent is in
terested In their quest. They are here
for business and TO seek the mutual
advantage Of Americans and Japanese
OF producer and customer, Of buyer
and seller. They are ready to launch
and man whole fleets on the Pacific TO
ply between our ports and their own.
For what purpose?
The heated dreams in the dellrlum
OF racial prejudice and artlflcially ere
ated ignorance coniure up armadas OF
steel warships, loaded with hostile In
vaders and yellow perlls Of all sorts
The reality Is TO seek easy routes be-
tween the ports Of Demand and Sup
ply. Theirs are not as the wind borne
and oar driven boats, with their raven
| pilots, Of our Morse ancestors who
sailed out to kill, burn and destroy
! Their true emblem IS rather the pic
ture which every aspiring boy In ole
japan put under his pillow on New
Years eve-the ship of good LUCK OF
which the seven gods Of happiness
were passengers.
Cunning and tricky are the Japa
nese2 Yesl Their knowledge and theil
practice OF the necessity OF hard worl
| mixed with brains are almost uncan
J ny. Indeed, in this they are quite equa
| 10 Yankees In what we call "shrewd
!
nursery days their idea OF a good TIM
coming is embodied in the Jolly pa
| tron Of wealth. DaikOku. Fat and mer
ny is he. as he bestrides his bags o
grain and piles Of gold coin. lie hold
/ i'm his right hand a hammer. VIII
| this he raps the brains OF the dul
fellows to hint that fortune come
only after hard knocks.
There is in this latest mission n
trace Of that literary fiction OF "Orl
entalism." or "inscrutabiRhy,' tina
| some Credentials attribute TO all Asi
atics. Their purpose suggests rattle
real Yankee wit and capacity. II is a
we'll based on the fixed laws Of realit
in trade finance and mutual good wi
Of buyer and seller as an Amoskea
mill. or q Wall Street deal in share
or the selling Of a Liberty bond. "
their slogan favOrs adaptability an
alertness. They are plastic in respon'
TO new needs.
On this we can "bank'-that IN
voluntary mission in behalf OF tra
IS in no whit inferior to that head
by Ishii. While dollars for America
- and yen for Japanese are the CHI
, ends in view, this popular embas
recalls a miracle greater than dip
j macy can show. OF other potent trar
D formations making for human upl
this is the historic index. The cleans
, skin in place Of leprosy. the sou
limb instead Of palsy. sight for
blind, were tokens for the individu
h Now. the loaves and flshes-food
tho hungry-fOrm the more approp
, ate symbol. TO make trade honOrah