University of Northern Iowa

The Industrial Revolution in Japan

Author(s): Count Okuma
Source: The North American Review, Vol. 171, No. 528 (Nov., 1900), pp. 677-691
Published by: University of Northern Iowa
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25105079
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THE INDUSTRIAL
IN JAPAN.
REVOLUTION
BY

COUNT

OKUMA,

FORMERLY

PRIME

MINISTER

OF

JAPAN.

Much has been said by many writers of note about the Eestora
tion of 1868 being the greatest political revolution there ever has
been in Japan.
That it certainly was; but, at the same time, it
a
deal
more, for the revolution in question was not
signified
great
confined to the political sphere; but, at the same time, it brought
in the social and industrial
institutions
about great innovations
nature of
of the Empire.
It has perhaps been this exceptional
so multiplex
in its effects, which has not only
the revolution,
the new order of things which the
made stable and permanent
revolution
to

the

inaugurated,

nation

as no

but has

revolution

has

imparted
ever

done

such vigor and vitality

in

any

other

country.

side
It is hardly necessary to say that the study of the industrial
as
and interesting
of the revolution
is, therefore, as important
that of its political aspects, if not more so. It will be the object
of this in
of the present article to enter into a brief discussion
dustrial

revolution.

of it, Japanese
the Eestoration,
and in consequence
a
in
remarkable
been
has
transition,
very
undergoing
industry
of its nature;
two respects.
One is in the complete modification
the other is in the sudden acceleration of its development.
When,
Japan opened her ports and
compelled by force of circumstances,
her
with the Western
entered into treaty obligations
nations,
was
of
terms
the
the
of
power
prescribed
by
taxing
imports
various treaties at the low rate of five per cent, ad valorem, on
Since

Most Japanese were then in utter ignorance of the

so that the
of Free Trade and Protection,
theories
complicated
never
been
discussed
cons
had
of
both
and
among
pros
systems
a Free Trade policy neither volun
them.
Japan thus adopted
but at the pleasure of the Treaty Powers.
tarily nor knowingly,
the average.

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THE NORTH

678

AMERICAN

REVIEW.

This was the external force which helped to bring about the in
dustrial revolution;
but the needs of the new situation in which
found
herself forced her into the revolution
by
Japan suddenly
What were these needs ?
influences acting from within as well.
of the national
To begin with, in the organization
army and
the

navy,

former

weapons,

such

as

bows,

spears

and

swords,

used

by the Samurai of the clans, were displaced by rifles and cannon;

heavy steel armor was dispensed with, and the new conscript
soldiers

were

attired

in European

uniforms.

Steamers

and

men

were

gradually
taking the place of the old
introduced,
It would not do for the thousands of civil offi
sailing vessels.
cials to be much behind the times; so they threw off their native
saying
garb and appeared in woollen suits. As a trite Japanese
goes, "What the upper likes, the lower learns to like still more."
The people who dressed themselves in European
style were greeted
means
did not enable
with profounder
bows; and those whose
them to comply with the dictates of fashion satisfied their pride
clothes.
their Japanese
beneath
underwear
by using European
came
of
and
to
be
used
at
instead
lanterns,
carpets
Lamps
night
In short, throughout
and rugs were laid down in place of mats.
craze for everything
there was a general
the whole
country
of-war

European.

These facts, though apparently

trivial, prepare us to realize
what actually occurred.
There arose, both in those commodities
which are the necessaries
of life and in those which are merely
articles of luxury, sudden and enormous demands for things which
To meet
in the Japanese market.
had been hitherto unknown
took
but
these new demands, a thorough
surely
change slowly
While Japan
place in the nature of the industry of the nation.
remained a hermit nation, a perfect means of self-supply had been
the division of labor
organized, and in every kind of occupation
for ex
Take sword-making
had been carried to a fine point.
ample, and see how many hands engaged in special occupations
a sword had to go through before it could be worn by a clansman.
Of course, there was the sword-smith who forged it. Then there
was the craftsman who made a hilt for it; another who furnished
a guard; still another who made a sheath; yet again another who
of thousands
of
lacquered it; and so on. In the manufacture
or
as
the
used
feudal
Daimios
the
other things?such
by
palanquins
lords, the dresses worn by the different classes of people daily or

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THE INDUSTRIAL

REVOLUTION

IN JAPAN.

679

on ceremonial or other occasions, which were in great demand in

the days of feudalism,?no
and multiplex
divisions of
less minute
labor existed.
The effect upon these kinds of industry of the
can be easily imagined.
A vast
popular rush for things European
number of occupations which had hitherto been thriving had sud
and skilled laborers and artisans were
denly to be abandoned,
thrown out of employment
in thousands.
This was, indeed, the greatest shock ever felt by the industrial
world of Japan.
Nor, indeed, is it easy to find its parallel any
where.
We read, for instance, in modern European history of the
of steam power upon
great effect of the discovery and utilization
the industry of the West.
that was one of the most
Undoubtedly,
momentous
events in the history of civilization,
the effect of which
was to revolutionize
But
the industry of the whole of Europe.
the application
of steam power to production was gradual;
and,
the transition which was brought about in the in
consequently,
dustrial world through it was also gradual.
the util
Moreover,
ization

great,
direct
craze
mized
of

the

of

steam

power

was

merely

an

improvement,

however

in the processes of production.

exercised any
It neither
influence upon popular taste, nor caused a blind popular
for novelties.
Its principal merit was that it largely econo
the labor of production, but it scarcely affected the nature
general

demand.

In

the

case

now

before

us,

it was

alto

Here, the nature of the general demand was en

gether
It was in this respect as if a new class of con
tirely changed.
sumers, with widely different tastes, had suddenly been called into
existence among the old class of manufacturers,
asking for things
which the manufacturers
knew nothing
of, and which therefore
The consequence was that the greater por
they could not supply.
tion of the industrial world was paralyzed completely.
Those who
and strength of the shock then
rightly appreciate the magnitude
inflicted upon Japanese
industry, may wonder with reason how
Japan could have succeeded in restoring orderly business activity
out of this industrial chaos.
It is one of the peculiarities
of fashion that it is too superficial
to take much heed of any economical principle.
To this rule the
case was no exception.
In spite of the danger which
present
different.

threatened the national finances, the demand for things European

not only continued but even increased, partly, no doubt, on ac
count of the impulse toward progress which animated
the nation,

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680

THE NORTH

AMERICAN

REVIEW.

for novelties
but partly from that fondness
of human nature
as
and Parisians
which manifests
itself as well in New Yorkers
man
home
in American Indians and Fiji Islanders.
the
Finding
ufacturers utterly powerless to gratify their newly acquired tastes,
Japanese

consumers

continued

to

rely

upon

European

producers.

and so
Japanese
government,
deprived of tariff autonomy,
precluded from having recourse to protection, had not as yet had
time enough to consider and adopt any other measures
calculated
to encourage home production.
to face
face
Suddenly
brought
with Western
the people, too, could not yet under
civilization,
or grasp the advantages
of a joint
stand the use of machinery,
The

and business privi

all kinds of monopolies
capital.
Moreover,
or to
leges which the Daimios granted to their favorite merchants,
Thus,
themselves, had ceased to exist with the fall of feudalism.
having no excessive duties to hinder their ingress, and finding no
domestic merchandise
against which to compete, foreign commod
ities of every description
freely flowed into the country, while a
were obliged to remain idle.
number
of
home
manufacturers
large
had
Thus it was that the nation wThich, from time immemorial,
for
and
herself
entirely depended upon
support
supply, began of
a sudden to import all things from other countries?from
the
modern
and
of
warfare
costly implements
expensive machinery
down to trifling food-stuffs and toilet articles.
Under
the amount of annual imports dur
such circumstances,
ten
the Eestoration
nat
the
first
years immediately
ing
following
on
as
seen
of
exceeded
will
be
from
that
the
table
urally
exports
the following page, the only exceptions being the first (1868) and
the ninth (1876) year of Meiji, when a large amount of silk was
exported to Europe owing to its scarcity there.
Such a state of affairs could not long be suffered to continue.
had to be done to turn the tide. Either
the political
Something
and social conditions had to be made to adjust themselves to the
old industrial system, or the industrial system to adjust itself to
the new political and social conditions.
The former meant retro
recourse was had to
gression, the latter progress.
Consequently,
the latter, with the determination
that no obstacles,
however
great, should be allowed to hinder the nation's victorious march
on the path of progress.
So much about the sudden change in the
nature of the industry of Japan; we turn now to the acceleration
of speed in its development.

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THE INDUSTRIAL

REVOLUTION

IN JAPAN.

681

TABLE L
TRADE

FOREIGN
(During
Chris-

Years

Years.

Meiji.
1 1868
2 1869
3 1870
4 1871
5 1872
6 1873
7 1874
8 1875
9 1876
101877
11
1878
121879
131880
141881
151882
16
1883
171884
18
1885
19
1886
20
1887
21
1888
22
1889
23
1890
24
1891
251892
261893
27
28
29
1896
30
1897
31
1898

Thirty

Years

tian

1894
1895

These

figures

show

Exports.
15,553,472,870
12,908,977,990
14,543,012,510
17,968,608,660
17,026,647,220
21,635,440,850
19,317,306,090
18,611,110,610
27,711,527,500
23,348,521,600
25,988,140,280
28,175,770,190
28,395,386,660
31,058,887,930
37,721,750,570
36,268,019,590
33,871,465,500
37,146,691,430
48,876,312,790
52,407,681,150
65,705,510,210
70,060,705,820
56,603,506,030
79,527,272,340
91,102,753,630
89,712,864,590
113,246,086,150
136,172,177,920
117,842,760,620
163,135,077,320
165,753,752,880
the excesses

After

OF

JAPAN

the Restoration,

oft-?Merchandise.--^
Imports.
10,693,071,790
20,783,633,090
33,741,637,360
21,916,727,650
26,1*74,814,930
28,107,390,030
23,407,814,400
29,975,627,620
23,964,678,960
27,420,902,950
32,874,834,170
32,953,002,390
36,626,601,000
31,191,246,020
29,446,593,980
28,444,841,780
29,672,647,450
29,356,967,920
32,168,432,260
44,304,251,690
65,455,234,010
66,103,766,600
81,728,580,500
62,927,268,380
71,326,079,500
88,257,171,710
117,481,955,460
129,260,578,280
171,674,474,250
219,300,771,640
277,502,156,510
of imports;

1868-1898).

Total.

Excesses.

26,246,544,660
4,860,401,080
33,692,611,080
*7,874,655,100
48,284,649,870 *19,198;624,850
39,885,336,310
*3,948,118,990
43,201,462,150
*9,148,167,710
49,142,830,880
*6,471,949,180
42,779,120,490
*4,144,508,310
48,536,738,230
*11,364,517,010
51,576,206,460
3,746,848,540
50,769,424,550
*4,072,381,350
58,862,974,450
*6,886,693,890
61,128,772,580
*4,777,232,200
65,021,987,660
*8,231,214,340
62,250,133,950
*132,358,090
8,275,156,590
67,168,344,550
64,712,861,370
7,823,177,810
63,544,112,950
4,198,818,050
66,503,659,350
7,789,723,510
81,044,745,050
16,707,880,530
96,711,932,840
8,103,429,460
131,160,744,220
250,276,200
3,956,939,220
136,164,472,420
138,332,086,530 *25,125,074,470
142,454,540,720
16,600,003,060
162,428,833,130
19,776,674,130
177,970,036,300
1,455,692,880
230,728,041,610
*4,235,869,310
265,372,756,200
6,851,599,640
289,517,234,870 *53,831,713,630
382,435,848,960 *56.165,694,320
443,255,909,390 *111V748,403,630

the others

those

of exports.

One of the principal measures

gov
adopted by the Eestoration
the national prosperity and
ernment, with the object of promoting
was the education?-using
the term in its widest
enlightenment,
sense?of
the young as well as of grown men, some of whom held
to travel
These
latter were made
high government
positions.
of
for
civilized
countries
the
and ex
purpose
observing
through
institutions, with a
amining their social, industrial, and political
to Japanese
soil whatever
to transplanting
seemed to them
likely to bear good fruit there. A great many students were also
sent abroad to study all the branches of modern
science.
At
home, not only were common schools established all over the coun
view

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THE NORTH

682

AMERICAN

REVIEW.

the Schools of Me
try, but there arose the Imperial University,
The young men began
chanical Engineering
and of Agriculture.
thus to be equipped for their future activity in the spheres of poli
tics and industry.
Another measure which the government
steadily pursued was
the establishment
of various kinds of factories, under the direct
In the School of
and management
of its officials.
supervision
a small iron-foundry was built, and ma
Mechanical
Engineering,
The
instruction.
chines were made for the purpose of practical
of
of the Army started the manufacture
gun-powder
Department
of the Navy built
and implements of war, while the Department
of Finance could not
and equipped a dockyard.
The Department
a chemical labora
a
nor
mint
without
without
the
get along
mint,
same
of an establish
need
felt
the
also
tory. The
department
ment where the paper currency, the national bonds and various
kinds of stamps could be printed, and founded one under its direct
control.

In

similar

manner

paper

factory

was

established.

of sulphuric
in turn, necessitated
the manufacture
acid,
This,
manufactories
and
other
various
and
thus
sprang
chemicals;
goda,
one

up,

after

another.

of the ma
also encouraged the introduction
government
both of
cotton
for
silk
thread
and
yarns,
reeling
spinning
chinery
almost
had
been
done
which
by
wholly
formerly
operations
assistance as could be
manual
labor, with such slight mechanical
The

obtained

from

a wooden

contrivance

of

rudimentary

nature.

the capital hitherto

succeeded in concentrating
The government
national
and establishing
scattered by issuing Bank Kegulations
it
of facilitating
For
the
banks.
purpose
foreign
trade,
of
Bank
of the Specie
used its influence for the establishment
the construction
undertook
the government
Yokohama.
Again,
line
between
in
of the first railway
Tokyo and Yoko
Japan,?the
hama,

Not to go into further details of a similar nature, let it suffice

the
to say that, during the first ten years after the Eestoration,
of
natural
consisted
of
the
of
items
prod
country
export
principal
while manufactured
ucts or raw materials,
goods were imported
the amount having a tendency to increase year
from the West,
anxious to check this tendency,
by year; and that the government,
its efforts during this period upon laying the founda
concentrated
of the national resources and industry,
tion for the development

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THE INDUSTRIAL
the effect of which
ten

IN JAPAN.

REVOLUTION

became gradually

683

in the subsequent

apparent

years.

Those
science,

make

young men who were

either

practical

in

their

own

application

the different

studying

country

or

were

abroad,

of the instruction

which

of

branches
now

to

ready

they had re

ceived.

the
set them by the government,
Profiting
by the examples
of the European
people, too, began to appreciate the advantages
and intellect joined hands to benefit
industrial
system. Wealth
and their native land by exercising
themselves
their capacity in
indi
the new field of industrial
Led by enterprising
activity.
viduals,

railway

paper factories
their

appearance

home

producers

companies,

and many
one
and

after

mining

corporations,

other enterprises
another,

manufacturers

as
who

private
thus

cotton

mills,

of the like kind made

organizations.
arose
were

The
now

able,

in part at least, to meet the demands of new Japan.

The adjust
ment of the industrial institutions
to the new order of things was
now an accomplished
fact; and one of the greatest industrial revo
lutions in the history of mankind
had thus been achieved within
short
time.
comparatively
the most
successful manufactures
started in
Among
newly
we
mention
the
match
may
Japan,
industry.
Formerly, flint was
in universal use in Japan; but when matches were imported, they
Some
began at once to be used, even in the remotest villages.
shrewd business men saw the great profits that could be realized
from this industry; so it was started; and, although it had to en
counter some difficulties at first, yet before many years had passed,
the home-made
matches
in
drove out those made
completely
Europe.

But, indeed, the success did not stop here; Japanese matches
soon entered into competition with their European
rivals in the
Chinese markets.
There
they were
again victorious.
To-day
they are exported, besides, to Corea and Siberia, to Hong Kong,
India and to the islands of the southern Pa
Singapore, British
amount
of the export having now risen to
cific, the annual
about yen 7,000,000
in value.
The future of this particular
industry looks most promising,
as will be evident from the
increasing amount of the yearly pro
duction shown by the accompanying
table, which gives statistics
also as to the growth of other industries.

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THE NORTH

684

AMERICAN
TABLE

MANUFACTURED

GOODS
(in thousands

REVIEW.

II.
EXPORTED
of

FROM

21.
1889.

Years
of Meiji.
Christian
years.

Habutaye804.
Other
silk piece goods.
Silk handkerchiefs.
Cotton
piece goods.

186

matting.
yarns.
and pottery.

Umbrellas

31.

30.
1897.

1898.

9,530

12,055

3,390
3,555
2,512
850
973

2,691

573
2,104
143

Carpets
Flowered
Cotton
Porcelain

JAPAN

yens).

166

...:.

.
54
Matches .1,137
1,232
13,490
1,449
Lacquer . 589
Straw braid.
146
62826687
6,618

1,819
767

20,105
1,989
783

3,181

5,981

43,349

59,480

is
Another
enterprise that has proved successful
ning. Twenty years ago, there existed only two mills,
spindles each; now, there are 1,300,000 spindles, and
viding for our domestic needs, cotton yarn is exported
the amount of yen 20,000,000
Muslin and
annually.
are

goods
perous

also

recently.

exported.
The

Paper
enormous

has

manufacture
number

of

6,273

5,641
3,938

been

publications,

cotton spin
with 20,000
besides pro
to China to
other cotton
very

pros
such

as

and newspapers,
has caused the establishment
books, periodicals,
of many new mills; and, like matches,
after successful competition
in
with the foreign product at home, our paper is now competing
in the West.
The production
China against that manufactured
of cement was first undertaken
that article
by the government,
of
But
for
the
railroads.
building
being necessary
to-day many
are manufacturing
cement for domestic
and
private companies
are
in
factories
and
Woollen
Osaka
Tokyo
foreign consumption.
and quality,
is almost
kept busy; and their output, in quantity
a
call
for
sufficient to meet the internal demand.
They
yearly im
raw
to
It
would
be too
of
wool
4,917,763.
yen
port
amounting
tedious a task to enumerate various other branches of industry,
of brushes, soap, and many
such as the manufacturing
others,
which are prospering or beginning to prosper in Japan under her
It may be, perhaps, proper to conclude a
system.
from
has been observed that most of the new in
what
posteriori
in Japan which are still in the stage of in
dustrial undertakings
free

trade

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THE INDUSTRIAL

REVOLUTION

IN JAPAN.

685

fancy, and are growing with wonderful

rapidity, after they have
displaced
imported goods in the home markets, will, in obedience
to the economical law of demand and supply, pour their products
into all the other Eastern markets, where they will compete favor
ably with the same kind of commodities from America or Europe.
In these days of steam and electricity,
the exchange
of
thoughts and ideas is effected with ease and alacrity, as much as,
if not more than, the exchange of commodities.
The arguments
in favor of a protective tariff, after the fashion of those advanced
in the United
Now and then,
States, found their way to Japan.
some observers here, of more or less influence, maintain
that the
our
our
of
not
does
with
growth
industry
fully keep up
expecta
This, to say
tions, chiefly because of the absence of protection.
Table I. (page 681) proves.that
the least, is an open question.
the
more
or
of
and
have
the
been
doubled,
less,
exports
imports
Japan
The following table shows an annual
every ten years since 1868.
increase of the imports of some chief raw materials while those of
the manufactured
articles
at a
remain,
relatively
speaking,
standstill.
TABLE
COTTON

AND

WOOLLEN

GOODS

III.
IMPORTED

TO

JAPAN.

(in yens).
Christian
Years.
1867
1872
1877
1882
1887
1892
1897
1900

Years.-Cotton.--Wool.
of
Manufactures of.
Meiji.
1
2,542,979
5
4,891,770
10
808,804
15
4,231,872
20
3,391,939
25
4,752,208
30
9,888,031
32
9,402,037

Manufac
Raw.
1,657,454 0
5,420,843 0
4,502,838 0
7,029,259 ?
9,149,166
19,476,623
53,245,571
67,174,040

tures

of.

Raw.

?
?
?
?
5,142,513
6,257,671
10,282,464
9,072,422

445,200
730,493
3,413,906
4,917,763

(p. 684) prove the progress of our

resources as Japan
of the national
industry.
development
under her free trade
has been making
has been accomplished
seems truly phenomenal.
But if
To us this development
policy.
even
more
one
it
the
not
been
has
so,
any
asks, why
explanation
appears to be that Japan is still in great need of men of trained
This

and also Table

II.

Such

and practical experience, not that she is in need of pro

Given the same amount of capital and the same kind of
as we possess, if persons of trained intellect and prac
machinery
with them, the undertak
tical experience engage in manufacture
intellect
tection.

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THE NORTH

686

AMERICAN

REVIEW.

cotton spin
ings will succeed; otherwise,
they will fail. When
were
was
the
in
all
undertaken
first
yarns
produced
Japan,
ning
coarse; the fine yarns could not be obtained owing to the lack of
skill and experience on the part of the laborers, who were then
Even at the present time,
utter strangers to this kind of work.
of fine yarns are imported
for the same reason, large quantities
from England,
although the amount is decreasing year by year.
Besides,

tures

we

must

depends,
system,

banking

portation.
the men

that

remember

to a large
of

the

extent,

insurance

also require

These

capitalists

Japanese

employed.

system,

special

of manufac

advancement

the

upon

of the

the development
of

training
and

the

means

of

trans

in

and experience
producers,

recogniz

ing this fact, are anxious to engage the services of those who have
in, the various
experience
specially studied, or gained practical
But the number
branches of industry either at home or abroad.
of such persons is sadly small compared with the demand. Herein
if complaint
is to be made at
lie the true grounds for complaint,
all.
It is not the absence of a protective
tariff, nor the scarcity
of capital, nor yet the high rate of interest, as some hold, that we
have

to

deplore.

One

or

two

of

these

supposed

causes

may

have

industry from developing

something to do in hindering Japanese
should be given
with even greater speed. Every encouragement
and the nation at large to the public and pri
by the government
vate

institutions

of

learning,

and

to

certain

industrial

corpora

tions, so that they can furnish the country with a sufficient num
ber of such men through study and practice: and in the course of
in de
time, they will become a most valuable
instrumentality
resources
the
aid
of
without
the nation,
veloping the industry and
of protection.
The Japanese advocates of protection are accustomed to point
of the resources of the United
to the marvellous
development
a
can do. Originally
as
an
States
example of what protection
one
of
the
States have become
poverty stricken nation, the United
wealthiest
and most populous countries on the surface of the globe
this unexampled
But whether
within
the last hundred
years.
still a debatable
to
remains
is
due
mainly
protection
prosperity
for many
discussion
and
earnest
careful
subject, notwithstanding
years past by the most sagacious statesmen and the most profound
It is not within the scope of my subject to
scholars of the Union.
take part in this controversy.
it, therefore, as an un
Leaving

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THE INDUSTRIAL

REVOLUTION

IN JAPAN.

687

solved question, let us stop to consider some points of the radical

differences which exist between the two nations, in order to show
States
that, even if it were true that the prosperity of the United
were due to protection,
it would not necessarily
follow that that
would hold good in the case of Japan also.
The physical resources of the United
States, we all know, have
are
unlimited.
The vast stretch of fertile land be
been and still
tween the Atlantic
and the Pacific had remained in its natural,
were ready to
The mountains
wild state from unknown
times.
and
of
rich
store
timber
minerals;
yield magnificent
navigable
rivers and lakes were ready to afford unrivalled
for
facilities
waited
to
shelter
the
sinuous
for
coasts,
traffic; along
bays
provide
a
of
whose
with
the
wealth
vast
continent,
expanse
ships freighted
of plough-land
and pasture-land were to be flecked with number
so favored by nature with re
This continent,
less homesteads.
the dreams of avarice, remained
sources and wealth
surpassing
unknown till four hundred years ago. Moreover,
the people who
and
settled on this virgin land were far from being unintelligent
uncivilized.
They brought with them from the Old World all the
and experience of a thousand years, and
accumulated
knowledge
all the great characteristics
of their race?indomitable
courage,
The New World
untiring energy, love of liberty and uprightness.
poured forth its hidden treasures
lavishly at the touch of the
hands of this noble race.
Solely occupied with the development
of the internal resources of their continent, and anxious to secure
their
peace and order so that they might be free to concentrate
of that object, the people of the
efforts upon the accomplishment
of the Mon
United States long adhered strictly to the principles
roe Doctrine,
and avoided all diplomatic
with Eu
entanglements
same
of
at
the
Euro
encroachment
the
time
rope, preventing
any
own
Powers
of
their
influence.
pean
upon
sphere
This tendency of the United
States to remain in some degree
isolated from the Old World has been manifested
not politically
of
but
for
the
also;
only,
commercially
prevention
foreign com
was
to
the
of
internal re
petition
thought necessary
development
sources.
Thus a protective policy was adopted, and by it the de
sired end was attained.
But if the United
States did not wish to
have other nations entering into competition with her in her own
she was not very anxious in return to compete in the
markets,
of others, so that, as regards her exports, she let things
markets

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THE NORTH

688

AMERICAN

REVIEW.

take their own course.

The consequence was that the principal
items of her exports were, till quite recently, and are now, though
to a much less extent, agricultural
and natural products, which
the richness of her soil enabled her to produce in abundance, and
for the supply of which the European nations were obliged to de
she thus succeeded in pre
pend upon her. While by protection
there
has arisen, within
meanwhile
venting foreign competition,
the last twenty years, a number of trusts, syndicates and combina
tions of various kinds, with the result of checking internal com
to a large extent.
in the United
States pro
petition
Though
tection

and trusts have effected successful results, it is singular

that neither the one nor the other has prospered in any part of
if the
these facts, it is to be questioned
Europe.
Considering
or
trusts could have long existed without
protection,
protection
without
the Monroe Doctrine.
At any rate, it is certain that these
three factors in combination have exercised a great influence upon
the destiny of the United States.
Its territorial extent,
Now, let us consider the case of Japan.
is only one-twentieth
of that of the United
roughly speaking,
is estimated at the enormous figure of
States, but its population
From ancient times, the resources of Japan
forty-five millions.
have been fully utilized and developed.
The various mines
that
are now being worked are
of at least three hundred years'
mostly
The farms are now under such a condition
that they
standing.
abundance
of fertilizers
in order to yield a good return of
require
crops. The farmers have to labor on their small lots of land with
the care and patience which a Japanese gardener exercises when
he makes a miniature
a rivulet course
landscape, by here making
and curve, and there raising a small hill.
are not
like
They
the farmers of the United
in
vast
tracts
of
States,
possessing
and
them
steam
re
with
lands,
cultivating
machinery.
Again,
the Japanese people, though they are in one sense very
garding
old, yet in another they are quite young, it being only thirty years
since they assumed a cosmopolitan
In other words, in
character.
the case of the United States, the country is young, and the people
in the case of Japan,
the country is old and the
old; whereas,
With
these
fundamental
to say
people young.
great
differences,
of
the
in
dissimilarities
economical
and
nothing
great
political
condition, which are noticeable between the two nations, is it not
hasty to conclude that, because the industry in one country has

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so

P3
Mineral
Oils?
5.
c^
?-s

8.

Copper

and

of?

3.

? n^ ?<^ ^ ?
2. Cotton

kj

?????iMomt
Provisions?

and

Manufactures
Acn
nr
onn
HrM
_?,
?..
Manufactures
tTobacco
of?
and
9.

of?

?Art

lln

Manufactures

gIV.
TABLE
THE
PRINCIPAL
ARTICLES
OF
EXPORT
THE
UNITED
STATES

(In

Dollars).
Thousands
of
JfWheat
and
wheat
flour.
128,678
95,457
91,735
115,834
m>%?
^'S

?6.
Wood
and
Manufactures
of.
27,712
31,947
27,115
39,624
37,513
41,489
oo
gManufactures
of.
19,697
14,468
19,720
31,621
35,983
31,180
M
3,849
3,953
4,380
5,178
5,025
4,818
Manufactured.
*24,085
Unmanufactured.
25,798
24,571
24,711
22,171
25,467
g

$29,751
$27,934
$29,736
$28,951
$26,989
$30,645
Total.

nf^cCA

6,299
6,632
9,580
9,654
products.
9,095
**q
7,629
Dairy
?1895.
1896.
1894.
1897.
1898.
1899.
Breadstuffs1.
^Manufactures
of.
14,340
13,789
16,837
21,037
17,024
23,566
^4.
Iron
and
Steel
29,220
.41,160
32,000
57,497
70,406
93,716
3Com
and
cornmeal.
$38,490
$15,299
$30,981
$54,989
$75,962
$70,753
HUnmanufactured.
210,869
204,900
190,056
230,890
230,442
209,564

bMeatproducts.
135,690
127,001
125,204
127,483
158,245
167,879
ACau!eS7.
33,461
30,603
34,560
36,357
37,827
30,516^ 37,083
41,498
56,463
56,261
51,782
51,070
Refined.
^
^2,250
7,280
5,150
7,211
Allother.
8,415
7,364
5?7*
^$218,689
$225,209
$251,927
$206,893
$247,466
$233,130
Total.,-.
|g$41,498
$46,660
$62,634
$62,388
$56,125
$56,272
Total.
SH
2,435
1,104
2,059
2,033
Ore.
824
440 |i^j
$35,753
$35,711
$41,840
$43,568
$46,242
$37,880
Total.
4,415
5,161
6,171
6,127
4,343
5,202
Crude.^
$131,503
$133,633
$145,270
$137,137
5$167,340
$175,508
Total.
$22,132
$15,573
$21,753
$33,680
$32,004
$36,423
Total.
?

11,130
7,116
27,033
42,985
25,883
other.
All
$114,603
$166,775
$141,395
$197,856
$333,895
$273,999
Total.
^ q 3,847

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THE NORTH

690

AMERICAN

REVIEW.

the other will also prosper under the

prospered under protection,
same fiscal system ?
If we examine the table on the foregoing page, which gives
the amount of the principal exports of the United
States, we shall
be able to draw an interesting inference.
It is this,?that
while the
States is, on the whole, very healthy and
industry of the United
and of
growing, the exports of the unmanufactured
commodities,
those which otherwise possess the character of raw materials,
have
generally shown no tendency to increase to any remarkable extent,
and in some cases have actually decreased;
that the exports of
manufactured
articles have been increasing steadily, in most cases
the figures of the year 1894 having been almost doubled in 1899.
One of the greatest agricultural
peoples is gradually
becoming
a

Before

nation.

manufacturing

long,

her

manufacturing

power

all
may become so great that she will be compelled to seek markets
ever the world for the disposal of her produce.
that day
When
comes, her protective tariff may prove a great obstacle to her suc
cess in competing with other nations, for one of the well known
is to raise wages and prices.
effects of protection
table of comparative
Here
in the
is an interesting
prices
States and England,
United
Mr.
W.
compiled by
Henry
Lamb,
Free Trade League.
of the New England
President
TABLE
IN UNITED

PRICES
Article.

.
Litharge
smooth.
Wire,
Barb wire
(galvanized).
ore.

Iron

steel.
Sheet
iron.,.
Galvanized
beams.
Steel
refined.
Borax,
.
Lime
of tartar.
Cream
Bleaching
powder.
oil.
Castor
soda.
Caustic
Cement
(Portland,
Lamb

Mr.
"The
these

effect

articles

best).

V.

STATES

AND

ENGLAND.

United
States
Price.
Quantity.
$4.70
Lead . 100 lbs.
lb.
.08%
3.05
100 lbs.
2.50
2.39
3.80
100 lbs.
3.38
2.55
Wire nails. 100 lbs.
ton.
6.12%
4.853.60
Tin plate. 100 lbs.
2.07
2.70
100 lbs.
3.23
3.78
100 lbs.
1.80
2.30
100 lbs.
lb.
.07%
.62
.90
bbl.
lb.
.22%
lb.
.02%
H>.
-12^.
1.84
2.42
100 lbs.
2.55
bbl.

English
Price.
$3.64
.04%

5.25

.034
.159
.01%
-066
1.11

says:?
of

the

trust

(in

the

table)

all production
is to put
prices
an unsound,
are
upon
required

in which
because

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THE INDUSTRIAL

REVOLUTION

IN JAPAN.

691

an export
trade
in many
are developing
We
basis.
artificially
high,
is becoming
and ad
that
the wonder
manufacture
lines of American
are not
of what
Americans
world.
of the whole
miration
only proud
to
with
but
look forward
been
eagerness
has
already
accomplished,
is the more
This
in our exports.
increase
eagerness
every
promised
de
a stage
in our
industrial
such
we
reached
because
have
intense
of thousands
and even
the maintenance,
that
the prosperity,
velopment
at
And
abroad.
their
of our people
yet,
upon
products
selling
depend
the
of manufacturing
foundation
at the very
the outset,
enterprise,
for the ma
it has
to extort
which
created
the
trusts
enables
tariff
above
100 per
cent,
a price
sometimes
of industry
terials
25, 50 and
handi
for the same materials.
a foreign
what
Every
pays
competitor
if American
be removed,
of this
sort must
every
cap,
disadvantage,
of foreign
in the sharp
are to continue
to win
competition
producers
two
be resented
for
trust
should
commerce.
then,
Every
extortion,
our producers
our consumers
and
sell
reasons:
It makes
pay more
a trust
in its extortions
less.
that
And
tariff
every
duty
protects
should

be

abolished."

In the light of these facts, it would not be at all surprising that,

if the industrial prosperity of the United
States continues to in
no
as
if
doubt
it
and
the
crease,
will,
growth of her manufacturing
be
she
with
may
power keeps pace
it,
obliged one of these days to
in
she has been a firm be
which
abandon her protective
tariff,
of her national
liever ever since the beginning
existence; even as,
of
her
the
national
urged by
necessity
expansion, she recently gave
Islands to her ter
up her Monroe Doctrine, annexed the Hawaiian
ritory and occupied Puerto Eico and the Philippines.
Such being the case, Japan is not likely to adopt a protective
policy in spite of her having secured something like tariff autono
my by her revised treaties with the Western nations, and in spite
of the opinions of those who wish to take advantage of the terms
of her
of these treaties.
She is aware that, for the development
re
indebted
to
and
she
is
the
trade
will
free
she
resources,
system,
instrument
for benefiting
other nations through
main a willing
In this, she finds the means of repaying her
it, as well as herself.
to the Western
indebtedness
to the United
nations?especially
the
her
which
introduced
into
of
first
nations?who
States,
family
and gave her
imbued her with the spirit of modern
civilization,
of her national
she has needed for the invigoration
whatever
life,
thus enabling her to act her part with honor and distinction,
whether
in war or in peace. Okuma.

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