Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 6.djvu/248

RV 220 not only to supply her own wants but also to send abroad six million yen worth.

Without carrying these statistics to wearisome length it will suffice to note that, in six branches of manufacturing industry which may be said to have been called into active existence by the opening of the country,—namely, silk and cotton fabrics, cotton yarns, matches, fancy matting, and straw braid,—Japan's exports in 1888 aggregated only one-fourth million yen, whereas the corresponding figure for 1899 was sixty-eight millions. With such results on record, it is impossible to doubt that she has a great manufacturing future. The fact has, indeed, been partially recognised and much talked of within the past few years, especially in the United States, where the prospect of Japanese industrial competition was recently presented to the public in almost alarming proportions. On the other hand, among foreigners resident in Japan the general estimate of native manufacturing capacity is low. Doubtless, as is usually the case, the truth lies between the two extremes. Japanese industrial competition will be a formidable fact one of these days, but the time is still distant. Progress is checked by one manifest obstacle, defective integrity. Concerning every industry whose products have found a place in the catalogue of modern Japan's exports, the same story has to be told: just as really substantial development seemed to be visible, fraudulent adulteration or dishonestly careless