DBQ - Responses to the Industrial Revolution

"Generally speaking, the strength or weakness of a country is dependent on the wealth or poverty of its people, and the people's wealth or poverty derives from the amount of available products. The diligence of people is a major factor in determining the amount of products available, but in the final analysis, it can all be traced to the guidance and encouragement given by the government and its officials... your subject respectfully recommends that a clear cut plan be established.. to determine the prioritizes under which industries may be encouraged... if the people are adequately wealthy, it follows naturally that the country will become strong and wealthy... if so, it will not be difficult for us to compete effectively against major powers."

Japan . . . occupies a small amount of land and has a large population, with little material out of which to manufacture, hence has to rely upon the material imported from other countries. We have coal, but not sufficient iron, and almost no gold. Hence, in my opinion, Japan must stand as an industrial country. . . . An agricultural policy is not bad. It was satisfactory in the feudal period—that is, for so long as we were not pressed by the Russians, [the] English, and the Americans from all sides. But the conditions are otherwise today. The Pacific is becoming the center of the struggle in which we are called to compete with much stronger foes. Japan as an agricultural country cannot stand against Russia, Australia, Canada, or America. Hence we must try other means for the struggle—that is, we must obtain raw materials from them and manufacture them for the Asiatic markets.

Books on mathematics, mechanics, optics, light, chemistry, and others all contain the ultimate principles of understanding things. Most of this information is unavailable to people in China. …

I have heard that with their new methods the Westerners have found that the movements of the earth conform closely to those of the heavens. This can be of assistance in fixing the calendar. … I have heard that the Westerners’ method of clearing sand from harbors is very effective. … This can be of assistance to keep the water flowing. Also, for agricultural and sericultural tools, and things required for the various crafts, they mostly use mechanical wheels, which require little energy but accomplish much. …

There are many intelligent people in China. Surely there are some who, having learned from the barbarians, can surpass them …

The gradual growth of industry in the country, always accompanied by falling prices for manufactured goods, will make it possible for our export trade to deal not only in raw materials, as at present, but also in industrial goods. Our present losses in the European trade can then be converted into profits in the Asiatic trade. The influx of foreign capital is, in my considered opinion, the sole means by which our industry can speedily furnish our country with abundant and cheap goods.

If we carry our commercial and industrial system, begun in the reign of Alexander III, consistently to the end, then Russia will at last come of age economically. Then her prosperity, her trade and finance, will be based on two reliable pillars, agriculture and industry; and the relations between them, profitable to both, will be the chief motive power in our economy.

“All the world knows that since the first days of the Ottoman state, the lofty principles of the Qur’an and the rules of the Shari‘a were always perfectly preserved. Our mighty sultanate reached the highest degree of strength and power, and all its subjects reached the highest degree of ease and prosperity. But in the last one hundred and fifty years, because of a succession of difficult and diverse causes, the sacred Shari‘a was not obeyed nor were the beneficent regulations followed; consequently, the empire’s former strength and prosperity have changed into weakness and poverty. It is evident that countries not governed by the Shari‘a cannot survive.

Full of confidence in the help of the God, and certain of the support of our Prophet, we deem it necessary and important from now on to introduce new legislation in order to achieve effective administration of the Ottoman government and provinces.”