Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-14
Protection of Sam Francisco.

1--WE must take into account the fighting
capacity of the American people. We are
not armed with bows and arrows, and San
Francisco is by no means defenseless. The
forts that guard that city have powerful
smooth-bore guns, which are able to keep
at a respectful distance any war vessel
less strong than battle ship. do not be-
ieve that Japan possesses three ships
strong enough to pass the forts at San
Francisco. cruiser could not get by with
out being hopelessly- disabled. Perhaps you
will remember that during the late civil
war Charleston, with inferior defenses,
held a fleet of iron-cladS at bay until the
close of the conflict.
I'VE have now built and finished nearly
fifty modern fighting ships large and small
If private establishments were set to work,
1t is probable that we could put afioat BOO
torpedo boats within six months, getting
ready meanwhile to launch more formidable
vessels. 1t is true that it takes three years
to float battle ship but the government of
the United States could buy few battle
ships readymade in case they were sorely
needed. And even If these purchased battle
ships were not so good as American battle
ships, such as the Indiana, the Massachu-
sets and the Oregon, the men who manned
them could hold their own with the natives
of any other country under heaven
But after all. what folly Is such talk
Japan will never go to war with the United
States. She is and always has been the
friend of the United States. The Americans
l ke the japanese. Japan owes TO the Amer
lean squadron, under Commodore Perry, a
good deal of the spirit that has put her in
the forefront of modern progress. The in
terests of the Japanese, who are rightly
called the Britons of the east. are all on the
Asiatic side of the Pacific. 1t is inconceiv-
| able that they could have any grievance
| against the United Stat or that the United
| States could act in such a manner as to
provoke serious controversy with Japan.
War With Great Britain.
1.-The only war in which we are at all like
| ly to engage Is with Great Britain, and be-
lieve that the first shot fired in anger be-
| tween England and this country will prove
the death knell of the British empire. The
reason why we haven't had fair play from
| England hitherto is that we do not play the
| national game of poker as we'll as she does
| She has bluffed us right along. The late
| Gen. Schenck, when minister to the court
| of st. James, taught the British aristocracy
and the governing class how to play poker,
| and they have been playing it better than
| ourselves ever since. We have lacked the
rerve to call England's bluffs.
| The American people have not degener-
| ated That was demonstrated by the civil
| war. We have the south with US now, and
the pluck and courage of the fighting men
| of the south has never been doubted by
anybody. They would fight side by side
| with us in the event of a war. Gen. Long
| street, speaking the other day on the Ven
ezuelan question, remarked that if we had
| trouble with Great Britain the fighting
| would be in the British channel. What did
| he mean by that? He meant that today the
| south is with the north heart and soul.
imagine that Gen. Longstreet is as good an
| exponent of the feeling of the south as can
| be found
Lii Hung Chang is quoted saying that
| the Japanese are warlike and aggressive
people, who would be ready to pick quar-
rel with the United States on a small pre-
| text. This Is entirely absurd. While It is
| true that the Japanese are good fighters,
high-spirited and courageous they are es-
sentially courteous just and right-minded
| In dealing with foreigners. They are a
are the exact opposite of the Chinese. who
| are tricky, INSCRIPTIONS nd doubla-faced.
The Chinese are by nature subservient and
| timid. L do not mean to say that they
| lack personal courage, they stand killing
very well. But there are other semi-civil-