New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-13

JAPAN COULD CONQUER THE UNITED STATES.
William f. Curtis in The Washington Post
Senator Scuire's remarks about the defenseless
condition OF our coast reminds me OF wna bac fuIs
repeatedly intimated that the Government OF the
United States would have interviewed in behalf OF
china during the late war but for the fact that We
were afraid OF Japan. He made this remark so
often that became irritated and asked nm ne
that he entirely serious that ne sincerely De
eyef mat isa1gs and his attitude toward
Japan We're due to a fear lest the Japanese Govern
ment might declare against the United states
told him that the suggestion was preposterous;
that such idea had ever entered the PRESIDENTS
mind. and did not think that any single memper
Of the 65oo0o that make up ne population OK TINS
country had ever dreamed Of fear OF Japan or any
thought entered his mind. 1880 49,
Your Government and your people are very un n
such tn ngs particularly since the events that nave
occurred in China during the last year The Jap
warike people. They Ike to fight and they are are
proud and arrogant They 10 not care I tpr tn1
tea and II your Government ever interferes with
their plans either at home or IN the San n %nY
a pretence they keep up to encourage your trade;
II President Cleveland had responded to my appea!
have sent her army and her ships from our harbors
TO your country. and would have taken possession
Of your Pacific States PRESIDENT Ole'eiahu , Sirm
that. because ne far-sghted man. ana, there
fore would not show himself the friend oil either
''i tried to explain to Earl Ii the traditional policy
for his benefit George Washlngtons warning agains.
entanglng alliances. | told him that the United
willing at any time to fight Japan. or England or
Germany, or any other OF the great Powers 4 u
sentiment OF the United States was In favor OF tne
and we always endeavored to mind our own bust
ness. When friendly nation called uron us tor
assistance or when two friendly nations got INTO i"
row we usually of cred good offices to arrange
reconciliation, bur the people would not apptSoNe
Cleveland had offered TO act as arbitrator In the
settlement of the differences between nina an. anu
Japau but he would take sides wNh either
nation from fear Of Japan. but because IL wouIa
be violation OF the TRADITIONS anu 'ne po"oS VI ''e
The Vieeroy sneered in a contemptuous manner
and said: -, .,... ,,.o hundred thou
sand soldiers ana the best guns In the wortd. She
has larger and better fleet OF warsPS ' iorpedo
boats as your Government. and her sailors KNOW
how to use them while your p saIrS coast So hO with
line OF 5000 miles 10 protect and severa p4pu
Sls ana Tsa aye NO S oTs n san that could
keep the weakest gunboat in the navy OF Japan
and single ship q T ne amnd Without Hay the Sight
est difficulty in week | have studied the map
and have talked with people from your country
and / know al about 1t. 1t would take you six
months TO get any kind of fleet around TO protect
with coal enough keep their fires going during the
voyage from NewYork to San Francisco Your
President Cleveland is very wise in declining to be
mixed up In a row with Japan. II Japan should de-
clare war against the United States she could have
every solder in her army and every ship In her
navy on your coast within month. She would take
pos session OF all your cities and your railroads and
your gold and silver mines and your manufactures,
and would hold them until you paid any amount OF
indemnity she might ask. President Cleveland knows
that as well as do and for that reason ne did not
Interfere in war.
told the Viceroy that while his description OF
the defenceless condition OF our coast was undoub
edly true there would be a million men on the Pa
clhc Coast TO meet the Japanese Army and fleet
when Ii arrived there.
That may be So" he interrupted with some I'm
patience. but what could they do without guns or
fortlncatons or any other means OF defence? You
might throw sticks and stones at the Japanese. like
lot Of cd women. but any one OF their vessels
could lombard San Francisco and destroy the entire
city before you could set cannons there 10 defend IT,
And what could your cannon do against the long