Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-07-18
A.Ia,. Monroe poctrIne.

1t seems from a statement pu bis he'd
in some OF the metropolitan papers
that there is disposition on the part
of the Asiaiic peoples TO hold that
Eastern Asia should be reserved for
their governments and that European
and American governments should
keep hands Off This is declared by
the Japanese charge d'affairs at Wash
ington to be the position of his gov
eminent. He says that Japan would
oppose any dismemserment of China,
and any extension of European acqui-
sitions in the Orient. The statement
purporting to come from the Japanese
official is as follows: Japan occupies
the same relation to Asia that the
United States does toward the CONT
uent of America. You have here a
theory which, in effect, declares that
in so far as il is practicable the con-
troll of the affairs on this continent
shall rest with Americans. You call
it the Monroe doctrine. No territory
now independent shall come under
European control. This is to avoid
the undue proximity of any nation
which might be inimical to the politi-
cal interest of the people of this con-
tinent.
I'VE Japanese are trying to open
Chinese ports. giving freedom to for
eign trade. But at the same time we
want to see the government of China
stand alone in possession of a safe and
stable government, and, being per-
fectly able to bear it's international re-
sponsibility, japan would stand OPP
posed to any proposition to dismem-
| Der the Chinese empire, and would
not look graciously on the enlarge
ment of the territory which the Euro
pean nations have already acquired
there. Japan will act for the welfare
of China, and, of course, for the pro-
lection of Japan.
Japan is full of progress. In
few years she has accomplished that
which in other countries has required
centuries. We have our well organ
lied army and navy. In the admin
istration of our government, mis-
deeds of populations are unknown.
This has added materially in making
Japan a strong nation. IT China had
advanced along the same lines the re-
suit would have been different.
ut is not one great centralized or
ganizstion. 1t is good in some spots
and bad in many spots. This is not
the fault of the individual soldier.
Take a representative specimen of
manhood among the Chinese and
similar type from among the Japanese,
and let them fight. and the result
would be dou btful; but let Japanese
army of 1O, 600 and q Chinese army of
SO. 900 meet on the field of war and l
q Of hn n r
full. Victory would be with the Jap
anese arms.
much, very much of the news that
is coming out of China today is not
only unreliable, but worthless. In
Shanghai there are many fake facto-
ries, Just as there were in this coun
try during the Spsnish-Americ4n war.
Do you believe all these stories that
are being told of the outrageous cru
city of the empress, and that she is
such a wicked woman? Your people
take more kindly to these newspaper
romances than we do in Japan.
al do not believe the present trou-
bic will spread To the southern prov
inces. In the United States aud in
Europe there are large colonies of Chi
nese. and they are. in the main. treat
ed fairly These people, as rule.
came from the south of China, and
their letters and narratives have pref
ty well dissipated the blind hatred for
all foreigners that was at one time en-
tertained there. l believe the Boxers
revolt will be quelled by the European
and Japanese troops, aided by the
loyal imperial Chinese troops. / be-
lieve that there will be no war against
China, and no international war
either, disquieting rumors to the con-
trary Notwithstanding. The indem-
nifty which China will have to pay will
he heavy, but this drain will be met. "