The Irish standard., 1904-05-14
Japan. He Asserts, is VIGOROUSLY the Most
immoral Nation Having Anv Claim
to Civilization.
This Republic Has Never Been Wroneed.
Either in Direct or an Indirect
Manner, by Russia.

I thousand miles away. The disparity
in available active forces tells there
fore, for the present, against Russia.
Ultimately, no doubt, it will weigh
against Japan.
This is can Americans" strong
point against Russia.
But the Boer republics were "a
brave, alert little nation" Their Joint
populations numbered less than four
hundred thousand people, counting
men, women and children. The Brit
ish empire, boasting three hundred
millions Of subjects, made wanton
war upon nation of less than half
million, eighty times less numerous
than the Japs. The Beers, too, were
white race; but neither this fact
nor their weakness in numbers appeal
ed to the consideration Of England.
Their homes were burned, their wives
and children were imprisoned in con-
centration camps, and the country
which now unites with your corre-
spondents in attacking Russian brutal.
ity committed acts of cowardly in
humanity in South Africa which no
historian or critic has ever brought
against Russia's record in any war
with any white race.
did not say, as your correspondents
allege, that popular feeling in Ameri-
ca was on the side Of Russia" What
I did say was that, in my belief, based
on the result Of recent journeys over
large sections Of this country, genuine
Americans were not the enemies Of
Russia in this conflict" I hold to that
view still, and for these additional rea-
sons:
1. Russia has never, directly or in
directly, done wrong or an unfriendly
act to this republic On the contrary,
she did, despite the silly denial Of one
of your correspondents, offer assistance
to this country at the time Of the Civil
War, when England was perfdiously
| trying to secure it's disruption. She also
disposed Of Alaska to you, as an un-
doubtedly friendly act, and not for any
other consideration. These are historic
facts and no amount Of pro- British con-
tradiction can weaken their force or ac-
curacy. ..
q Japan, on the contrary, has moth
ing to her credit as friend of this
country. She is notoriously the most
immoral nation claiming to be civilized.
The Chinese are paragons Of veracity
and honesty compared to their yellow
--indred in the neighboring island en-
pire.
3. In this war Japan was the first
assailant. 1t was she, and not Russia,
which forced on the war.
4. If Manchuria is, as part of China,
the bone Of contention between the
two beligerants, Russia has been there
by the consent Of China, in virtue of
services rendered to the Chinese en-
pire in saving her first, from England
nd, next, from Japan, when these pres
ent allies made war upon the celestial
rulers of Manchuria.
5. And Russia has at least as good
right to remain in Manchuria as Eng
land has to hold Egypt, or America has
to domineer over the Philippines.
These are facts and circumstances
which ought to influence the formation
and trend of opinion if such opinion is
to have a basis Of reason or fair play
for its existence or expression. And it
is, because believe real, and not anon
ymous Americans" to be Influenced
by reason and sense Of justice In
their judgments that 1 refuse to accept
the contentious of your correspondents
that American opinion is formed, as
theirs is, on prejudice and on the latest
calumnies sent out from London
against the Russians.
l thank you for the hospitality of
your columns. am off to a land
where the Sun (that of New York as
well as the heavenly luminary) occa-
sionally shines; to country in which
Americans Of the type and political
faith of George Washington and Abra-
ham Lincon are honored and respected