Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-08-03

raVago the cO3sts OF Cnlna, 10 eXenQ
her interests as far south as Siam,
and even to invade Korea with an ar
my. But this awakening was only
temporary. The powerful Tokugawa
family, the policy OF which was peace
and national self-sufficiency, secured
control of the government and the
budding flower of the "Lsnd of the
Rising Sun" was crushed for the time
being. For 250 years the Japanese
were excluded from contact with out
side influences by edicts of this fami-
ly. For 250 years the japanese en-
dured this hardness and these edicts.
But during that time forces were at
work internally upon the RECONSTRUCT
ton and reOrganiz alton of the social
system. 1t was period of social un-
rest. Thinking men began to realize
the cruelty and oppression of the rul-
ing dynasty, and in 1854, upon the ar
rival of Perry, the time for the making
OF q new era was come, Treaty rela-
tions were entered into, but the jap
anese rulers had no Intentions of keep
ing these treaties until they came to
understand that they would have to do
so. Later, with a realization of the
advantages that the foreigners pos
sessed, came desire to become more
intimately acquainted with their sys-
tenn of warfare. The motive has been
pointed out by b writer on Japan who
declared it was for the purpose of ul.
timately becoming able to expel the
foreigners. Be that as it may, the
Japanese people were awakened, and
from then up to the present time the y
have undergone a change which in
rapidity and thoroness stands ul-
equaled by any other people on Il Q
face of the globe, And Japan has
merely awakened. Her latent powers
have JUST commenced to show them
selves in action. She is in critical
period resembling youth just CON-
ing into manhood, when all the pow
ers of growth are the most vigorous.
In the course of few years the green
youth develops into refined noble
man. Not otherwise is it in the life
of nations, and particularly in that of
Japan. She has been born again.
She is in the first flush of her new
found powers-powers OF mind and
spirit as we'll as physical powers.
Her efforts are seen to be in the same
noble proportions as her ambitions
are high. The growth of the past half
century Is only the beginning of what
we may expect to see, il the growth is
allowed to continue.
At the present time, however, the
clouds of war are hanging heavily
over the newborn nation. Just as
the sun of enlightenment and activity
had become visible in the horizon, it
was enshrouded by the dark, threat
eaing forebodings of war and its many
attendant evils. The mighty polar
bear, who for years has been CREEP
ing, slowly and cautiously, eastward
and southwark, devouring everything
which came within his grasp, now
stretches his claws out towards Korea
and the Land of the Rising Sum-"
The contest is on. Day after day
we hear of battle and blodshed, of the
waste of thousands of noble lives, who
are sacrificed on the one side that q
nations greed and ambitions may be
fully satisfied, on the other that q ma.
TONS individuality and happiness
may be fully preserved. The outcome
is still hid by the impenetrable veil OF
the future. But it is to be hoped tn at
the budding flower will be allowed to
spring forth in it's full glory, and
that the champion of the East, yea
even also the the guardian of our Ia
terests there, will be victorious. Tn.
little brown man, battling b"avely
az ainst overwhelming odds in defense
of his very existence, is entitled to al
sympathy. May he be allowed to con.
tiDue as he has so brilliantly begun,
and work out his destiny along the
lines on which he has thus far ad,
vanced. True merit has always de-
served success. May there be no ex
ception to the rule in the case of ia.
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