The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-09-16
naked me TO assure our peo,a. ,.at tn.

dAkeu me w assure our Peofr~ tN9t tns
motives and purposes of the two gov
srnments in their policy toward Chin.
have been Identical. from the start.
The yellow peril" Baron konura
said. is a myth invented by Russian
sympathlzers to deceive and delude
other nations regarding the intentions
II The policies of Japan. Like the
United States and Great Britain. Japan
stands pledged to preserve the Integrity
of China and Korea, and to keep the
doors of open in Manciluiia.
Ihat pledge will be strictly observed,
We have been in constant communica-
ton with Secretary Hay. There has
been a perfect understanding between
Washington and Toxic from the start.
II II Japan is successful in this war
the policy defined and inaugurated by
the United States in China will be car
ried out.
Il confess that it is true" continued
Baron komura, that Japan has taken
the leadership in eastern affairs. but it
is because she felt it her duty 10 herself
and to other important nations to do so.
Whether or not it be her destiny TO
continue in hat leadership, whether
or not the responsibility sha continue
to rest upon Japanese shoulders. you
may be assured that she will not will
ingly retrace her own steps; that she
will at least endeavor to persuade the
Chinese and the Koreans to follow her
example in adopting the best features
of modern civilizations: to 90 what she
has done herself, and what she is try
ing to do more perfectly.
The object of this war is to prevent
the dissolution of China: to protect the
territorial II political integrity of tina
empire and TO secure equal rights and
opportunities for all nations in the in
terest of common Justice. progress. hui
mainly and civilization. Questions of
race and religion nave not entered into
consideration at all. This war has
nothing whatever to do With them.
The enemies of Japan have attempted
10 invoke the prejudices of the Christi
IAN countries by asserting that we are
struggling for supremacy of race over
race n religion over religion, but I
vsnture to suggest that the attitude of
.Japenese government toward the
CHRISTIAN missionaries of all nations.
ana toward the foreign religions that
nave been introduced here. is not only
a complete answer to such an assertion,
but Will be cordially commended by the
representatives of the Protestant, the
Roman Catholic N the Greek church,
es, without exception or reserve.
The policies of Japan toward relig-
longer matters of doub or discussion.
lhey are as fixed and as We'll known
as me attitude OF the United States or
any European nation toward the same
questions. Religious commercial
freedom have been two of the funda-
mental principles of our national policy.
we nave found them profitable, as we'll
as essential to progress. n we desire
10 see the development of our neigh
BORING countries conducted along the
same lines.
Japan is now recognized as a leader
IN educat1onal movements, because we
believe that popular education is es-
sentlal TO prosperity and happiness.
That, l believe, is the western idea,
we may have absorbed it from you.
and u people have accepted it with
all their hearts. Our educational sys-
TEN is as comprehensive and
as that of any other nation. 1t EN-.
braces every grade of instruction. from
the kindergarten to the HIGHEST special
lied courses of a university. There is
not a hamlet in the empire without a
primary public school; there is a sec
portance; there are high schools and
colleges in every province, and uni
~vesities at Toxic and Kyoto. Besides
these are many norMal and technical
schools with which YOU are familiar.
Inc entire system was inaugurated and
is sustained by the government, and
While 1t may not yet be perfect, 1t Is
evidence that our purposes are intelli-
gent, that the policy OF our government
is n upon broad lines and that
our emperor recognizes that the people
should be educated 20 share his RAJ
sponsibilities.
Il am sure that our laws and the
procedure of our courts have the con-
hdence of foreign critics and that the
rlghts, however insignificant, of every
individual, however humble, are pro-
tected and defended in Japan as they
are IN the United States and in Euro
pean countries. Japan has no reason
to be ashamed of her courts. And the
same may be said of other features
of government-our financial credit,
our commercial laws and custom house
r-'lations. We are not conscious that
his treatment in Japan. On the con-
trary, we are frequently remined by
eminent foreign visitors of the Impair
tlal1ty of our courts and the justice of
our laws, and of the liberal hospitality
with which the subjects of all nations
are treated in Japan.
w desire that similar conditions
should prevail in the neighboring ma
tons, because we believe that they are
for the advantage of everyone con-
cerned, as we'll as being just and right
and in harmony with the spirit of the
all of these interests in China, in Kor-
ga and elsewhere so far as our infiu-
ence extends. We desire to aid In the
development of those countries as we
have been aided by the United States
and other friendly nations in our own
national progress, and all fears that
any other policy nay be adopted are
unfounded. If Japan should attain to
a position Of leadership in eastern Asia,
her influence will always be exercised
in the interest Of progress, education,
material development and justice, and
the interest Of western nations, wheth-
er they relate to industry or commerce
or religion, will always be protected"
Us.