The San Francisco call., 1904-03-13

the memorable landing Of Commodore
Perry on the shores of the empire,
Baron Kaneka, now at the Palace
Hotel attributes the remarkable ad-
vancement OF his nation as power IN
the Far East
ITO your Perry said the distin-
guished Japanese diplomat yesterday
I'VE owe debt of gratitude that can
never be repaid unless by acts that will
show to the world. and particularly the
United States. that we, the Japanese
people as a whole, have fully merited
ell the benefits that Commodore Perry's
expedition to the Orient gave us, and
them. but have materially profited by
them. 1t is just fifty years ago that he
touched at Japan, and in those fifty
years our nation has undergone most
wonderful transformation. 1t was he
that sowed the first seed Of Western
civilization IN our land, and from that
seed has developed, with the aid of con-
stant energy and ambition, a nation
which is to-day doing what England,
France. Turkey and other great pow
ers long hesitated over-making a de-
flant stand against the Russian empire.
These facts / mention simply in clear
ing away any doubt as to whether ia
pan in its hour of trouble fully merits
the sympathy Of all civilized nations,
and none more so than the United
States. We are not fighting simply for
the sake Of war, but for the protection
of our country's integrity and the
homes of our people-in other words.
fighting is our last recourse. 1t is the
elimination OF failures to obtain salts
factory settlements by peaceful means
of existing differences, dating back to
last year. when Russia made and later
violated her promise TO withdraw from
Manchuria and hurriedly strengthened
her position in the territory which she
had unwarrantably invaded.
AMERICAN FEELING CHANGES.
When one carefully glances at the
map of the Far East, surveys the vast
his attention to those apparently in
significant islands off the Asiatic coast.
he naturally wonders at the temerity
VI lAiC pdhCSc pre- anu
seriously weighs the responsibilities
that she has assumed, without credit
ing her with the strengthening infiu-
ences that are the foundation OF her
present stand against the Czar and his
mighty domain. These influences are
nothing more than the beneficial re-
suits OF her progress under the West
ern civilization impaired to her with
the advent of Commodore Perry.
II have been deeply Impressed by
the turn of American opinion regard
ing Japan since,the present war began.
Prior TO the outbreak OF hostilities we
heard much in our country about the
ill-feeling entertained In your Western
country against our people in conse-
Quence OF Japanese immigration. On
my previous trips to the United States
found this feeling very strong and
frequently our Minister in Washington
has reported to the Foreign Office that
the Japanese immigration in the West
was becoming almost too large for one
man to contend with. Suddenly Japan
severed her relations with Russia and
war was declared and then came the
news that the Americans were deeply
in sympathy with US. The very peo-
pie who were decrying us a few
months ago have now shown us their
sincere friendship. And why? Be-
cause they have readily realized that
we are practically the under dog in
what promises to be a terrible strug-
gle. This trait is one of the sweetest
in American manhood and one that
the japanese fully appreciate.