The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-02-25
Why America Sympathizes with Japan

Charlotte News.
There is OF course something in the
feeling that Japan is the little dog
that is attacking a big one. People
that are not ashamed to own that
they would walk a block to see a dog
fight, are the kind of folks that wish
the littlest dog will win. That is an
instinct of manhood.
But there is an historical reason for
this also People know that the very
territory that Russia has been Oc-
cupying and claiming, the occupation
of which has brought on the war. was
the territory that Russia forbade
Japan's Selling as the fruits of her
victory with China Besides, Russia
has not made a good impression
upon the straightforward American
mind, regarding the honesty of her
Owon promises. She occupied Man
churia after the Boxer riots, agreeing
to the policy so ably advocated by
John Hay of not partitioning China
but preserving it's territory intact.
Russia even fixed the day for her
withdrawal from Manchuria And
she broke her promise and tried by
diplomacy to shift the issue to
whether she should take Korea from
the protecting hand of Japan. The
Powers did seem about to agree that
Russia should keep Manchuria, when
plucky little Japan forced the other
issue by the attack of her torpedo
feet in the very harbor of Port
Arthur.
1t is said on the other hand that
Russia is a Christian nation and
Japan a heather nation. But as a
matter of fact the Greek Church of
Russia is as corrupt a spiritual des-
pOtism as the world has ever seen.
The Russian priests are immoral, and
drunkards almost to a man. There
is mighty little Christianity about
the Greek Church. And Russia al
lows no other religion, making it a
serious violation of law to ''convert"
Russian from his faith. Russia has
too recently been prosecuting Pro-
testants in Finland and Jews in
kischineff. And Japan tolerates all
religions. The missionaries in China
and Korea fear Russian victory.
They would prefer japanese ascend
ancy.
The Charleston News and Courier
expresses our sentiments on this sub
ject:
Japan stands as the representative Of
English and American Christianity and
commerce, says the Rev. David S.
Spencer, for twenty years a missionary
OF the Methodist Episcopal Church in
that country, against the religion and
commerce of the East" and in spite of
it's being regarded as heather land in
its present great struggle it has the NOR
al support, as in the end, we have little
doubt, it will have the material aid. of
the larger part of Christendom 1t is i'm
possible, of course, to see the end of the
war from the beginning The god of bat
ties is said to be with the heaviest artil-
lery, and if Russia shall prevail it will be
because OF it's bruteforce only. Absolute
~ no good to humanity would be OBJ
tanned by victory for the Car. The civ
ilization of the Muscovite is inferior. in
spite OF its Christian character to the
civilization OF Japan. in spite of it's super
stition and heathendom.
nese. They are a brave patriotic, de-
voted people, and their development
during recent years has been one of
the miracles of the present day of Christ
ian progress. 1t is noted that S1h per
cent. of the children of school age in
Japan are enrolled in her schools. and
aggregate larger than in all Russia. The
English language is required study in
all the japanese schools, and the Japa-
nese mind has been open to instruction
in all the wisdom of the West The mar
tial spirit of the japanese people has been
thoroughly awakened in recent years,
and the victory which they won over the
Chinese in the COS has impressed them
with the idea that they are invincible in
war, as they have certainly been fore
most among Eastern nations in promot-
ing the arts of peace.