Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-05-10
JAPANESE RtD CROSS
LECTURE PROGRAM AT
HAWAIIAN OPERA HOUSE
LARGE AUDIENCE LISTENS TO A
DISCUSSION OF THE ORIENT.
Al WAR BY MANY ABLE
SPEAKERS.

The Opera House was well filled last
night by an audience attracted to hear
questions of the Oriental war discussed
under the auspices Of the japanese Red
Cross League. The total financial ben.
eft accruing to the Red Cross from
the meeting footed up to more than
$500.
The addresses we're made by Prof
VI. M. Scott. Rev. @. l.. Pearson, DIR. N.
Russell and Walter @. Smith. Inter-
spersed between the speeches were at
.ractive exhibitions Of dancing by JAP
lnese geisha girls. Owing to a slight
indisposition, p. c. Jones. who had
heen announced as one of the speakers,
was not present.
The general tenor OF all the remarks
was to extol the work of the Red Cross
Ia all countries and to point to the sig
l,ificance OF the Red Cross movement
as evidence Of the diffusion of the
spirit OF civilization and brotherhood.
Especial emphasis was made by most
Of the speakers of the part the Japan
csc were playing in the mercies of war
as well as in its cruelties. 1t was
pointed out that the japanese are not
behind other nations In the spirit Of
personal self-sacrfice and that the jap
anese hospital system and Red Cross
organization are admirably equipped.
DR.. Russell, who spoke as Russian
exile, was especially interesting. He
closed by saying the following docu-
ment has been forwarded to japanese
papers at Toxic:
"Sirs:-!The undersigned members of
the oprositional party In Russia do re-
spectfully submit to the japanese ma
ton through the medium OF your mag
azine the expression OF their opinion
In regard to the present war.
Our government is not a represen-
tative one. They claim to represent
the God Almighty, but having failed to
produce their credentials, they are just
ly regarded as representing a handful
Of the Imperial guard and the ignor-
ance of the popular masses. The ex-
istence of this our government never
found any justification In the welfare
CT the people; their sole object is to
keep in power at any cost and under
all circumstances for the furtherance
Of their personal ends.
Their Idea Is to substitute the will
of handful OF officials to the will, en-
crgy and genius OF the whole Of Rus
STA. With the modern intricate condi-
tons Of life, requiring full and free
sway OF the nation. such view is prepos-
ferrous. Our selfish, narrow minded,
bigoted and corrupt government is the
course OF Russia, her worst. and her
only enemy. 1t Is our duty to get rid
of 1t, and we. are going to get rid Of II.
The oppositional party and the large
majority of the Russian people recog-
nize the legality and justice Of the
japanese claims to the disputed terri
tories and the lack Of any substantial
interests of Russia In those parts. We
do not see the slightest reason for the
two nations to go to war. Japan Is In
war solely with the Russian govern
ment and not with Russia or the Rus
sian people. Such being the case We
regard her as an ally against the COM
mon enemy and rejoice In japanese
successes on land and sea. We are
positive that the majority of our SOL
diers and officers entertain the same
views, have no heart In this war and
II they do fight, 1t is only because they
are compelled to do SO and have no
means to resist so far. The way they
fight is the best proof Of 1t.
Should the japanese government
see ft to liberate our best men, now
rotting In Saghalien jails as political
prisoners, they would deal a mortal
blow to the Russian government in tho
eyes of the whole world, whose sym
pathies are already on their side. The
moral effect Of such an act In Russia
and abroad cannot be overestimated.
Long live japanese and Russian ma
tions In peace. friendship and prosper
ity. Down with the Russian autocra-
cy!
For the Russian oppositional party
the issue Is not between Japan and
Russia; the issue is between so years OF
progress and the corresponding period
OF stagnation. In such an issue there
can be no question on which side their
sympathies are. Who wants to live