The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-09-16
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 1T her duty to herself
and to other important nations to do So
Whether or not it be her destiny to
continue in that leadership, whether
or not the responsibility shall continue
to rest upon Japanese shoulders, you
may be assured that she will not will
lngly 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 civilization; to do what she
mas 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 and political integrity of that
empire and to secure equal rights and
opportunities for all nations in the in
terest of common justice, progress, hu-
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
TO invoke the prejudices Of the Christ
ian countries by asserting that We are
struggling for supremacy of race over
race and religion over religion, but
venture to suggest that the attitude Of
the Japenese government toward the
Christian missionaries of all nations,
and toward the foreign religions that
have been introduced here, is not only
complete answer to such an assertion,
but will be cordially commended by the
representatives OF the Protestant, the
Roman Catholic and the Greek church
es without exception or reserve.
The policies of Japan toward relig-
ion and civilization generally are no
longer matters of doubt or discussion.
They are as fixed and as we'll known
as the attitude Of the United States or
any European nation toward the same
questions. Religious and commercial
freedom have been two of the funda-
mental principles Of our national policy
we have found them profitable, as well
as essential TO progress. and we desire
to see the development Of our neigh
boring countries conducted along the
same lines.
Japan is now recognized as a leader
in educational movements because we
believe that popular education is es-
sental to prosperity and happiness
That, | believe, is the western idea,
We may have absorbed it from you
and our people hsve accepted it with
all their hearts. Our educational sys-
as that of any other nation. 1t en-
braces every grade of instruction, from
the kindergarten to the highest special
i2ed courses of university. There is
not hamlet in the empire without a
primary public school; there is sec
ondary school in every town of i'm
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
The entire system was inaugurated and
is sustained by the government, ano
while it may not yet be perfect, it Is
evidence that our purposes are intelli-
gent, that the policy of our government
is founded upon broad lines and tina,
our emperor recognizes that the people
should be educated to share his re-
sponslbiities.
II am sure that our laws and the
procedure of our courts have the con.
| fldence OF foreign critics and that the
rights, however insignificant, Of every
Individual. however humble, are pro.
tected and defended in Japan as they
are in the United States and in Euro.
| pcan countries. Japan has no reason
to be ashamed of her courts. And The
same may be said of other feature.
of government--our financial credit
our commercial laws and custom hous,
any foreigner has reason to complain o
| his treatment in Japan. On the con
trary. We are frequently remined b,
eminent foreign visitors of the impair
| TALLY Of our courts and the justice o
our laws. and of the liberal hospitalit,
with which the subjects OF all nation
are treated in Japan.
I'VE desire that similar conditions
should prevail in the neighboring ma
lions, because we believe that they ar
for the advantage of everyone con
cerned, as we'll as being just and RICH
and in harmony v4vl the spirit of tn
age. Japan pledges herself to promot
all of these interests in China. in kor
ca and elsewhere so tar as our inhu
ence extends. We desire to aid in tn
development of those countries as w
! have been aided by the United State
and other friendly nations in our ow
national progress, and all fears tina
any other policy may be adopted ar
unfounded. II Japan should attain t
q position of leadership in eastern Asia
her influence will always be exercise
in the interest Of progress, education
material development and justice, an
the interest of western nations, wheth
er they relate to industry or commerce
CT religion, Will always be protected