New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-05
YELLOW PERIL GROWING.
Er-Minister Heard Sees Craze
Danger if Japan Defeats Russia.

Washington June 4-The rapid developments
of the last few months in the East Asian stua-
ton have been singularly true to the forecast
Of Augustine Heard, former United states MIN
lister to Corea. published in The Tribune last
September. That article entitled rs There a
Yellow Terror" attracted wide attention at the
time. and provoked discussion which has not
even now died out, especially in Germany and
other parts of Europe Mr. Heard has opened
the discussion OF the question again. and this
;ine on an aspect of the yellow peril to which
sufficient attention has not hitherto been popu-
larry given. The article follows:
4 residence Of more than twenty years in
the Far East has given me large opportuni-
ties for studying the peculiarities OF the people
of China and Japan, and the great racial differ
ences between them and US have been con-
tnualy forced on my observation. When L
peared in The New-York Tribune Of September
Z last ] was not aware that what really
the Yellow Terror had been pointed out by any
Of the writer's in Europe or America except
out of their own country. Indeed this was my
chief reason for writing t-whereas now the
subject is on every tongue. Germany was the
first TO perceive the peril and to recognize its
extreme danger. The Emperor William, ever
the alert is said to have assured Russia of
his cordial aid in case OF need, and no doubt,
II the anticipated danger become real, all Eu-
rope viii feel the necessity of standing side by
subordinate all minor causes OF dissension and
unite for the great struggle. The Russian
''NoVosti" said recently:
The Emperor william first understood the i'm
peans me %eoy oF fe I nro6be OF All a w Tes1e
sooner even than he expected. and the Yellow Peril
has oVertaken Europe
How far in America would be affected by
the advance Of the yellow races IS not now clear.
but probably at first only so Tar as in the pres
eut state of international relations all countries
are more or less solidaires one with another, so
that disaster could not befaIl Europe without
its reflex action being felt-and felt seriously
IN America Then. perhaps, should be COM
PEELED to take part in the drama and range our
selves actively by the side OF the men Of our
own color
OF course. where the subject is Of such vast
Importance yet one about which we know abso-
!utely nothing. and can only guess. each side
has its advocates. many more eager than wise.
FOR instance in The National Magazine" for
March, IgnotuS says:
The truth is. the YelI"- Peril does not exist.
10 Eastern state can become formidable 10 the
western arms If so, China would have been q
Formidable power any time the last twenty years
by q few periodicals in Germany. hardly read
are intellectual; they economic. 1t is the
amazng fact about Japan that she recognized this
forty years
This sounds well. and the only objection to
II Is that IT is not true. Ignotus has allowed
himself to be deceived by the vagueness of his
own statements. OF course, no Eastern state
can become formidable TO the West by adopt
ing western arms unless IL adopts also West
ern ideas how TO them; but it is not neces-
sary to have Western ideas on philosophy or
the binomial theorem to the end that she may
become strong and formula BILE. IF Ignotus had
thought with his usual precision he would have
said: An Eastern power wants knowledge how
10 use Western arms how to form and TO stand
and move on the field of battle; but this would
have destroyed his own theory and SO he for
bore. This knowledge Japan can give China
who so far has had nothing but the verest
fare We may say indeed she has never had any
education at all