The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-15
The Treatment of Cnptive..

lhe IoHoWlng IS an English translation of an editorial in The Hochi Shimbun, Tokio, Japan, March 24, 1904.
 One can easily judge of the hearts of people and how far they are advanced in civilization by the way they treat their captives
 Our government shows unreserved Kindness towards her captiyes and they are we'll cared for and duly honored. But this rare opportunity of doing good sholild not be left entirely in the hands of the authorities; 1t is also our duty to be sympathetic friends of the captives and make them feel comfortable in a strange land.
 The war should be limited to armed men against armed men; without arms they are good neighbours and friends We are all kindred and are bound in one large family of human brotherhood, however widely separated may be the countries In which we live Then we must be Kind to each other, though we may differ in speech, and sympathize with each other in misfortune and rejoice together in times of good fortune. More over We must not fail to extend our sympathy to those who come as captives to our country for we are our "brother's keeper" 't4-3 t.if
 We trust that our people may be gen erous enough to organize a society to. look after the captlves and make them feel at home while in their captivity. We nave S6NtTdi SOCIeLIeS dlfedQy to assist the families of the soldiers at the front We do not say that we must neglect our own destitute people, but if we are truly kind we will extend our sympathies to all.
 When we hear that our brave sons at the front are captured by the enemy we are naturally anxious about them, and want to hear how they are treated. This is the same the world over. If captives are treated kindly 1t not only gladdens their own hearts and those of their relatives. but the whole nation as well.
 During the Japan-China war the broth- CT of a bandit leader was captured by our army, as you may remember, and he received cordial treatment like the rest of the captives. He was greatly moved by it. and at the close of the war when he was set at liberty, as soon as he re- turned to his people he expressed to his comrades his gratitude for the kind treatment he received in Japan. Such expression of gratitude begets gratitude also in the whole nation.
 There are not many of the enemy's captives with us at present. The four sailors from the Russian torpedo destroy CT are in our hospital, and are well cared for. They were among the crew of sixty who fought a valient fight and bravely died at their posts. They are heroes though they be of the enemy. They are true sailors who have done their duty
 
 honor them and treat them kindly?
 It Is fact to be regretted that our people. who were coming away from Manchuria. Vladevostok and vicinity, were subjected to many indignities. Our helpless women were shamelessly mis- used. But this is not an excuse for us to treat the Russian eaptives unkindly. Revenge Is sin; it is a barberous act. An eye for an eye. and a tooth for a tooth" belongs to an old law that is ob solete, We are living under a new law of universal brotherhood and love. All civilized people avoid revenge, and we trust. not without reason. that there are none among us who have a heart of re- venge in this civilized age.
 The aim of the present war with Rus sia is to chastise her to bring back to her senses and to repentance for her fol- ly We are not cherishing revenge. When the Tzar heard of the Japanese at tack on his fleet at Port Arthur, he was very angry. and declared that Japan should receive a reward of a hundred fold. We regret his indiscretion, though we amply excuse him. Perhaps he was too much excited at the moment for the better exercise of his senses.
 We exhort our people: Don't become SO much excited by the strong war feel ing that you lose your better judgment nor consider Russia an eternal enemy. For. when the struggle is over, Russia will be our good neighbor and friend who will enter into commercial and oth- CT profitable relations with us.