The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-07-11
| lie +. OUT |. .00K
FOR JAPAN

=
weak spots in the Japanese cam
paisn.
London is not savage critic, put
he has a good knowledge OF the world
and it's ways, and. what he will have
to say hereafter about the manage
ment Of the Japanese campaign Will
be worth reading. For the present
he simply puts himself on record as
opposing the general belief that Japan
win trounce Russia, and points our
her financial inability to carry on the
war for any extended period.
It IS very true, as Mr. London eX-
plains. that the pledging of the Jap
anese customs for 4 loan bearing in
terest al 6 per cent, leaves the island
kingdom but little else TO put in pawn,
ceipts are the best real security that
Japan has to give.
Her best security is the patriotism
of her people; their determination TO
die for their country, or live for their
country or starve for their country,
and that exalted patriotism which
tran storms the Jap, who in trade is
trickster, to a scrupulous model
of honor when dealing with his coun-
| try's affairs.
| For years it has been the rule
among foreign merchants to ship no
| goods to Japan except for cash
against bill of lading, while Russian
credit, commercially, was as high as
any in the world. Yet in dealing with
the affairs Of the government the Rus
| oio ic Mt n
Pacific his name is a byword and
| reproach, while that of the Japanese
| is a synonym for absolute integrity.
It is a most singular phase of hui
man nature that two such opposite
characteristics should exist in both of
these races. 1t can't be that despot-
| ism or liberty has much to do with it.
The liberty of Japan in matters per-
| tanning to government is no greater
| than that of Russia. The freedom OF
the press in one country is as hard to
| discover as in the other. The pen
allies for detected offences in both
countries are about the same, while
in Japan the simpler means Of disem-
bowelline are employed. The differ
ence is possibly due to the great dis
| 49,
| the prosecution in vogue in the two
countries. In Russia an influential
man in authority is above criticism
and is expected to feather his own
| nest. 1t is reasonably certain that
charges against him would not be en-
tertained, and ii through any urfore-
seen circumstances cognizance had
to be taken OF laches the offender
would be proven not guilty for the
good of the nobility.
Treason against the people in Rus
sia-that is, dishonesty by an officer
is a small matter. Treason against
the regning power. even of the slight
est kind. is a most serious offence.
In Japan to tamper with public
funds, to betray public secrets. is so
heinous an offence that there hardly
exists in the empire father who
would not give testimony against his
own son and act as his sons e:lecl-
tioaief.
Japan has to a great extent what
very much more civilized countries
want and need. She has the devotion
OF her own people TO their own al
fairs-that is her great strength. 1t
is not t!.at the zap has more honesty
than the Russian, individually or en-
ulssp, in business. The large Jap
ancsc Iis2ns employ Chinese oversaers
owing To the peecadin0s OF their pco
pie. Tie Sap has but small respcc;
fer honesty il personal affairs. bui
the deepest respect for honesty II
p3uii2 affairs IN That lie is also tho
direct aHtiihaSis Of the average Amer
lean citizen, who thinks ii al righr
to 2Inu1Gle, because only The govern
ment is concerned. but who regards
his personal debts as debts Of honor
that must be paid at any cost.
MIR. London may he right about the
Japanese financial MANAGEMENT, buI
il will not be safe for Russia to take
too much comfort because OF that
Everything that every human bein&
in Japan possesses Is available for the
carrying On OF this war and ne
: forced draft VIII be needed to do The
collecting.-NeW York American.
TUE EWTEIDCF0MS