Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-29
AS JAPAN SEES IT..

Despite the many assurances of Jap
anese-Americans, or Americanized jap
anese, that the yellow peril" is only
bad dream, it is hard for observing
Americans to believe that Japan,
should she triumph in her present war
and wrest the control of Manchuria
from Russia's hands, will play the good
fellow and divide the commercial spoils
with the other nations. 1t is hard to
believe that Japan will calmly give the
nations of the world an open door in
Manchuria after fighting through ter
rible war to obtain control of that door.
In short, it is useless to longer deceive
ourselves with the hope that Japan is
about to open up vast market for
American goods as soon as the war is
ended.
On the other hand, Japan, her bump
Of self esteem bigger than ever because
Of her series of easy victories over
Russia, is looking about ner and con-
sidering the effects of the war. A IA
nous Japanese economist, Prof Tom
izu, has even published in the news
papers of the mikado's capital, an ar
ticle in which he boldly states that the
UNITED States and not Russia is the
real enemy of Japan" and that Japan's
peace terms should not be too hard
upon Russia, in view of Russo-Jap-
anese alliance against the United
States in the future.
A struggle between the two youngest
powers for supremacy in the Pacific
seems inevitable, and, in the opinion
of many economists and statesmen
throughout the world, it is likely to be
precipitated by the completion of the
Panama canal
For his enormous production of man
ufactures Uncle Sam must find mar
kets In the Pacific, especially in the
orient, and it Is certain that his ram
pant spirit of commercialism will not
be satisfied with the foothold he has
secured in the Philippine and Hawaiian
islands or within the governmental ad-
vantages to his trade so far granted
him.
Such a conflict between Uncle Sam
and the, Japanese would be but nat
uural part of the steady evolution of
man In olden times man cut his
fellows throat to impress upon him a
particular conception of God and what
God wanted, according to peculiar no.
ton. Nowadays, blood is let in behalf
rum The battleship is the com.
mercial traveller; the armored
cruiser the collector of bills for
the nations. 1t is no longer the priest
bearing cross, at the head OF the In.
vader, but the admiral at the head OF
his fleet, bearing commercialism's de
mands as to import duties.
Without going so deeply into philos
lophy, however, 1t is not hard to figure
out the position Japan will take
when the war is at last ended. She
has been preparing for this struggle
for thirty years. Her favored sons have
sought and found higher education in
arts, letters, mechanics and commerce
throughout the higher civilized coun
tries of the world. In American col
leges Japanese students are always
given every advantage and opportunity
to learn No nation has ever made
greater progress than has Japan. Anc
for what? Certainly not to give away
all that she has gained. And whaI
does learning profit nation unless hel
commerce is greater by reason of thai
learning? This is commercial age
whether rightly or wrongly, the fac
remains the same. japan will have
great commercial opportunities once
the war is over and decided in her ia
vor. She will have gained what she has
been working for and dreaming of FOL
whole generation. If the United
States stands in her path she will en-
ter into war just as readily as she
warred with Russia.
Uncle Sam, when he had whipped
the Spaniards out of the Philippine:
and out of Cuba. turned his attention
to the placing of his products in the
I newly created markets. Can Japan be
expected to do differently? From {
nation of imitators. Japan has grown
into nation of creators. From an in
significant little island government she
has grown into world power and she
must be dealt with accordingly.
NATIONAL IRRIGATION DAY.
June II has long been recognized
- Iou