Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-01-19
THE YELLOW PERIL.


centuates the fear held in some quar-
tiers OF the so-called yellow peril.
Viewing the teeming millions of the
Far East, the Japanese, Chinese an
other peoples OF the Mongolian race
and comparing their overwhelming
numbers with those of the white Of
Caucasian race OF Europe and Ameri
ca, timorous political and social writ
ers have held that the latter have only
been able TO hold their own and tC
make progress because, man Tor man
they have been greatly superior in
mentality, vigor, and especially in
war. These writers have contended
that il anything should ever happen to
create a personal equality between the
races, particularly in military proves,
the result would be that the hordes OF
China and Eastern Asia would over
run the whole Eastern hemisphere by
their sheer weight, would destroy the
high western civilization and set the
world back to The days Of Alaric and
Genghis Khan. All the culture and
| literature and art and inventions OF
the present remarkable age would
give way to an era OF ignorance and
barbarism, when might alone would
rule. Even America would not escape
the general tate, but would in time
be given over to ruthless bands of vel
low fiends who would ravage and
murder and destroy all that we now
so highly prize.
Such is the dread picture conjured
up by those who see in the wonderful
proves of Japan the germ which,
planted on the Asiatic mainland. may
prove to be the destroying agent OF
the not distant future. 1t is feared
that If Japan wins in her wGr with
Russia, the spectacle OF Monaghan,
pagan people triumphant over larger
Christian and Caucasian foe from
Europe will produce a powerful
impression all through the East, and
result in a self-consciousness and a.
lack of respect for Europeans that
will breed trouble and danger Japan,
flushed with victory and pride, and
ranking as one of the great unconquer-
able powers of the world, will take
the lead in eleyating the Monaghan
race to a position OF commanding
power. She will organize a con
tederacy or create monarchy, infuse
into it her own martial spirit, and
with the sustaining weight of numbers
make it an irresistible force that will
in time bring the whole earth to its
feet.
So fearful a prospect as this de-
serves attention. Nobody wants to
see western civilization depart, and /
the dark ages reappear. Everybody |
hopes that the days OF the Vandals,
the Huns and the Tartars have passed |
forever. But what basis is there in
reality for shuddering at the ''yellow
peril? Why does it lmpend now
more than formerly? What are the
controlling factors in the present
titanic struggle that should Undue us
with fear
To begin with, Japan is only now
being understood. She has always
been a remarkable nation. Reaching
back into the underlined past, the
history of the Japanese, as far as it
can be traced, is that of IN intensely
patriotic and warlike people, able to
make Roadway against their strongest
leighbors. Though Mongolians, they
litfer as much from the other branches
IF that race as the Englishman differs
rom the Italian. They are alert pro-
yressiye, ambitious and enterprising.
they were all this long before Perry
Visited them, bearing the seed of
western civilization. Their sagacity
showed them its benefits. Immediately
hey abandoned their old policy of
ieclusion, and sought far and wide
or all the advantages that the world
had discovered before them. The rate
it which they have absorbed this
and adapted it to their
reeds is marvellous. And in doing it.
contrary to the policy of all other
peoples in like conditions, they have \
maintained their national feeling.
They have taken the foreigners mote
he possessive) but not the foreigners.
They have acquired all that they
.ould from their teachers, but have
lever established the latter as masters.
Their purpose has been TO give the
outsider no foothOld by which he