Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-22
Fair Play for Japan.

To the Editor of The STAR
A question has been troubling me- Allow
me TO ask II in your columns. Doubtless
some of your wise readers can easily an
swer Il.
One of the traits of a true American Is
his insistence on fair play" 1t matters
not whether it be foot ball or bat. oar or
prize grafton, marbles or national diDio-
macy-above all the 'rahs and rootings can
always be distinctly heard, by fair play
only"
In view of this fact 1 have been not
little surprised at the suggestion and i'm
pIication that pressure will be brought to
bear on Japan by the other nations TO ne
easy with Russia-to ask little or no in
demnity. to avoid humiliating her too Sc
lcrely. The intention of all which re-
marks seems TO be to make sentiment
among the nations which Japan Will not
dare TO ignore. The question with me
which insists rising and will not down
till l ask 1t: rs this fair play?
Let me put myself on record-I am for
justice and the peace which follows: l am
for national arbitration. not national duel
ing AS private dueling has passed, SO
will national dueling. The sword will yet
be a plowshare, beaten into such by the
sledge of reason on the anvil of justice.
But after Japan was driven to arms by
Russias refusal to arbitrate or settle the
differences in any reasonable way: after
rior. both on sea and land. in the camp and
hospital and prison even; after she has
fought the battle for the eastern nations, IL
not for the whole world, with the stealthy
as greSsor upon all. to say now, in addi-
tion TO all this. Pay your own war debt;
ask little no indemnity''-is that fair
play? What true American will allow such
public sentiment to enter his mind and
being?
Let me put my reasons in the form of
questions:
Japan and other nations? Has she hesitat-
ed to humiliate, demand indemnity, crush
out of tional existence. absorb. misrule?
. Has she yet given any evidence that
she has changed her spirit or methods?
g. If she had been settling the terms OF
peace in Tokyo, as she boastfully said she
would. would she have hesitated to humil-
late. demand indemnity. ruin Japan If pos
siible and absorb her? Judging from the
past, which OF the great powers would have
advised leniency and been regarded?
4. But should we not follow the golden
rule? What did Jesus do to the money
changes in the temple? Did he not make
a whip and give them good thrashing and
drive them out? Does not Russia need to
be whipped out of the temple of nations
in order that. being humbled, she may
turn with a right spirit and purpose?
>. Judging from ever-present assertions
and indications does not Russia intend to
redeem her lost power and prestige in the
east just so soon she get ready TO
90 SOt NH not every dollar saved from
indemnity be put into new navy and army
equipment?
O. What sane man will dare to affirm that
should Russia be able and left free by the
nations to retaliate she will not crush
humiltate, ruin. absorb Japan in the peace
settlement OF that future time? Is America
or any other nation yet in position to act
7he part OF national police? Bloody and
terrible as this war has been, is there not
something more terrible posslble-a blood
Ter war and a worse despotism In the near
future2
VIII not good heavy Indemnity. such at
least as Russia would have imposed on
Japan IL she had been the victor (wIll
even America lift her finger from her sealed
lips and suggest be easy. don't humlli-
ate%D settle this future question? Is II
fair play for America or any other nation
10 bring such pressure to bear on japan
after kusSia's treatment in the past?
Gorky says: Let the war go on" Does
he know Russia's needs? Is not Britain's
silence fair play? J. c.. RODGER