Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-08-24
Thursday, Aug. "a, 1905.
Is There IL yellow Peril TO our
Trade.

Is There II Yellow Peril TO our
Trade.
It is announced in the dispatches
from Portsmouth that Mr.. White, the
Russian envoy, Is receiving many let
ters from various States of the Union
expressive of sympathy for Russia and
good will for the envoy personally. 1t
is also said that the envoy is so impress
ed by these kindly expressions that he
will make them the subject of a dis
patch to the Cav. That all through
the war in the East down to the begin
ming of peace negotiations the sympa-
thy of the American people and the
American press has been to large ex.
tent with Japan cannot DO questioned.
That the unfriendly feeling toward
Russia has been greatly modified since
the arrival of MIR. Witte IS equally true.
Several explanations of this change of
sentiment have been advanced. There
can be no change as to the justice OF
the japanese contention in the begin
ming of the war. The Island empire
went to war in st; uggle for existence
with one of the great world powers
more than thrice her size. Russia went
to war to support an aggressive move
ment. 1t was felt that Russia was
fighting the battle for commercial ex-
cluslveness, while Japan was for the
open door of commerce. This appealed
strongly to American sentiment, which
Is always in favor Of opening the doors
of other countries to our trade and
keeping the door Of our country closed
against the trade of other countries.
The complaint Of intolerable persecu-
ton of the Jews by the Russian Gov.
eminent also made powerful appeal
to our sympathies, and this was largely
the cause of the anti. Russian sentiment.
Since Mr.. Witte put his feet upon
our soil, Notwithstanding this anti. Rus.
sian sentiment, he has had no cause to
complain OF the treatment of our peo-
pie. He has everywhere been received
with the same kindness and courtesy
that have been extended to the Japan
ese ENJOYS. Indeed, if there has been
any difference, he seems to have receiv.
ed the greater attention. 1t is proba-
BILE that this is due to his own conduct
and department. Nothing could ex-
coed the tact and good sense and kind
illness that he has manifested to those
who have come in contact with him.
courtesy to the representatives of the
press and the frankness of his utter
ances to them have excited something
like establishment, coming as he does
from country where the newspapers
receive so little consideration. But
above all his reception of the delega-
tion of prominent Hebrews, who talked
with him about the condition of their
kindred IN Russia, his assurances to
them of his personal friendliness toward
their race and his design to do all he
can to ameliorate their condition, must
be considered one of the chief causes
of the more friendly sentiment toward
Russia.
The New York Times attributes the
change, which it recognizes, to another
cause. 1t is to the fact that it is begin
ming to dawn upon lis that there is a
genuine yellow peril to our commerce
n the East in the event Of Japan's un.
questioned supremacy. The soil of the
Japanese Islands is not sufficient to
produce food for the dense population.
The only way open for existence Is for
The people to engage in manufacturing
and to send abroad the products of
their mills to exchange for food. This
was the great underlying reason why
Japan went to war with Russia. She
feared Russia would shut her in and
no exit for her trade, would close the
door Of commerce against her. Japan
is, therefore, fighting for the open door.
But what advantage will it be to Amer.
lean trade to have an open door if ia
pan is going to crowd US out of it? The
Times asks, How can the American
manufacturer pay 81 day and up
ward for labor and compete with the
Japanese manufacturer, who pays only
II cents day for men and 10 cents a
day for women? Nor is this inferior
labor, for the Japanese are good labor
ers industrious and skillful. The ex-
hibits of various Japanese fabrics at the
St. Louis Fair were marvels Of ingenu-
ity. Nor can we claim any advantage
over japan in our laborsaving machin.
cry. In ingenuity the island people
cannot be excelIed. The vast Chinese
Empire. where the people are engaged
almost exclusively in the production of
food, has long been regarded as the