The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-11

shirt hrs continued, and the new liigh
school Is Il proof that Richmond VIII
ever keep at the head Of tho procession
IN matters OF education. 1t is business
sugacity md political wisdom, to DO 500
For ctlucntiot, Is the basis Of the success
OF the Individual. rs well as the cotriru-
inity. But in order to have education IN
the future we inust continue to have that
tnselnsh cooperation between the city
the citizens and the teachers, which has
made Rlchmond's past IN education q
shining mark.
.-.---.; .--=---:----- a51s
The Mikado and His People.
The Mikado has taken his subjects into
his confidence and explained to them
fully the terms of the treaty Of peace.
Among other things the people have
been informed that the report that Cape
soyn, at the southern end OF sakhniin,
may not be fortified by the Japanese is
erroneous. and again that 1t would have
cost Inpn,l more money and more biood
to take vadivostock than 1t cost TO take
Port Arthur 1t Is pointed out that RUS
Sin WOulQ nave lGOIllhiuSu N1iS -, 700
rather than pay an indemnity and that
continuance of the war would Of ne,
ccssty have been at great and increas-
Ing cost to japan. Finally the people
we're made to sec that the conclusion Of
the war was advantageous to Japans
national development, while a prolonga-
ton Of 1t meant further wasting OF her
cncEgies and resources.
-It is manifestly with the intent,
remarks the New York Times, "of put
ting the Japanese people III the way Of
understanding these things that the gov
eminent dfscnrding It's ancient ssnnd
stupid policy Of secrecy, hnstn1ado known
to the people In official, or semi-oflicial,
communications the reasons why 1t made
peacc with Russia, and the reasons why
the terms OF peace ought to be salts
factory to the japanese. Aslittle late but
In quite a genuine Western way MS
Imperial Majcsty's government has set
about creating IN intelligent public opin-
ion in Tokio.'
There could be no better mark than
this of Japans progress In civilization
Civilization means light In progressive
about the goings-on Of government. They
will not tolerate secret prisons and asy-
lums into which men and women are
summarily thrust and indefinitely con-
proceedings, no underground conclaves.
The people will not allow the govern
ment to have secrets. They know that
men love darkness rather than light be-
cause their deeds are evil, and when
ever there is attempt at concealment
there is popular suspicion of evildoing.
The people have the right to know all
about their own affairs and they de-
mand OF their representatives all infor-
nation TO which they are entiued. The
japanese have reached that stage Of
modern civilization and the authorities
| of government are wise in supplying the
demand for information. instead OF try
! ing to suppress on the one hand and in
| timdate on the other, 1t Is always SEN
sIble and expedient for the government
| 10 recognize and concede all the ihalen-
| able rights of the people,
Giving the subject a local twist, we
| remark that at one of the Virginia re-
| sorts the other day prominent citizen
and taxpayer of Richmond expressed
| great Indignation that the Board OF
| Health had refused to give to the news
papers the exact facts and figures con-
corning health conditions in this city He
! said that 1t was his right to know, In
| order that he might govern his move.
ments accordingly. That he was In q
i safe place and he did not care to take
chances. That if he knew the exact
conditions. the responsibility would bt
upon himself; but that II the situation
should be concealed from him an. HI
should be betrayed into taking his fam
lily home while an epidemic was prevail
ing. he would feel that the government
had prncticed fraud upon him an.
done him a cruel wrong.
That position Is perfectly tcnable N
department of the government has an,
right to conceal from the people i'm
portant and material facts which the.
have the right to know.