Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-05

proper considerations of self interest
any more than private individual can
so do. But it is equally true that the
average private individual in any real
ly decent community does many ac-
tons With reference to other men in
which he is guided not by self inter
est, but by public spirit, by regard for
the rights of others, by disinterested
purpose to do good to Others and to
raise the tone OF the community as Il
whole. Similarly really great nation
must often act, and rs Il matter of fact
often does act toward other nations in
Il spirit not III The least of mere self in
tercst, but paying heed chiefly to eth
lcal reasons. and as tie centuries 90
by this Observation-Disclosures i'll internal
tonal action. this tendency of the in
divldualS comprising Il nation to re
qulre that nation to act with justice
toward its nGiGhbOrs, steadily grows
and strengthens. 1t is neither wise
nor right for Il nation to disregard its
own needs, and it is foolish and may
be wicked to think that other nations
Will disregard theirs. Eut it is Wic,iet.
for 4 nation only 10 regard its own in
tercst and foolish to believe that such
is the sole motive that actuatps any
other nation. 1t should be our steady
aim to raise the ethical standard OF n;l-
tonal action just as we strive to raise
the ethical standard Of Individual ac-
ton.
Justice TO Immigrants.
Not only must we treat all nations
fairly, but we must treat with justice
and good will all immigrants Who come
here under the law. Whether they are
Catholic or Protestant, jew or gentle,
whether they come from England OF
Germany, russia, Japan or Italy, mat
ters nothing. All we have Il right 10
question is the mans conduct If he
is honest and upright in his dealings
with his neighlor and with the state.
then he is entitled to respect and good
treatment. Especially do we need to
remember cur duty to the stranger
within our gates. 1t is the sure mark
of low civilization, Il low morality. to
abuse or discriminate against or in
any way lumiliate such stranger who
has come here lawfully and who is
conducting himself properly To re-
member this is incumbent on every
American citizen, and it is OF course
peculiarly incumbent on every govern
ment official. whether of the nation or
of the several states.
am prompted to say this by the at
titude of hostility here and there as
suEed toward the Japanese in this
country. This hostility is sporadic and
is limited to n very few places. Never
theless it is most diScreditable to US rs
people. and it may be fraught with
the graveSt consequences to the nation.
The friendship between the United
States and Japan has been continuous
since the time, over half a century ago,
when Commodore Perry by his expedi-
ton to Japan first opened the islands
to western civilization. Since then the
growth of Japan has been literally
astounding. There Is not only nothing
to parallel it but nothing to approach
it in the history of civilized mankind.
Japan has Il glorious and ancient past.
Her civilization is older than that of
the nations of northern Europe, the ma
tons from whom the people Of the
United States have chiefly sprung. But
fifty years ago Japan's development
was still that of the middle ages. Dur
Ing that fifty years the progress Of the
country in every walk In life has been
a mar"el to mankind, and she now
stands as one of the greatest of civil
LIED nations. great in the arts of war
and in the arts of peace, great in mill
tary, in industrial. in artistic develop
ment and achievement
Praise For Japan.
japanese soldiers and sailors have
shown themselves equal in combat to
any OF whom history makes note She
has produced great generals and
mighty admiralS. Her fighting men,
afloat and ashore, show all the heroic
courage, the unquestioning. unfalter-
ing loyalty. the splendid Indifference
to hardship and death, which marked
the Loyal Ronins. and they show also
that they possess the highest ideal Of
patriotism. Japanese artists Of every
kind see their products eagerly sought
for In all lands. The industrial and
commercial development of Japan has
been phenomenal, greater than that Of
any other country during the same pc
| Rod. At the same time the advance in
science and philosophy is no less mark
ed. The admirable management Of the
japanese Red Cross during the late
war, the efficiency and humanity Of
the japanese officials. nurses and doc
| tors, won the respectful admiration Of
! all acquainted with the facts. Through
the Red Cross the Japanese people sent
over 100000 to the sufferers of San
Francisco. and the gift was accepted
with gratitude by our people The
courtesy OF the Japanese, nationally
and individually. has become proven
bal. To no other country has there
been such an increasing number of
visitors from this land as to Japan. In
return J1D1OpSn have como boro in