Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-06
No Need to Get Excited.

A recent newspaper dispatch from VIM
amac, Ind, contained a sensational tale
about one Harry n. Roach. for eight
years private secretary to James G. Blaine.
at Washington" who is greatly embittered
against society, Washington society in par
ticular, and is living the life of hermit at
Bruce's lake, near Winamac. For several
months" the dispatch says, Mr.. Roach
has been engaged upon a manuscript cor
tanning sensational exposures about Wash
ington society that he wants the world to
have after he is dead. This manuscript has
been placed in a cement box lined with
zinc, and buried under the floor of the
cabin In which he lives
The gentleman named may have a great
many secrets to expose, but he could never
have been very conspicuous member of
Washington society, because no one here
seems to remember him. He was never a
member of any of the clubs, so far as the
printed lists show; he was never private
secretary to James G. Elaine, at least while
he was in Washington. Mr. Blaine never
had but two secretaries-Mr. Thomas NJ.
Sherman who came with him from Maine
when he was first elected to Congress- and
Mr.. Louis A. Dent, who is now practicing
law in this city. Mr.. Sherman was after
ward consul at Liverpool. and is now con-
nected with Mr.. Munsey's publications. Mr..
Dent says he never heard. of Mr.. Roach
Hence there is no occasion to get excited
about the forthcoming disclosures.
characteristics of the Japanese.
We have heard and read a good deal
about the commercial dishonesty and
trickery of the Japanese, and are contin-
ually reminded that they are not to be re-
he'd upon In carrying out their obligations.
While doubtless there has been much
ground for complaint on that score, we
should always remember that until the In
vasion of Japan by foreign merchants and
Urn
proverbially honest and scrupulous in all of
their dealings with each other and with the
Dutch traders at Nagasaki, who consti-
tuted their only agency of communication
with the outside world. This innocent and
simple people were the victims of hordes of
adventures, who robbed them In a merci-
less manner. until the. Japanese learned
the same trick. and gave tit for tat with
uncommon skill 1t is not counted a sin to
swindle an Indian. a Chinese. a Japanese
or any other heather, according to COM
mercial code. which prevails altogether too
widely among the population of what are
called Christian nations. but when an In
dian or a Chinese. or a Japanese swindles
a Christian tso-colled) it is a peril to CIV
ilization.
The Chinese are considered speaking
commercially. the most honorable people in
the world. and the Japanese were equally
so before they We're taught by foreign teach
how to cheat and swindle. Fortunately.
most of their teachers came from Europe,
and few only from the United States, and
that is to our credit: but II the record of
our treatment of the Indians, public and
private were to be compared with the COM
mercial history of Japan during the last
thirty years the American people would be
compelled to hang their heads in shame.
Within the last few years there has been
organized In Japan an association Of mer-
chants for the purpose of restoring the rep
utation of that nation for commercial hon
esty and fair dealing. The members of the
association. which now extends through all
the PRINCIPAL cities, pledge themselves not
to misrepresent the character or the value
of any article they offer for sale, not to inn
pose limitations of genuine articles upon
ignorant strangers. and TO adhere to a fixed
scale Of prices for all goods, representing