Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-11-01

If war were to ensue between the
United States and Japan it would be
necessary for us to guard against such
disastrous naval expeditions as those of
tho Russians in tho recent war every time
we undertook to send forces TO protect
the Philippines The Japanese would have
tremendous advantage owing to tho
number of islands on which they could
secure n foothold in that archipelago, as
we'll as In their proximity to the scene Of
operations 1t would require a long period
to the Pacific, and before our war vessels
could possibly arrive there the Japanese
would probably have taken possession Of
number of the Philippine islands even
if they had not reduced our few and COM
parativcly weak Notifications in the re-
gion about Manila.
II on tho other hard tho japanese were
inclined to depend upon peacpable means
OF reprisal upon our interests in return
for what they regard as outraces upon
their fellow countrymcn in the United
States they could strike Il damaging blow
at our trade in Asia. The ,aps could not
only bar us out of thcr own country bat
owing to tho tremendous hold which thNv
have gained upon the Chinese they could
unquestonably bring about II renewal of
a hnI f,f -
and In ever, greater force than was felt
by us in the recent unplcasani,,oss. The
result would be the loss of millions Of
dollars even if our trade in the Far
East were not irreparahlly damaged.
That the administration ut Washington
is fully alive 10 the dangers OF the sit
uation is Indicated by reports of steps
that are being taken to counteract the
effects of the agitation started by the
uttcrances Of such men as }. ID. Rookie
fellcr. 1t Is announced officially that
President: Roosevelt has no sympathy
whatever with tho ant-Ja panese dis
elimination or the attempts to stir oppo-
sition to subjects of the Mkndo. on the
contrary it is positively announced that
whatever is possible for the government
to do to overcome the movement in
question Will speedily be done
According to the Washington cores
pordent of the Providence Journal not
only does the government of the United
States regard itself rs on friendly terms
with Japan, but it believes that there
exists between the two nations a
special friendship, closer than ordinary
ties of amity. The government is anx-
1t will do its utmost to have Japan SO
understand. 1t feels confident that the
Japanese government realizes that Presi-
dent Roosevelt and his advisers have no
sympathy with the California govern
ment, but it is concerned that any of the
japanese people should entertain the mis-
taken notion that a few agitators on the
Pacific coast represent the popular SEN
tment Of this country. Something will
be done soon to show the attitude of the
government, and it is understood that
how thoroughly the administration dep
rccates that attempt to discriminate
against Japanese residing in America will
be made perfectly clear.
The administration. however finds it.
self almost poweress to prevent mis-
understanding, in the present crisis, in
its relations with Japan. Crisis is not
too strong word to apply in this in
stance. a telegram received by the State
department a few days ago from
sentiment aroused by the exclusion of
Japanese children from San Francisco
schools. and represented the anti-Aneri-
can feeling as serious.
1t is maintained here by many persons of
nigh pos ton, familiar with the situa-
ton, that continuance Of the Japanese
exclusion propa Uganda in California. will
put the United states face to face with
the prospect OF losing long-established
and special friendship of japan, with the
attendant Lose Of all the commercial
power and pre- stige which has been built
up in the Orient by America. From this
it viii be seen how concerned The gov
ernmcnt is over the condition produced
by the California agitation
In the opinion OF those who know, and
whose judgment is regarded highly, this
country is bound to suffer greatly if tho
same feeling is aroused in Japan against
America and Americans that produced tho
boycott of American goods in China.
Japau's influence in the Irlowery King
dom is preponderating. Since the close
Of the Russian-Japanese war, hundreds
of young Chinese have been sent to
Japan TO be educated, and japanese
are going to China by the thousand
with the advantage of having excellent
knowledge of tho language, people and
customs, that no other nation can
hope to compete with the Japanese for
trade supremacy in China.
The spread of anti-American feeling
among the Japanese would be vastly
more harmful to the Far Eastern in
terests Of this country than the boy