Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-06

llOH 10 Japan nrSC opened the lSlanQS
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 a 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
marvel to mankind, and she now
stands as one of the greatest of civil
liked 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,
af1oat 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 Japanese have come here in
great numbers. They are welcome, So
cially and Intellectually, in all our col
leges and institutions of higher learn,
ing, in all our professional and social
bodies. The Japanese have won in a
single generation the right to stand
abreast of the foremost and most en-
lightened peoples of Europe and Amer
lea. They have won on their own merits
and by their own exertions the right
to treatment on basis of full and
frank equality. The overwhelming
mass of our people cherish lively re-
gard and respect for the people of
Japan, and in almost every quarter of
the Union the stranger from Japan is
treated as he deserves-that is, he is
treated as the stranger from any part
Of civilized Europe Is and deserves to
be treated. But here and there a most
unworthy feeling has manifested itself
toward the Japanese-the feeling that
has been shown in shutting them out
from the common schools in San Fran,
cisco and in mutterings against them
in one or two other places because of
their efficiency as workers. TO shut
them out from the public schools is a
wicked absurdity when there are nc
first class colleges in the land, includ.
ing the universities and colleges of
California, which do not gladly wei
come Japanese students and on which
Japanese students do not reflect credit
We have as much to learn from Japan
as Japan has to learn from us, and nc
nation is fit to teach unless it is also
willing to learn. Throughout Japan
Americans are well treated, and any
failure on the part Of Americans al
home to treat the Japanese with like
courtesy and consideration is by just
so much a confession Of inferiority in
our civilization.
Our nation fronts on the Pacific just
as it fronts on the Atlantic. We hope
to play constantly growing part in
the great ocean Of the orient. We
wish, as we ought to wish, for great
commercial development in our deal
ings with Asia, and it is out Of the
question that we should permanently
have such development unless we free.
ly and gladly extend to other nations
the same measure of justice and good
treatment which we expect to receive
in return. 1t is only a very small body
of our citizens that act badly. Where
the federal government has power il
will deal summarily with any such
Where the several states have power
earnestly ask that they also deal
wisely and promptly with such con
duct or else this small body of wrong
doors may bring shame upon the great
mass of their innocent and right
thinking fellows-that is, upon our ma
ton as a whole Good manners should
be an international no less than ar
| individual attribute. l ask fair treat
ment for the Japanese as / would ash
fair treatment for Germans or English
men. Frenchmen, Russians or Italians
[ ask it as due to humanity and civil