The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-08-07
Mr.. STRAUS At
KUROKI BANQUET
Secretary of Commerce and
Labor on Japanese
Relations.


on his recent trip to the United States,
he was entertained at dinner at the
Astor Hotel on May Il. On this occa-
sion one of the most notable addresses
was made by Secretary of Commerce
| and Labor Oscar S. Straus, who is at
present in this city. He spoke as fol-
lows:
"AlI mankind loves a lover and the
whole world honors a hero, especially
| if his Iaurels were won in a just cause.
France had her Napoleon, England her
| Wellington, Germany her Moltke,
| America had her Grant and has her
| Dewey, and Japan has her Kuroki
| Self-preservation is the first law OF
nations as well as nature, and even
| those of US who took part in the great
| Peace Congress that only a few weeks
| ago echoed its messages of hope from
so many platforms, must recognize the
potency and necessity of that law OF
nations.
More important than the limitation
! of ornaments is to limit the cause of
war, and this can best be done by in
fusing into international relations the
morality. The so-called code of honor
between individuals has, within the
memory of the living, practically dis
appeared, and the code of law has re-
placed it, to the credit of our civiliza-
ton. A like transformation is taking
place in the field of International ethics,
so that the so-called doctrine of ex-
pediency based on might is fast giving
way to the principles of international
relations based upon right.
No country and no people in the his
tory of ancient or modern civilization
has ever gone through a more rapid
renaissance than the Island Kingdom
Of Japan. and that is because this
child Of the worlds old age" had been
brought up by parents who had lived
through centuries of development and
civilization, which served her as a
springboard to leap within a genera
ton from out of her oriental slumbers
to the front rank among nations. 1t
is but half a century ago when Ameri-
ca, through her Commodore Perry, took
Japan by the hand and led her out of
her oriental seclusion and showed her
the triumphs of our western civiliza-
ton and introduced her with proverbial
board of western nations. From that
time to this the closest relations of
amity and friendship have continued
between America and Japan. Some
thirty years later our country followed
Great Britain in recognizing the Won
derful progress in all that constitutes
a civilized nation in conceding to Japan
the full rights of an independent ma
ton. and in consenting to the abolition
of extraterritorial privileges, and en-
downing her with full and complete jul
dicial autonomy. The government and
people of Japan, not unmindful of the
good will and sponsorship of our
country, are too wise to permit the San |
Francisco school incident, (which was |
fostered by ignorance and propagated |
by injustice, to cloud their just appre-
citation of the enlightened spirit of |
institutions.
Japan, alone among nations, has CIV !
en- to the world an example of how |
people can throw off the shackIes of an |
oppressive autocracy and endow itself /
with all the safeguards of liberty and /
justice under a constitutional form of
government. without going through the
terrible struggles and devastation Of |
ollcdy revolutions. by following along
the paths of peaceful evolution. Japan
IS the land of liberty, civil and re-
igious. Her religious liberty is even
Tar in advance of nations who pride
themselves upon this most precious of
national virtues Her people have no
orejudices based upon religious or &C.
,lesiastical grounds, and all men OF
very chcrch and creed are free and
equal TO worship their God in accord
Ince with the dictates of their own
conscience in the fullest and widest
occupation Of the meaning of religious
liberty.
Japan, which has learned much from |
he West, has even more to teach the
Vest. Persistency, self-centrol, and
Preparedness are among her national
Qualities; her officers exemplify the
fghest skill united with the highest
atriotiSm; her soldiers, while reckless
n their bravery in sacrificing their
wn lives, are uniformly humane even +
o their enemies, and no nation is /
erved by a more competent diplomatic
ody-men of reliability, judgment and !
MODERATION. We heartily welcome her
onquering hero, who has fought bat
les which will rank among the great
st in history, and whose army never
nee met defeat. What is the message
hat this great and modest hero brings
o us? Permit me to quote his own
rords: THE japanese people love
'eace and want peace. They fought
or peace, which without fighting could
Ot have been. My nation wants peace
peace in which to develop. We have !
10 other desire. The profession it is
ny fate to follow is noble only in that
is sometimes useful in establishing
onditions in which peace may be
maintained and the arts of peace may
Lourish." Nobler sentiments never fell
rom the lips of a conquering hero.
They will stand beside those that were |
altered by the hero OF Appomattox,
Who said, Let US have peace"
General Kuroki, may the memory Of
rour glorious victories, which have
she'd so much honor upon the armies
If japan, give to her people uneading
-ears Of peace, happiness, and pros
1erity.
Gas for cooking, gas for reading, both
cheap. See Honolulu Gas Co.. Ltd.