Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1907-10-08
TAFT'S MESSAGE


kContlnueO from rage "
| by diplomacy justlRes 1t. War be-
tween Japan and the United States .
would be a crime against modern civ
ilization. 1t would be insane. Neither
the people of Japan nor the people of
the United States desire war. The
Governments of the two countries
would strain every point to avoid such
on awful catastrophe. Neither would
gain anything.
Japan has undertaken with the le- /
Ultimate interests of so close a neigh
Dor, to reform and rejuvenate the !
kingdom that Is governed or misgov
erned by nrteenth-century methods.
His majesty the Emperor has shown
mis- appreciation of the difficult task
by sending to Korea Japan's greatest
| statesman. No matter what reports
Ilnay he. no matter what criticisms may
be uttered, the world will have con-
fidence that Prince Ito, and the Jap
anese Government are pursuing a pol
icy in Korea which will make for JUS
'ice, civilization and the welfare OF o
backward people.
"Why should Japan wish for war?
II must stop or seriously delay the
execution of her plans for the reform
tf Korea.
"Why should the United states wish
FOR war II would change her in year
" more into military nation. Her
great resources would be wasted in
vast equipment which would serve no
good purpose, but would tempt the
nation into warlike policies. Why
should shoi wish for war, in which all
the evils of society nourish-and all
yultures fatten She Is engaged in es-
Publishing a government of law and
order in the Philippines, fitting those
people by general education to govern
themselves.
at has been suggested that wo
might relieve ourselves of this burden
b. the sale of the islands to Japan or
some other country. The suggestion
Is absurd. Japan does not wish for
the Philippines. She has problems OF
u similar nature nearer home. More
than this, the United States could not
sell the islands to another power with
out the grossest violation of its obli-
gallons to the Philippine people.
"Under these circumstances. then,
could there be anything more wicked.
more Infamous than the suggestion OF
war between two nations who have en-
Joyed such time-honored friendship
and who have nothing to fight for?'
Some one asks why such reports
and rumors of war The capacity of
certain members Of the modern press.
by sensational dispatches, to give rise
TO unfounded reports has grown with
the Improvement of communication
between distant parts of the world
The desire to sell papers, the desire
for political reasons to cmbarrass the
existing Government, or other and
even less iustifiable motives have led
TO Measurements, misConstruCtions
and unfoundcd gucsses, all worked in
10 terrifying head lines which have nc
foundation whatever.
"In each country, doubtless, thcr,
are irresponsible persons that a wal
would or might make prominent, who
try to give seriousness to such diff
fusions. But when one considers thu
, real feeling of the two people as {
whole, when one considers the situa
ton from the standpoint of the sanity
and real patriotism of each country
II Is difficult to characterize in polite
moderate language the conduct o
those who are attempting to promot,
misunderstanding and ill-feelng be
tween the two countries.
MESSAGE OF GOOD WILL.
1T gives me a pleasure to assure
The people of Japan that the good will
Of the American people toward JapaI
is as warm and cordial as ever. TIL
suggestion Of a breach in the amlcabl
relations between them finds no con
iirmation in public opinion in tn
United States"
Taft said it gave him great pleasur
to bring this message of good will from
President Roosevelt.
In conclusion the Secretary said h
felt that the fact that the Japancs
Emperor had for the second time hon
ured him with an invitation to an au
dience was due to his majesty's dc