The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-07-20
JING0ISM.

In view of the constantly recurring possibilitv
of war between the United States and Japan, the
strained relations and diplomatic cmaxes which
lingo press in both countries foresees every daV
or so, notwithstanding reiterated denials by Off
cals high in the councils of both nations, the sta
tistics collected and given out by the military de
partment at Washington concerning the results Of
such war; if it should be brought about, should
silence forever the jingOes and make prevention
rather than promotion of war the aim and ambition
of every newspaper of the land. According to the
statements made at the and navy departments
the consequences of a war between the United
States and Japan would include the destruction of
the navy of one or the other or both of the com
batants; loss of territory by the yanquished
ton; the blockade of ports and endangering Of
commerce to its vast injury to both countries but
especially to the loser; tremendous loss of life
heavy additions to already immense national debts
and consequent increases in taxation, and great
loss of prestige as a world power by the nation
ing for peace.
If the war lasted any length of time, even With
success crowning every effort of the military and
naval forces of the United States, the money cost
would run into billions of dollars besides the loss
cution of the war; And what advantage would ae-
crue to our country could be hardly more than
indemnity and the acquisition of additional terri
tory which, like the Philippines would add bur
den to the people of the United States. And i
success should give US territory under the cor
troll of the japanese empire, the natural result
would be closer coalition of the European powers
to enforce doctrine similar to the Monroe doctrine
to prevent the aggression of the United States ip
the far east Holding and administering the af~
fairs of Korea or the island of ForInosa could be
accomplished only by force of arms, and this pol
icy is contrary to the established principle of gov
eminent only with the consent of the governed
which has made our nation the widely heralded
land of freedom and liberty.
On the other hand. if the Japanese should meet
with success in the conflict, the island possessions
of America, the Philippines, Tutuila and Hawaii
would undoubtedly be lost to them. Japan is am
bilious, and she might claim as a reward the ter
rtory of Alaska and the Panama canal zone. Tri-
butte might be demanded from the practically de-
fenseless coast cities of the Pacific. In the end
Japan would put forward large claims to the cor
troll of the Pacific ocean, which claims no doubt
would be strenuously combated by other powers.
w nat would De gained war, III Is QlHlcuIJ u
see in case either nation were successful. Victor
for America would mean only additional and con-
pounding difficulties in the administration of her
affairs, with strong European coalition against
her. Victory for Japan would result only in world
complications and a notice served upon her by The
combined nations of the west that she shall go
farther. The advantages of victory for either
try would be Offset by the tremendous cost and the
increased burden upon it to protect its acquire
ments.
So let us have a rest from the jingoes. japan
as a nation doesn't want war, and neither doeS
America. The only advantage of victory for eithe'
would be the saving of the humiliation of defeat.
The cost of war IN lives and money and the world
complications following make war the last thing
to be thought of by 'peace loving" nation, and
Japan claims to be quite as peace loving as any
other nation not even excepting the United States
If the jingoes must fight, it would be well to RIG
up prize ring and let them fight with or without
rules, but let them not involve two nations in .
war wherein nothing but trouble would result, and
thus saddle on posterity for centuries to come
war debt pay whose interest alone would tax the
people to poverty.