The Mena weekly star., 1907-10-03
Secretary of War Aroused Wild Enthusiasm at Banquet Tender
 ed by Municipality.
WAR BETWEEN THE NATIONS 4 cRIMl
Mi, Taft Spoke With Deep Feeling and Positiveness and Asserted That Talk of UnfriendIiness Between America and Japan Due to Commer ciaism of Newspapers.

his speech at the banquet given in hia bonor by the municipality of Tokio and chamber of commerce, he declared that war between the United States and Japan would be "a crime against modern civilization and as wicked as if would be insane,r adding that neith- ar people desired it and that both gov ernments would do their utmost to grard against such an awful catastro- nhe. The secretary spoke with in teinse earnestness, after careful de liberation and preparation.
 The banquet tok place in the assem- by room of the Imperial hotel, Wis count Shibusawa presiding. and was attended by prominent officials and many of the leading business men of Tokio. Mir Taft sat on the right of Viscount Shibusawa and Mir. Obrien, inc new American ambassador to Jap an. was seated on his left. The decor ations of the hall were magnificent and good band furnished the music. Among those present were many la dies, including Americans.
 viscount Shibusawa, in welcoming Mr. Taft, paid glowing tribute to the greatness of the nation which the sec retary represented, the friendliness which the United States had always displayed for Japan and the inflence which America exerted throughout the world.
 In replying Mir. Taft spoke with deep feeling and positiveness. He asserted that the talk of unfriendiness between the United States and Japan was due entirely to the commercialism of the newspapers in America The secre- tary declined to discuss the immigra- ton question, saying that he would not trespass upon the field of the state department MT O'Brien would say that the entire matter was "easy of sensible arrangement between sen. slble men" Continuing, Mir. Taft said.
 War between the United States and Japan would be a crime against mod ern civilization. It 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 all awful catastrophe. Neither would gain anything.
 Why should Japan wish for war; t must stop or seriously delay the ex. ecutlon of her plans for the reform of Korea.
 Why should the United States wish for war? 1t would change her in a year or more into military nation Her great resources would be wasted m vast equipment which would serve on good purpose but would tempt the nation into warlike policies. Why should she wish for war, in which all the evils of society flourish and all yultures fatten? Sbe is engaged in es honshng a government of law and or Ger in the Philippines, fitting those people by general education to govern themselves.
 It has been suggested that we night relieve ourselves of this burden oy the sale of the islands to Japan or some other country. The sugges uon Is absurd. Japan does not wish TOT the Philippines; she has problems ol similar nature, nearer home Wore than this the United States could nol sell the islands to another power without the grossest violation of it's Oplsatlons to the Philippine people. Under these circumstances then 'oad there be anything more wicked aore Infamous than the suggestion oi war between two nations who have suloyed such time-honored friendship auu Who have nothing to fight for? glyes mo pleasure to assure the peopie or Japan that the good will of KY american people toward Japan Is v warm and cordial as ever The assssestion of breach in the amicai se telatlons between them finds no srsnlirmation r, in public opinion in the United statesy
 r lait said it gave him great p'saSure to bring this message of good
 v rom President Roosevelt.
 ,.M, M conclusion the secretary said he
 ~ ulat the fact that the Japanese
 ~peror had for the second time hon d,s s nm with an invitation to an au- "0e was due to his majesty's desire nu a message of good will to the
 ",Vu States and to show to the a A'a that Japan was friendly to ,o the banquet the assembly n @ was the scene of a remarkable ea1uleslation of good will. everybody xss xs'aeuiatng everybody else on what no sohsidered to be a complete re- A'al or the little cloud" which had hla hanging over the 90 years of ,es 4uship between the United States gs sapah and rejoicing at the fact
 mrs.. nnal dampcr had been put upon
 nsnae nra,ional utterances regarding the
 ts'y of strained relations be-
 u 'Ae two countries,
 Drod. specially pleasing effect was
 hnaS,o hsSeo hy the seeretary's concluding
 eisaa about the Japanese emperors
 s 0h to send a message of good
 !" me United States.