The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-08-29

and Importance, the ultimate issue of
which may be largely influenced by the
promise you made some years ago."
Il amp ready, your exellency," said
Pelham, simply: and his visitor bowed
in acknowledgment.
''Well, then, to begin with, want a
radical clew to your national opinion
on Anglo japanese relations. l don't
want your good humored, superficial
opinion, but the one you hold deep
down-the one you would really ex-
press if suddenly faced with grave is-
sue. All, yes," as Pelham would speak,
"you will tell me, of course, that Eng
fish opinion is as solid now as it ever
was on the alliance, and it may be so.
Personally l think it is, but there is
Just little doubt. There are people in
Japan who say that King Edwards
diplomacy has rendered you independ-
ent of our friendship-that these coali-
tions with Italy, France and Spain no
longer leave you isolated"-
ooh! But that is sheer nonsense,
your excellency," broke in Pelham, in
dignantly.
81 think it is, but we japanese are a
proud race, and before make my final
decision on a matter that gravely at
fects my country, l want to be quite
sure. At the present moment" he
continued, with grave earnestness, II.
personally, stand for the whole spirit
of Japan The Emperor has intrusted
to MY decision question that will de-
termine our national future, and as
this question centres around English
public opinion l am anxious to apply
to the latter certain test. Now, when
people test a thing, Mr.. Pelham" he
went on, ''they don't as rule test the
entire bulk-they are content with a
sample. You remember the wind in
the trees? Well l want you to create
second wind in the trees, and the
way l propose to do it is through your
newspaper, "The Rapier." The latter
stands for the largest sample of public
opinion available, and to it l propose
to apply the following test: Here" and
he drew a packet of papers from his
pocket and handed them to Pelham,
sis series of three newspaper articles
which l wish you to publish in your
neWspaper-the first to appear tomor-
row, the Others consecutively for three
days There are, as you see, wholly
unfriepdly to the present happy under
standing between our countries, and
nv aim in publishing them is to probe
the great section of Englishmen who
read your paper, and, if possible, force
them to express an opinion
ITO put it crudely, your excellency
wants to twist sample of the Lions
tail, and see if he will roar?" said Pei
ham, primly, as he glanced through the
typewriter sheets in his hand.
"That is the point-will he roar?"
smiled his excellency, But your paper?
The publication of these articles may
affect its sale?" he added moment
later, as he rose to go.
perhaps, your excellency, but a
promise is principle" said Pelham,
shaking hands, land, like you, l be-
lieve that the gods in some way or
other, take care of the principles"
The words, almost unconsciously ut
tered, seemed to have a strange sol
emnity, and long after the japanese
statesman had driven away they linger-
ed like an echo in Pelham's brain, and
gave him the confidence he needed at
the end of IA second and more deliberate
perusa of the articles.
The latter were brilliant, incisive,
and evidently written by political ex-
pert of the first rank, but they ran
counter to everything on the Japanese
question that had hitherto appeared i'll
Pelham's newspaper.
In essence they resolved themselves
into violent attack on the political
relationship his readers held most
sacred, and, but for bis theory, that the
carrying out of a principle never yet
permanently injured a man, Pelham
would have been appalled, at the pros
~, J.
lency's curious test
Nor were his anticipations falsified
when ''The Rapler' appeared the fol-
and letters from all quarters began to
herald the coming storm.
These, one and all, demanded the un-
equivocal withdrawal of the articles
begun that morning, and continued at
a rate whii II left Pelham with no
doubt of the unqualified success of his
excellency's experiment; hour by hour
the commotion gathered volume, and
next day, when the second article ap-
peared, attacking the spontancity of
the welcome then being extended by
London to the Japanese prince, the
outburst of angry protest that followed
was in every sense national and COM
plete.
Indignation meetings were hastily
convened ill many places throughout
the country, and virtuous rivals lee
tured "The Rapier" on its lack of pub
lie good taste; everywhere a hurricane
of denial met the accusation against
the nations hospitality, and finally a
deputation actually waited on the gov
eminent and demanded the immediate
suppression of the articles
Pelham had waited for this, as he had
waited for more or less negative effect
on the circulation of his paper, but the
second, and even the third and last day
came, without either event having hap
pened
On the contrary, the sales of 'The
Rapier' far outplaced the output of the
printing presses, and still the govern
ment made no sign.
Coming as such a violent counter
blast to prevalent newspaper opinion,
the articles ecllpsed even the royal
visit round which they centred, and be-
came the sensation of the hour.
Their point, their brilliancy, their
marvellous grasp of international poll
tics, were qualities before which even
the bitterness they evoked was forced
to subside, and at the end of the third
and last day of their appearance, the
question, "Who wrote them?" had not
only practically obscured the part ''The
Rapier" had played in the whole affair,
but left Pelham thoroughly satisfied in