The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-07-09
WHAT DOES IT MEANa

The vast majority OF ahelNaAs "AN
doing their best to come to sensible
understanding of all this Japanese
American war talk. They cannot real
ize the cause for it; they know that
only a short while ago, when Japan was
in the throes of her great encounter
with Russia, that American sentiment
and expression was practically, almost
universally, pro-Japanese, and just why
the revulsion should ensue, to point
that puts the "little brown man" in
the catagory OF our enemies Is ma
tional eonundrum our people are trying
in all kindnesses and patience, to solve;
and in this behalf they have reached but
one conclusion, so far, and that Is. the
cause, whatever it may be, is not in
digenous to this soil and people. We
have always been the friends OF the
japanese, so far back as any one now
alive can remember, and the mystery
surrounding our present attitude will
take some mighty plain talk from one
government, or the other, to effect a
satisfactory solution.
Ii it arises from the Japanese sense
of glory and pride, and lust for con-
quest, wrought by the victories aehiev-
ed over Russia, and which makes the
victors eager to keep in the field Of war
just to see how far they can carry the
measure of their success, we are sorely
disappointed in the race, since we had
accredited them with better poise and
sounder principles; if it is because we
have given them ground for war. we
know what the claim is based upon, un-
less it be the local ruction in San Fran
cisco, and this we do not believe to be a
"causus bellf' and we do not believe
that they believe it; and in default Of
better grounds than these, we must ac-
cept the hypothesis of racial bigotry and
folly, the like Of which has never been
noted yet in history.
There will be war if the japanese
government fails to put muzzle on the
tongues of some of her naval officers
who are charged with such sentiments
and expressions as that credited, in yes
terday's dispatches, to Admiral Saka-
motto, who is reported to have said that
our men "would desert the fleets" and
that our officers were without profess
sional perspicuity in the handling Of
those fleets. Such further comment as
he made upon the patriotism of the
Americans is of a piece with the text
OF his recorded judgment, and a little
of that sort Of thing goes long ways
on this side of the Pacific. America has
had nothing but clever and generous
things to say of the Japs for years past
and the knowledge of such estimates as
this held and uttered over there, is pool
return Tor the specific triendliness she
has experienced at our hands.
If Japan must have war, she is likely
to get it, not only from us, but from 9
few other sources that she cannot hope
to avoid once the engagement is de-
clared, and we doubt if she can stand
the pressure that will be brought t.
bear upon her if she carries her bump.
tious penchant to its foolish conclusion
She must be drunk with the access o.
her glory to pursue the path and pace
she is going, and she cannot possess
the wisdom we have always accorded
her, if she adheres to her present pro
gram. We like her spunk, but wei
have to lick her all the same!