The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-06
THE JAPANESE MYSTERY.

THE JAPANESE MYSTERY.
 It has been impossible for one not in touch with the sacred archives of the State department if they happen to contain any enlightenment upon the subject, to account for the more or
 less widespread feeling of uneasiness over tfe alleged lack of harmony between the United States and Japan, Ever since the close of the war be- tween Russia and Japan the rumors have been rife of an impending clash between the fighters of Nippon and our own soldier and sailor lads. No one has been able to account for it, and yet no one has been able to stem the current of reckless gossip.
 It is evident that the gossip and the possible seriousness of it have got on to the nerves of some of the good poo pie of Hartford, especially the clergy men resident there. They held a meet ing Tuesday evening which was ad- dressed by an American who has lived many years in Japan and who could testify, as he did, to the esteem in which this country is held there and the sense of gratitude it has for what our country has done for theirs At the close of the meeting set of res olutions was offered and adopted which declares the groundlessness for any suspicion as to the attitude of the people of this country and their faith n the good will of the Japanese na- ton The resolutions first express to the Emperor and people of Japan "our profound respect for their cour- age, their enlightenment and their pro- gress." This serves as an introduction to other compliments of the hour and enables the peace lovers of Hartford to assure the Emperor and people of ever to fear the suspension of the good feeling and mutual concern which have prevailed for half a century. In the second place the resolutions con demn some journals and individuals who have been fomenting distrust and enmity between two friendly nations, and brand as malicious and unwar
 rantable all the statements which have tended to throw suspicion upon the fn- tegrity of the governments of both our own nation and Japan"
 These are very creditable sentiments and do the good people of the city of Hartford justice, but in SO far as they add more to the mystery of this Jap anese controversy they increase our confusion of mind II has been difficult | from the first to account for the spread 1 of the feeling that war between the l two nations was among the certain ties of the future The rumpus at San l Francisco over the admission of Jap anese children to the schools, the al l loged settling of the Hawaiian Islands | by the gallant lads from Nippon and i the suggested jealousy of Japan be- cause of our possession of the Philip pines were all incidents of a character not to make tho people of this country serious minded upon the subject of tue relationship of the two countries If it could be done in proper style and according to the standards of honor
 which the nations of the earth have set up the people of this country would gladly give the Philippines and Hawaii tG the Japs Their possession has nev- CT touched either the pride or the imagination of this people as a whole. The San Francisco muss was entirely local III it's character and sure to settle
 itself. It is true, nevertheless, that cer- tain journals and individuals did ex- aggerate them and thus give rise to a feeling of uneasiness on the part of the general community. But if we may be permitted to say so, even these of ! fending newspap'ls and individuals would have had only their labor for their pains had it not been for the 'm- precision made hy the cruise of the bat tleships and the explanations it has led to TO have been consistent, should not
 the clergymen of the city of Hartford who assembled the mass meeting Tues 1 day night have seen to if that the most teasing incident of the whole business. the extravagant cruise of the glorious i battleships, was condemned along with the rest? A mass meeting called to condemn something should not he dis eliminating in its resolutions Leaving the hattleships out of the resolutions came very near destroying the intlu- ence of the meeting and may tempt the Emperor and the people of Japan
 to smile