The San Francisco call., 1908-04-11

the real spirit Of Japan and the high
intellect Of the japanese people.
Every intelligent observer OF the
Asiatic question must have convinced
himself that sooner or later there will
be a great political convulsion and na-
tional upheavaL and out OF the result
ing consequences and final Adjustment
the destiny of an empire OF 40, 000. 900
OF people Will depend; and the peace OF
the whole world and the progress OF
civilization will be at stake. And when
this time shall come, what will be the
position which japan must assumef
The question is bewildering one,
making one pause and ponder, and
even puzzles the most enlightened OF
the Japanese statesmen To meet
squarely the contingencies such as
these. japan can lose no time but
must be prepared, and this preparation
must be made whether Japan IS rich
or poor. prosperous or poverty strtckens
and when that time shall arrive. she
must marshal her army and navy for
defense. whether she may be ruined or
saved This Is. In the main. the reason
why, in the words OF Mr.. Haskins.
japan Is spending millions to At Qua
the army and navy"
The Americans may rest assured
that Japan has not the remotest idea.
nor even a thought, OF waging war
against them, nor does she entertain
any Ill feeling against them on account
OF any such trfhing question as the
Japanese labor In the United States;
moreover. in order TO continue the his
torical friendly relations between the
two countries. Japan-the whole Jap
anese people-are quite willing to stop
the entire future Japanese immigration
to the United States, II the Japanese
laborer is an undesirable ware IN the
American market. or detrimental la
borer to the American peace and pros
pertty. The Pacific ocean Is wide
enough to AFFORD a full play to the Tags
OF both nations. and the commercial In
terest5 between the two countries are
too closely interviewer to permit any
quarrel without a disastrous loss to
the people OF both
As to the Philippine islands let US
assure the Americans once for all that
so long as the archipelago shall remain
under the protection OF the American
nag and as long as It shall be main
tained not as disturbing factor IN the
general peace OF Asia, so long Japan
shall be happy with the thought that
such large portions OF her neighbor-
hood are set aside for progressive de-
velopment without Japanese care or
worry.
such sweeping assertions OF the Bull
Ietin correspondent as that "Japan's
only salvation Is emigration" that
japan is TO shut up China TO all OF
the other powers" that the Japanese
cannot comprehend or understand the
white mans CODE" or being incapabls
OF playing the game in white mans
way, therefore "he might 4unsettfe the
peace OF the world'-the statements
may simply be considered as merely
an individual opinion OF that authority
and safely be left to the intelligent
understanding Of the American people.
we DO not assert that Japan is not
poor She Is indeed poor small coun-
try, only half the size OF the state OF
SallIornla- To this poor. small weak
nation, however. heaven has imposed
the onerous task Of leading many ten
millions OF people to the pass OF civi1f-
zation and progress and she il heaven.
watchman to keep the peace ana tha
balance OF power in Asia. And In tha
discharge OF this honorable duty 40
100000 OF Japanese people stand AS ona
man under the imperial standard of
chrysanthemum.
comprehensibls to an ordinary stranrer
whose knowledge Of Japan is NOT or
tanned IN the sacred homes OF the mia
die classes. but only gathered In ba1I
rooms and among tea houses How
many japanese are there who under
stand the beautiful sacredness or the
American homes? So. how noanv
Americans know the soul Of the Jana-
nese gentlemen and the Japanese
ladies2 The French matrons and French
maidens have gladly sacrificed their
cherished heirlooms to pay OF the in
demnity TO Germany When tha
exlgency shall arrive every japanese
Will cheerfully give up the last OF hix
boarded sen in the fulnllment OF his
nations duty.
In conclusion we beg to ask the cor
respondent this question: was Lamar
richer before the Russian war--was
Japan richer before the Chinese war
than nowf