Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1908-08-06
Are the
Japanese
A World
Menace?
BY st. NIHAL SING
Copyright. by Joseph b. Bowles.)


During and Immediately succeeding
the Russo-Japanese war the press OF
Europe and America went into costa
sizes over the prowess Of the Japanese
soldier and the level-headedness and
strategic ability of the officers who en-
gineered the task of graphing with
the Russian army and navy. Enthus'
iastic panegyrics were written re-
garding the sacrifices which the pa
triotic islanders had made to avert
menace to their national existence.
Lavish praise was bestowed on the
wonderful manner in which Japan. In
O brief term of years, had modernized
and prepared itself to whip the occi'
dental with his own weapons.
During the last few months the
tenor of comments has considerably
changed. and in many instances edi.
torial writer's are deplOring the fact
that any fuss" ever was made about
the achievements Of Japan. The peo-
pie have commenced to remark that
after all is said and considered, the
Japanese are ordinary humans and not
supernatural beings, and the Pacific
coast influx of Japanese immigrants
has created an extensive and inten-
sive alarm, and caused thinkers and
statesmen to pause and consider that
the Japanese aggressiveness. famed
into volcanic activity by the successes
In the Russo-Japan war. constitutes n
menace to the world-at least to the
Pacific coast of North America.
And It is not the occident alone
which Is cogitating over the world
menace of Japan. The orient also
Is displaying unmistakable signs Of
being fearful of the menacing position
and tactics which the island nation
has assumed of late.
Like the occident, the entire orr.
ont showed unbounded admiration OF
Japan's struggle with Russia. To the
orient the issues involved In the
Russo-Japan war meant more than
they did to the western world. The
Asians were enthusiastic and appre-
ciative of Japan's proving to the oc-
cident that an Asiatic nation was cap
able of using western methods of
warfare to defeat a western people;
and IL possible the praise Of the
orient was more lavish than that OF
the occident. But, as in America and
Europe. the Asian attitude toward
the mikado's subjects has undergone
o great change. Asia has become
fearful of the methods Japan is en-
ploying to secure commercial mar.
kets and proclaiming its political
suzerainty in Asiatic countries.
The first shock was occasioned by
the excuses committed by Japan In
Korea. To the entire continent 1t
was patent that Japan was not assum-
ing the suzerainty Of Korea for altru-
istic purposes; the peninsula was to
be rid of the Russian and to be util-
lied by the expanding Nipponese. 1t
was expected by eastern peoples that
the Japanese would make the civiliza-
ton and development Of Korea and its
resources a mere secondary object;
very few Asiatics had expected that
they would subject the Koreans to the
militarism since forced upon them.
Japan can offer but feeble excuses for
her policy of self-glorification and ex-
pansion and for inaugurating a reign
Of terrorism In Korea.
Her present attitude toward China
and her administration Of Manchuria
Enthusiastically indicate that the Jap