Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1908-07-30
Orient
Would Resist
American
Intrusion
tcopyright. by Joseph B. Bowles')
Ny ST. NIHAL SING

tIOpyTlkUt, ny JOhtpu boWsNeV
It is but recently that the oriental
has begun to awaken to an apprecia-
ton OF himself. Hitherto he has not
only allowed himself to be treated by
the occidental as chance ordained, but
has measured his ability with the critic
rions set up by westerners. 1t Ia but
yesterday that the Asian assumed an
aggressive attitude and vowed that
he would resist the intrusion OF the
European and American, employing
the occidental weapons to accomplish
that end.
The change in the attitude Of the
east towards the west during the last
two decades has been phenomenal. 1t
has led the Asiatic to resent the west
ern insinuation that the oriental is the
inferior of the occidental In mental and
moral caliber. It has also wooed the
Asiatic out OF his inaction and leth.
argy Of ages. inspired him with the de-
sire to break the shell Of his limita-
tions and set his face towards modern
ization and evolution.
Time was, and not long ago, when
the rank and file OF even the cultured
orientals were obsequious In their at
titude towards even the mediocre
westerner. To the Asiatic. white"
skin was synonymous with superior
talent and character. The white man
represented to him great strength OF
mind and body and skill OF arms, Of
fensive and defensive.
The Asian no longer mentally or
physically prostrates himself before
the Caucasian. To him, no more the
Anglo-Saxon boast of surviving as the
fittest has any weight. A brown or
yellow hide has come to be, to him,
as good an index of character and cal.
iber as the white.
This attitude has found expression
in many and diverse ways. The Russo
Japan war was one indication and full
fillment of 1t. It was also the means
of further advancing these sentiments.
The greatest and most Trustworthy
signs of this metamorphosis, however,
are to be found in the boycott move
ments started or threatened against
occidental products and men In sew
eral Asiatic countries. The boycott
of American goods in China, the boy
colt Of English goods in India and
the once-threatened boycott of Amer
lean goods in Japan, though probably
failures in their economic aspect, are
yet vitality significant Of the way the
occidental views things western.
What the new oecident wants to-
day is reciprocity. It demands for It.
self perfectly even privileges in re-
turn for those which 1t extends to
westerners within its gates.
This attitude is likely to assume
more aggressive and intensive form
as the awakening proceeds apace and
as the oriental succeeds in learning
the arts and crafts Of subjugating the
forces of nature and utilizing them.
Considered in this light, 1t Is easy
to understand the oriental view of
Asiatic immigration to North America
and the British colonies. The first
thing to be noted in this connection Is
that the oriental is no longer prepared
to brook the aspersion that he Is the
inferior of the Americans or British
colonials. Another and more impor-
tant feature is that the hostile treat
ment Of the oriental immigrants can.
not but lead to untold and vexatious
trade complications.
The peddler who sold his wares