The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-22
 IT IS UNDESERYED So Says Missionary Concern ing Distrust of
 Japan. PEOPLE AND RULERS CALM American Missionaries Sign Some Sig nificant Resolutions
 There.

raveling abroad or residing in Japan. But are not these merely diplomatic ut.erances? Do they express the rsa. feeling even of those who made them, and do they truly express the attitude of the Japanese nation?
 Many indications show that no small number of Americans entertain serious doubt of Japan. In spite of official assurances, say they, Japan's real attitude toward America is one of jealousy, arrogance, selfish aggres- sion and secret hostility; her recent war with Russia has given her an ex- aggerated sense of power and interna- tlonal importance; she does not know her real place; for further opportuni- ty for military glory she is ready to pick quarrel even with her best friends; whatever may be her protes- tations of friendship, her real inten- tions are to fight the United States as soon as convenient opportunity of fers, in order to seize the Philippines and Hawaii, both of which are politi- cally and economically important for her. Clear proof of this spirit and purpose lies, say these critics of Japan in the undeniable fact that she is vtr ont i, av tt,o hnth and her navy.
 This distrust of Japan seems to ex- ist not only in San Francisco and among hoodlums, and to find expres- sion in the yellow press but also in the east and even among good people who earnestly desire to know and be influenced in the facts One Chris tian weekly goes so far as to assert that the administration recognizes that Japan cannot be trusted to keep the peace" Some Americans have be- come so convinced of Japan's belliger- ent intentions that they have written to missionary friends urging their speedy return to America.
 What, then, are the facts9 Is Jap an friendly or IS she secretly plotting against us? Is she. or is she no' tending to seize our insuiar posses sions in the Pacific? These are import ant questions. The welfare of both nations ds,nanIs that unfounded sus- picions be removed no less than that misplaced confidence be avoided.
 With the possible exception of Great Britain, no country in the world en- tertalns for tie United States so warm friendship and go confident a trust In her spirit of Justice ss does Japan Events during ;ne past year in san Francisco have deeply grievad her, but those events are recognized. by the great majority of thoughtful Jap anese, as local and as due to peculiar conditions aggravated since the earth quake.
 Politicians out Of office, seeking to belabor the government, may have made bellcose utterances not In ac' cord with the above statement. Edi- tors of yellow journals and Of com. ic papers are always tempted to exag gerate local mshaps and m.sdeeds into international crises. Designing politicians" and irresponsible writ. CTS" exist in every lard who would fain have their excited utterances re- garded as the voice of inc people Eager emigrants seeking golden op' portunities and emigration and trans portation companies beyond question have scant regard for America's emi grafton laws. which they lndenlebl, seek to evade. But aside from thes' insignificant sections of Japan, there is abundant reason for believing tha the people are frankly and avowedl, friendly to America. are free Iron suspicious of her motives, have n' jealousy for her greatness and poTe and have full confidence that she vii do justice in every case of difficult, that may arise.
 Among the many remarkabl' events connected with the recent war none seems more remarkable than tn spirit and conduct of the people sine the war. Ex-eagleism were to hav' been expected. As a matter of fact however. Japan has manifested an ex traordinary split of sobriety and self restraint. Success in war, so far fror
 making Japan antiforeign and anti Christian In spirit. has had rather tn
 reverse effect. She has never beel
 more open to Christian teaching O
 more ready to learn what the TOT
 eigner may teach. We who reside |
 the interior parts of Japan have nes
 CT received more courteous treatmer
 from the people at large. or been sur
 iected to so little annoyance. as sine
 the war. It is true that Japanes
 Christians feel more desire as well
 more competence to manage the
 own affairs without foreign leadership
 This. however, must not he nlisintel preted as a spirit of mere oppositio
 to the foreigner. It is indeed hope ! full sign
 Among the surprises of the perio [ since the war is the discovery of fac ' indicating that Japan is at heart
 peace-loving nation. The average hi l torian and the usual student of Japa 1 represent her as a martial people; an ' it is indeed true that her history
 one of wars; her virtues are militar ] her heroes are largely warriors. ar ! her distinctively national moral cod -"Bushido" (the way of the wa rior)-is the creation of warriors. | there is any nation to-day living f and glorying in war. one would ha' 1 thought it must he Japan. Yet ce l tain recent facts reveal Japan as 2
 ardent lover of peace. Leading JaI anese maintain that no nation i Christendom recognized pla'
 among the nations. together with pc
 manent peace. are purchased only
 perfect preparedness for war.
 Tn regard to the Philippines ar
 Hawaiin islands. the nation as who has. I believe. no predatory desires designs. I have talked with mar ra,o-asa f,, -ora-d -o fhaee isla-