Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-23

agreement, IL Will De QOteQ, ex-
presses any concern over the career
of Japan. Japan is now f..lIy an au-
tonomous nation, one of the &C
knowledged world powers China
is the main object of these diplomatic
"pacts,' and Japan is co-equal party
in the work to be done. Japan,
therefore, is to be accepted in our
international relations with no more
show to Great Britain or any other
first-class power The dominant
problems of the Far East are her
problems now as much as they are
ours or those of any other of the ma
tions, and the cheering fact above
all else is that the great aim of Japan
in dealing with these problems is ex-
actly that which inspires Great Brit
ain and our own country. There is
every reason, then, why America and
Japan should assume and develop in
ternational friendship. The day was
not long ago when the guiding pur-
pose of certain European govern
ments was the partition of China
among themselves and a selfish ex-
ploitation of the multitudes compos-
ing its population. The victories OF
Japan in two great wars brought all
such schemes to halt, and the vic
torious empire proclaimed as her
purpose the preservation of China
integrity and independence, and an
equal commercial opportunity for all
peoples there. In carrying forward
this purpose both Great Britain and
our country found their own policies
supported-out of the needs of this
situation the formal Anglo-Japanese
alliance of 1902 came into being. The
Japan-Russia war two years later,
served to make this treaty only the
more commanding now events
have so matured that our own govern
ment has felt justified in declaring
that since its views have always COM
pletely conceded with Japan's views
in Far Eastern policies it will be
useful in order to dispel all misun-
derstandings to announce their COM
mon policies to the world
Comparison of our agreement"
with the British alliance" shows
that the two documents, except in re-
gard to possible armed cooperation,
aim at practically the same things.
Each government is pledged to re-
spect each the others possessions
and rights, but, beyond that, to pro
tect the independence and territorial
integrity of China, and to maintain
the status quo now existing in east
ern Asia. Here, then, for all practi-
cal purposes, is magnificent and ir.
resistible tripartite pact of mighty ma
lions to secure the peace and pros
perity of almost countless millions Of
mankind How utterly baseless has
been the talk of war between these
peoples whose leaders are seeking
for them the way of peace!
This article can hardly have a bet
ter ending than some sentences from
letter dated October 26, just re-
ceived from the secretary of the ia.
pan Unitarian association. Saichiro
Kanda of Toxic. His quaint English
will not detract from the meanings
put into it:
During last week he writes, "our
government and people have well
coined the fleet of your battleships.
We understand very well the skill of
navigation and bravery of the crew
of your admirable navy; and at the
same time they have shown us their
good behavior and tender kindness.
BY direct contact of your representa-
tive officers and crews with our peo-
pie, we on both sides have made am
pie understandings for future alliancel
in the cause of world peace making.
When your Commodore Sperry ar,
rived the whole air OF the city has
vibrated with the shout of Banzai!
Hail Columbia! We do not expect to
be overesteemed in our present posi-
1on. but we hope to be known our
selves as really we are Our country
is rot so civilized like your country,
and we are not as wealthy as your
people. But We are not so barbarous
and warlike as we have been misun-
derstood by some yellow journals.
I'VE are always and still are cher
ish 'ng the traditional and unwritten
alliance with your country. This feel
ing. this spirit. will never die in our,
hearts. As our national habit of men
tai tendency, we degrade and disdain
one who forgets and betrays the kind
ness of our friends. Japan has often
-no-has always, been receiving in
comparable kindness of United States
of America, since the brilliant admin
istratiOn of President Fillmore. How
could we forget such kindness? AS
long as we are Japanese. as long as
our ancestors blood circulates in our
4