Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-04-12


~ mi peril will not fail to carefully
lE.1z4AAsA consider the attitude of the
Japanese people toward the
questions at issue. The answer OF
Japan to the cries of the alarmists, as
gathered from those close to the con-
trolling craftsmanship of Toxic, may
be expressed thus:
That their laudable ambition for ma
tional growth should be looked upon
by western nations with alarm is a
cause for astonishment to Japanese
statesmen. Those men who guide the
destinies of Japan desire nothing more
earnestly than that their country be
permitted to stand shoulder to shoulder
with the western nations, striving to
advance the common cause of modern
civilization and in peaceful rivalry for
commerce and all those things which
go to make a people happy. prosperous
and great. Japan has ambitions, as
every nation worthy of the name must
have. but their accomplishment implies
no danger to other powers. Naturally
1t will try to do all that 1t can to at
tain commercial supremacy in Asia,
and as long as 1t acts fairly and with
due regard for the rights of others,
why should it not gain the goal? If
it does not act fairly. then 1t will fail.
Are the other powers not willing to
enter the lists with Japan under a
guarantee OF a fair field and no favor
Would they combine against Japan
And If so, would not that action force
Japan to attempt an Asiatic alliance
and thereby bring about the very thing
which is said to be fraught with so
much danger to the occident?
In Korea Japan is attempting to
remedy the curse of centuries of mis-
rule. The control of Korea came to
Japan with the legitimate sanction of
the treaty of Portsmouth and in ac-
cordance with the European standards
of international policy. Japan would
resent interference with its position in
Korea just as the United States would
resent interference with It's admins
tration in the Philippines or Porto
Rico. If Japan, having adopted west
ern civilization and western methods,
is not to be permitted to do it's part
in spreading that civilization to less
enlightened peoples, then the money
and effort expended by western nations
to bring Japan up to their standard
has been wasted. If Japan has no
help the people there by its superior
civilization, then what is the mission
of England In india or of the United
States in the Philippines?
True, there have been complaints of
excuses committed by Japanese sub
jects in Korea, and frightful tales of
wrong-doing. Some of these stories
may be true, but have we not heard
the same kind of tales from India and
the Philippines? Was there not a mu-
tiny among the Hindoos, an insurrec-
ton among the Filipinos? In all that
Japan is doing toward national expan-
sion has it not the glorious precedent
of the example of every western ma
ton? Shall the Japanese take western
ideas and put them to use in pulling
the chestnuts out of the fire for Euro
pean nations. while the world applauds,
and then be stopped from using those
ideas for it's own benefit? Are the
western nations afraid of the newest
recruit to the ranks OF their form of
civilization? If they do fear Yellow
Peril, then they must ask, with Bill
Nye: us civilization a failure, and is
the Caucasion played out?'
Japan is endeavoring to make a
richer happier and better Korea. To
accomplish that end its foremost states
man, Prince Ito, has abandoned the
rest to which his age and his great
services entitle him, and has under
taken a task in which others, includ-
ing the Koreans themselves, have igno-
miniously failed. He has formulated
a policy of which Japan declares the
keynote to be consideration for Korean
interests, and from that he has not de-
Waited one hairs breadth since he as
sumed control. Only his great name
and influence saved him from the OPP
position of those of his countrymen who
at the outset advocated a more rigor-
GUS and radical policy.
So far as the commercial rights of
foreigners in Korea are concerned
there never has been any reason for
legitimate protest. Since Japan OBJ
tained control the principle of equal
opportunity has been scrupulously OBJ
served. The only complaint comes
from those foreigners who found profit
in the old corrupt order of things, but
test regarding interference with en-
joyment of rights then acquired.
AS regards the question of trade in
Manchuria, the Americans and English
began to "holler before they were hit"
They did not give the Japanese time to
clear away the debris of war before
they began to protest. Curiously enough
the protests were confined to what was
happening in Southern Manchuria I'M
der Japanese influence, while nothing
was said about the equally good
grounds for protest in Northern Man
churia. Undoubtedly there was ground
for complaint in Manchuria, but 1t was
not the fault of the government, but
Of individuals. It is only fair to give
Japan time to straighte nout the tam
gle. 1t is pledged to do so, and the
Japanese government has never failed
to keep its promises.
Japan undoubtedly has a great in
terest in the impending crisis in the
domestic affairs of China. All the
other nations have expressed such an