The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-02-26

are forcing themselves on the admin
listration at Washington, and fortu-
!. Inately. we have had great men there
to attend to them. Questions more
lmomentous that of tariff revision are
being grappled with by minds above
lpetty politics. Men like John Hay
land Elihu Root have done their share
to make two administrations notable.
land when the people of this country
think of changing administrations at
1 Washington, it is well to look at these
things. and ask, can the new execu-
tive command the services of minds
land hearts capable of handling these
mighty problems?
People have asked why Root is
kept in the cabinet, when he has dis
Iplayed an inclination to resign. A
patriotic sense of duty keeps him
there, at sacrifice of wealth and q
Sacrifice of health. Men like John
Hay, who gave up his life for the
work. and Elihu Root compose lin
tied product in any century. Roots
place could scarce be filled.
Just now we learn from Washing,
ton that the government is about to
protest against japanese aggressions
in Manchuria. II is not a warlike
threat. Only moral suasion will be
used, we are assured, and yet the in
cident throws some light on the rea,
son for our naval display in the east,
a light that reveals somewhat the
meaning of Secretary Tafts words:
1.-THE oriental mind requires a show
of force" The demonstration is not
for the eyes of Japan, but for the
eyes of China. The mission OF the
feet is not war, but peace. China
has complained at japanese conduct
on the mainland, and her appeal was
directed to the United States, against
the very nation, which, it was said,
would organize a Monaghan alliance
against the Caucasians.
1t was the United States that first
opened the ports of Japan TO the
world; II was the United States. which
returned to China the indemnity ex-
acted after the Boxer rebellion; and
it was the United States, which pre-
SERVED the integrity of China at a
time, when all Europe was clamorins
for slice, and has stood firmly by
that policy ever since. Ii is as cham
pion of that cause that the United
States has been called on by China to
interfere in Manchuria, and Europe
looks to us for the initiative. America
is the only country. whose motives
are not regarded with suspicion at
present by the Chinese, and this fact
is wonderful triumph for the shirt
sleeve" diplomacy of Uncle Sam over
the artful japanese.
II was Japan that engineered the
Canton boycott. Perhaps Japan insti-
tuted the immigration trouble in
order to involve China in a conten-
ton with the United States; but the
riots in British Columbia. that drew
Great Britain, Japan's ally, into the
squabble, ended that issue with en-
barrassment to Japan. II is said even
that Japan's conduct has frightened
the Filipinos into submisslveness to
the Providence that threw them under
the protecting care of the United
States.
China makes a great ally. With a
hundred millions of men to form an
army, once aroused and directed by
master hand, she would be terriblA
enemy in the orient Japan will be
good while We stand in" at Pekin,
and We shall maintain our standing so
long as We keep able men at Wash
ington.
Along with this diplomacy the
present administration has taken the
second logical step, after the initia-
tive of Mr.. Hay. and undertaken the
development of our foreign trade by
counting the favor of South Ameri-
can and oriental countries, through
policy OF absolute honesty and fair
dealing. and by developing our mer-
chant marine.
There is deal of politics of one
kind and another being discussed
these exciting days, but let us not
forget that there are things above
politics in our national government.
and that the commercial supremacy
as well as the honor of our country
depends on how well these .nterna-
tional questions are met and disposed
of. Roosevelt has the reputation of
being great politicians, and he is
demonstrating, that fact to the traf-
fickers. who are opposing his internal
reforms; but, be it said to his credit,
the state department is wholly re-
moved from partisan politics.
That Antarctic polar auto expedi-
ton may get some information of
value by interviewing participants in