Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15

HE SUNDAY STAR, w
| Tense. but the policy of being as strong
! as possible In the department of torpedo
boats and destroyers is an old one with
Japan.
Ridiculous Imaginings.
Some of the imaginings have been ridic-
ulous in the extreme. There were the
| absurd charges Of plot. possibly manip-
| ulated by Japanese, to blow up American
warships in the harbor of Rio de Janeiro.
If ever a japanese in the pursuit of his
work or recreation is seen near an Amer
| lean fort some newspaper correspondent
reports that a spy has been securing in
| formation. The whole tendency among
| many of the less reputable newspapers in
| this country has been to represent the
| little brown man as a black hearted in
crate, unmindful of the friendship which
| has subsisted since Commodore Perry
| opened the ports of Japan. He has also
been persiStently m1Srepresented as fool
| forgetful of his own material welfare.
Now this attitude of suspicion which
certain mercenaries. for reasons of their
| own. have been promoting among the
American people seems to me to be the
| most dangerous factor in the situation.
None of the yellow press of Japan has
any such circulation and influence as GER
tain American journals which keep talk
ing about the probability of war. Can
nothing be done to counterfeit this evil
influence" If you keep limiting at impend-
ing trouble long enough the trouble Is apt
to come. Can it not be said over and
over again until every int lligent Amer
lean will believe it--and most Americans
are very intelligent-that it would be ma
tional suicide for the Japanese people to
enter upon another war. even if their
sense of evaporation toward the United
States were keen, as 1t really is not.
attention has often been called to the
! enormous debt that was piled up re-
suit of the late hostlities that could not
be avoided. AS a means of avoiding Sc
rious financial troubles the Toxic gov
eminent has just determined upon re-
trenchment which will save about SEQ
OC0. 00h annually for six years. The ma
,ional credit would collapse a once if war
should be declared.
Emperor Is Mindful
sc far as Japan is concerned. news
paper talk cannot possibly bring about
war. Our august emperor. though ST.
lent is mindful of all that is going on and
a matter of so serious import would be
decided by him and his immediate cabf-
net They are not forgetful of the ex-
traOrdinary sympathy and kindness eX-
tended by the American people through
President Roosevelt at the close of the
RusSo-Japan war, which bore great
weight in bringing about the peace nego-
tiations. Considering all these things the
friction in the Pacific states would hard
ly be considered sufficient reason for war
by the emperor and his cabinet or by any
educated Japanese. The question is ac-
tually concluded between the two govern
ments. Proof of it is seen from the fact
the steamers from the orient no longer
bring Japanese laborers to the Pacific
coast.
las d business man 1 believe that most
Americans do not realize the value of
the japanese industrial plant. for which
the nation has gone heavily in debt and
which might easily be thrown on the
scrap-heap in event of a severe conmct.
For years and years the balance Of trade
has been against Japan. Why? Because
the japanese are an extravagant people,
living beyond their means? Not at ALL
me adverse balance has meant that the
industrial captains of the empire have
seen the wisdom of going into debt to
secure plant adequate to compete with
other nations in manufacturing enter
prises. The annual excess of imports over
exports has been caused mainly by i'm
portation of machinery and other appara-
tus, very much of which has been made
by American manufacturers.
This annual drain of money out of the
country has continued and will continue
the Japanese people under a permanent
injunction TO maintain peace unless war
should be absolutely forced upon them.
as it was forced by the Russian agrees
sions. The only way by which the pres
ent heavy obligations. both of the gov
eminent and of individual manufacturers
and merchants. can possibly be met and
thus the national credit maintained Is by
engaging. not In warfare, but in eco
homie competitions, making the fullest
nOSSlhlQ of the facilities NJ Mo
that is only partly paid for. and endeav-
oring in every possible way to extend
the market for Japanese goods through
out the orient.
Americans Will Benefit.
From this competition Anne ricans will
benefit instead OF suffering, as a great
| many uniformed writer's have tried to
indicate. Just because Japan is manu-
featuring more and more OF the textiles
used by the Chinese empire does not
mean that the United States is going
to be much the poorer On the con-
| trary. the japanese manufacturers must
have machinery with which to make
their cottons and silks and shoes, and
| if they prosper they will continue to come
to this country to buy their machinery
AS the standard of living is raised among
the people through their having perna-
nent employment in the factories and
workshops of the cities their purchasing
power will increase and they will become
better customers for various American
importations.
"The Japanese up TO this time have been
mainly an agricultural nation. That Is
why with an increasing population as
| many as half a million emigrants have
gone forth in single year to earn a liv-
ing wherever they can-in South America
the Philippines. British Columbia. Mexico,
California or wherever there is hard work
to be done.
Because many Of the Chinese buy jap
anese cOttons in preference to English and
American WeaveS does not mean that the
Chinese markets will be closed to Ameri-
can goods. On the contrary, If the china
man gets his clothing cheaper from the
japanese manufacturer he will have more
money to spend for other things many of
which will be imported from the United
states. Inc opening OF the Panama canal,
! have discovered on recent trips to
Japan, is looked forward to throuehout
the empire as promising a great expan-
sion of commerce and industry for japan.
Korea. Manchuria and China The feel
ing of community of interests will un-
questionably be promoted by 1t, and the
friendilness toward the Americans who
projected II Will be increased noticeab bly,.
SO. with every reason for avoiding
trouble with the American people nearly
all japanese. | am certain are hearing
With asfonfshment that some neWsDapers
OF the United States and few of Eli
rope appear to be doing their utmost To
incite war Every intelligent fellow
!