The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-13
ny rnEpEn1c !. HAsKIN.

unprejudiced students of the Far
suments, advanced by those who fear
the yellow peril will not fall to care
fully 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 controlling states
manship of Tokyo, may be expressed
thus.
THAT their laudablc ambition for ma
tional growth should he looked upon
by Western nations with alarm is a
cause for establishment to japanese
statesmen. Those men who guide the
earnestly than that their country be
permitted to stand shoulder to shoulder
with the Western nations. striving to
advance. the common cause of modern
commerce and all those things which
go to make u people happy, prosperous
and great. Japan has ambitions, as
every nation worthy of the name must
plies no danger to other powers
Naturally, 1t Will try to do all that 1t
can TO attain commercial supremacy In
Asia, and as long as 1t acts fairly and
others, why should IT not gain the
goal? II II does not act fairly, then
1t will fail. Are the other powers not
willing to enter the lists with Japan
no favor? Would they combine against
Japan? And II so, would not that ac-
ton force Japan TO attempt an Asiatc
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 curses OF centuries OF
misrule. The contro! Of Korea came
TO Japan with the Legitimate sanction
of the treaty of Portsmouth and in
accordance with the European stand
ards of international policy Japan
would resent interference with its po-
States would resent Interference with
it's administration in the Philippines
or Porto Rico. II Japan, having adopt
ed Western civilization and Western
its part in spreading that civilization
to less enlightened peoples, then the
money and effort expended by Western
nations to bring Japan UP to their
has no mission in Korea and Man
churia to help the people there by its
superior civilization, then what Is tho
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
the same kind OF tales from India and
the Philippines" Was there not a
mutiny among the Hindoos, an insur-
rection among the Ellipinos? In all
expansion has 1t not the glorious pre-
cedent of the example of every Vest
ern nation? Shall the Japanese take
Western ideas and put them to use in
pulling the chestnuts out of the fire
for European 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
Lt., I,<. . Il aty
form of civilization? III they do fear
a yellow peril. then they must ask,
with Bill Nye: rs civilization fall
ure, and is the Caucasian played out?"
richer. happier and better Korea. TO
accomplish that end its foremost
statesman. Prince Ito. has abandoned
the rest to which his age and his great
taken a task in which others. including
the Koreans themselves. have ignomi-
niously failed. He has formulated a
policy of which Japan declares the key
terests 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 tho OPP
who at the outset, advocated a more
rigorous and radical policy.
So far as tho commercial rights Of
foreigners In Korea are concerned,
lneTe ueNCI mas aDCcu any l0dSOI III
legitimate protest. Since Japan OBJ
tanned control the principle of equal
opportunities has been scrupulously OBJ
served. The only complaint comes from
those foreigners who found profit In
the old corrupt order of things, but
even they can allege no just cause
for protest regarding interference with
enjoyment OF rights then acquired.
AS regards the question of trade in
Manchuria, the Americans and Eng
lsh began to "holler before they We're
hit" They did not give the Japanese
time enough 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 under Japanese
influence, while nothing was said about
the equally good grounds for protest
in Northern Manchuria. Undoubtedly
there was ground for complaint in
Manchuria but it was not the fault Of
the government, but of individuals. It
is only fair to give Japan time to
straighten out the tangle. It is pledged
to do so, and the Japanese government