Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-03-10
mountains that cast sunny, blossoming
sloIxaS down. to NJ r,lacid saa
Indianapolis News.

iiouulaluS tnat cast sunny, poisoning
slopes down to n placid sea.
In the news of the day we find allu-
slons to the mental prowess Of those
japanese who have come to be educated
in our institutions. Tributes are paid
to their scholarship. In more than one
instance 1t is intimated that they ex-
Gel the whites That is further demon
stration Of our patronizing ways. The
japanese who come here to study are
selected students who have had unusual
abilities recognized by their govern
ment, or have won the honor of for
eign education in severe competitive
examination. But 1t has not been re-
corded that these selected students are
better than their American classmates.
As a matter of fact, by great industry
and painstaking effort, they keep pace
with the others and come into distinc-
ton by accomplishing what is expected
of the others as matter Of course.
Distance and disposition to idealize
has lent most Of the enchantment with
which we have surrounded the Japan
csc. Intimate association or common
contact with them invariably dispels
the illusion. Americans who have had
occasion to go into japanese banks
have been startled to find that at the
end of row Of japanese clerks was a
Chinaman to preside over the cash box,
Which no japanese could be trusted
OF touch. Commercially, the Chinese
have proved their superiority on every
occasion. What has been politely
termed the immortality of the Japanese
has been found to be chosen immoral
ity. righteousness has been trans
formed into guile. Intimacy has
brought multiplication of disagreeable
traits, and where economical expedien-
cy moved the Pacific Coast states to
demand the exclusion of the Chinese,
dislike has been added as an incentive
to demand the same exclusion of the
japanese.
These statements do not enter the
question now pending, as it is to be
view legally and without prejudice, but
investigation of the situation as 1t ex-
lists will show that sympathy for the
Japanese has been sadly misplaced.
The glamour cleaned from the school
books and the novels does not
survive a visit to Japan or contact
with the Japanese. Madame Butterfly
Is a pathetic creation, but she was not
the product of n japanese Imagination.
The Federal Libel Cases.
The Indictment of New York and
indianapolis editors by Federal grand
jury In Washington is the climax CT
government by the big stick In defiance
OF Every protection of free speech ul,
der the Constitution of the United
States.
No less an authority than Elihu
Root has contended successfully IL,
court that II an editor is to be charged
with libel the charge must be laid at
the place of publication of his paper
II flat principle We're to be disregard.
ed, nothing would hinder the govern
ment instituting one suit after another
and, even in the face of acquittal, drag.
ging any defendant and his coulse'
end witnesses INFO every town where
ms paper circulated, until the cost OF
proceedings should eventually force
him into bankruptcy.
After March 4 we shall have an able
Jurist as President. Even as a matter
Of law he will hardly permit prosecu-
lions under such indictments. For the