The Elk Mountain pilot., 1909-05-13
ROOSEVELT ON
JAPAN QUESTION
LAsoRERs AND SMALL
TRADERS.
A = - -. --
MIGHT BRING ON WAR
URGES ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF
"A'FIRsr.cLAss FIGHTING
NAVY.

New York.-Ex-P President Roosevelt
declares in an article in this weeks
Outlook that it is the duty of America
to wait and see whether or not Japan,
succeeds In preventing the immigration
to this country of any appreciable num-
ber OF Japanese OF the laboring and
small trading classes. II Japan fails.
he writes. this government must pro.
. tect itself by treaty or legislation. but
he adds:
1T would be doubly incumbent upon
us to take the action in the way that
would provoke the least possible fric-
tion and cause the least possible hard
feelings"
Mr.. Roosevelt adds that those well
meaning but fatuous advocates OF peace
who would try to prevent the upbuild-
ing of our navy utterly misread the
temper OF their countrymen."
America would fight he saws,
whether prepared or not. and "all the
peace advocates could do would be
to prevent this country from being sue
cessful In the war"
Although. he asserts. Americans
have the right TO say what immigrants
shall come to their shores. they are
powerless to enforce that right against
any nation that chooses to disregard
their wishes. unless I'VE continue TO
build up and maintain a first-class
fighting navy"
The professional peace advocate. he
continues. who opposed the upbuild
ing OF the navy. would place the Unit
ed States where II would be Mt the
mercy OF any nation which wished to
disregard its desires to control immi-
grafton. protect the Panama canal or
take any stand for international hon
or or righteousness.
MFR. Roosevelt is unspariny in his
praise OF the Japanese. He character
izes them as "A highly civilized people
Of extraordinary militray. artistic and
Industrial developments; they are
proud. wariike and sensitive" he adds.
and continues:
II believe that our people have. what
I personally certainly have. profound
and hearty admiration for them: an
admiration for their great deeds and
great qualities and ungrudging respect
for the national character. But this
admiration and respect are accompan-
led by the firm conviction that II not
for the advantage OF either people that
emigrants from either country should
settle In mass In the other country.
The understanding between the two
countries on this point should be on
the basis OF entira mutually. and there
fore on basis which will preserve un.
impaired the self respect OF each conn
try and permit-ea to'feel' with kind
~ good win toward the other"
Ex-President Roosevelt \, his artic-
les says that only the national gov
ernment can carry out speh n policy
effectively. adding. THE. surest way to
do harm is for state. municipal or other
local govefnmefts TO pass laws which
would be ineffective to obtain the real
object and yet would produce intense
irritation. -. p" @
The best OF ialr possible ways in
which 10 achieve the .ubject Is that
which the governments Of the two
countries have now by common agree
ment adopted. This agreement dur
ing the last year or ,hereabouts has
worked so well that actually more Jap.
anese have left the country than have
come into IT." !; %. ....t...