Evening star., 1909-03-07
Can't. Hobsou.
Says the Philadelphia Ledger:

"A good many people are not disposed
to forgive Capt. Hobson for becoming a
sort of professional hero, for his waving
of the uniform and his adaptability to
kissing parties and the like. His hare
Drained outbursts about the navy and
Japan: his shrill and eager twittering. as
of a frightened sparrow. have annoyed
Americans. who feel firmly set on this
goodly frame. the earth, and. altogether.
he seemed to have lacked balance. There
Is something to Hobsons credit, however,
and 1t is to be found in the debate on the
Brownsville soldiers and the proposal to
do justice to them. Any member of Con-
gress who can make that sort of speech
and do that sort of act has something in
him.
There is a good deal to Capt. Hobson' 8
credit. His vote on the Brownsville bill
should have surprised nobody familiar
with his record and antecedents He
comes of good, wholesome stock, brave
enough to act upon his convictions. and he
is not enough of a politician to duck and
run before a popular prejudice. AS one
who had worn the country's uniform, he
knew the negro in action, and as a south
brought a young mans views to the ques-
ton.
The Star, year or SO ago, pointed out
against Japan indulged in by Capt Hob
son. and those indulged in by men of an
other type. Some of the anti japanese
hullGbaloo is the work of those bent either
on mischief or on personal profit A war
would bring them money in some way.
They would be the last 10 help fight it.
but they would skirmish in the rear or
between the lines for shekels, and gather
OF selfish viciousness.
Not so in the case of Capt. -Hobson.
He would be one OF the first to offer his
services to the country. and on the water
against Japan would behave as well as
he did on the water against Spain His
instincts are patriotic. Undoubtedly he
loves the country. He would take a
transport in under japanese guns as will
ingly as he did at Santiago under
Spanish guns. performance like that
on the Cuban coast is not born of a
chance impulse. but OF character
1t is for this reason that Capt. Hobson's
outbursts against Japan are SO regret
table. They show an obsession on the
subject. He sees what but few men of
his quality see. Our travelled men
whether In or out Of the navy. have no
rear or rupture between the United
States and japan. They reject the asser-
tion that Japan wants trouble with us.
and is preparing for 1t. They can detect
no. sign OF anything of the kind Their
feeling for Japan is friendly. as they be-
lieve Japan's feeling for us is, and they
deprecate the activity OF Capt Hohson
in what they consider a most mistaken
and unjust cause.
We must take every man as we find
him Strong men have their weaknesses
Capt. Hobson is strong man, but this
one weakness has cost him much since he
began to manifest II. 1t is still to he
doubted II he served his fame or the
country we'll by leaving the navy, where
his standing was high and promotion In
sight, for politics, where he must be q
beginner and for some years must en-
counter difficulties. But he decided on
the change. and his best friends could
wish 10 see him rid himself as speedily
as possible of the one thing that Is re-
tarding his influence as a national law
maker.