Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-08

Mr.. Austin exhibited to his audience
specinaents of the types and patterns OF
cloths popular in the tropical, oriental
countries visited by him. and copies
of the official Chinese, Japanese ana
East Indian publications from winch
were compiled his statistics showing
the share of their respective imports
drawn from the United States
Baron kikuchi followed.
Baron Kikuchi said that misunders.aiu
ings between nations as we'll as lhoi' ~.
uals due to lack of knowledge, ofteh leau
to difficulties. He wanted to impress On
the members of the club some VI 'ii-
ideals of the Japanese natioh oei' "
from their history and progress. ne Sym
of the good feeling that eXlsteu pe' "eTii
the United States and Japan que W III
torical reasons, mentioning the eXpeoitloh
of Commodore Perry and the Soou treat
ment that his country had received IRON
the beginning from American diplomats.
He said that the American people had
andeavorad to assist Japan in progress
ing and referred to the assistance TINS
country had given to JAPANESE Soo'ii IA
seeking for knowledge. JAPAN ne saio'
| had always been a peaceful anu liot d
militant nation. 1t had become mliltailt
| only when it was forced to do so to pre-
| serve its existence.
He said that he had been commissioned
| by his government to place memorial
unon the grave of Dr. David Murray of
| New Brunswick, n. j., in recognition OF
| his services as superintendent or educa-
| ton in japan. The reasons Tor war with
| Russian. he declared, had not always been
fu1lv comprehended. Japan had always
been in favor of the open door and for
that reason it had fought for its life in
Nanchuria to prevent the domination of
Russia and the closing of Manchuria to
the nations of the world. In all its deal
ings with occidental countries 1t had not
only acted within international law but
had even gone beyond what would be re-
ouired of it under the code of nations.
japan sought only to be recognized as
an occidental nation.
In proof of Japan's desire for peace
Baron Kikuchi spoke of the fact that the
ports of the country had been closed for
80 years in order to prevent religious
propaganda and the results of political
ambition That in all this time absolute
peace had been maintained was proof
enough of Japans intentions.
The baron briefly discussed the proposal
of Secretary Knox for the naturalization
of the Manchurian Railroad and said that
coming from any nation it would have
been regarded as an unfriendly act. The
press and the people of Japan regretted
the misunderstanding which brought
about the proposal but were none the less
friendly on account of it.
Further illustrating Japan's peaceful in
tentions and the progress she had made,
he told how the nation had jumped from
a condition like that in Europe in the
middle ages to modern constitutional
government, the arbitrary power of its
rulers having been relinquished without
the shedding of a drop of blood.
The concluding speaker was DR.. George
w. Knox of the Union Theological Semi
nary and for 16 years resident of Japan
He scoffed at the idea of a yellow peril
and said that there was more danger of
a white peril He said that the talk about
war with Japan was due to two reasons
one, the anger aroused in American news
paper men by their failing to obtain in
formation which they sought in Japan
and the second that in building big ma
Wy it is necessary to have some bogy to
keep the war spirit alive.