The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-08

Koreans. he will not go this year. To
this end, he will seize, first, the Loo
choOs islands, and then the Formosa
in order to pour, from there, his people
into Cagayan, and thence to Manila, un-
less God does not first stop his progress. y
If you have a map of the Philippines
and the Japanese islands, you may ind
it interesting, to see how the Island of
Luzon and the Island of Formosa fringe
away into smaller islands and points of
land which bring the Japanese posses
sons and those of the United States
very close together.
The Province of Cagayan is the most
northern province of the mainland in
zon, and the plan to invade the Philip
pines at this point Is today as feasible
and reasonable as it was three centuries
ago.. 1t seemed, as we read the poor
old Friar's letter, as though the pouring
in of the little Japs might begin at any
moment-and then, again It may be
that centuries will pass on again before
it is really attempted.
One of the things our prophet told
us about Is the "Bondsman.'' popular
play now being presented at the Toxic
theatre, which he had recently seen. |
cannot, of course, write 1t down. as he
told it to u.s. with strong dramatic effect,
backed by the magnetic quality of his
voice and personality, but | want to give
you some idea of its meaning.
He told us of it to illustrate the state
OF public feeling in Japan, and also the
common methods by which the powers
OF Japan train and nurture the popular
impulse and bend the popular mind in
to the attitude they desire 1t to assume.
The play. 1t seems, is all about the
Philippine islands, and Japan, and is in
siduously designed to fan into flames
the hatred of Americans and encourage
the sentiment which the slogan. 1.-THE
Orient for the Orientals" stands for.
While all reference-in words-to the
United States is avoided with the utmost
punctilio, the true meaning of the play
is all the more emphasized by this care,
especially as the band fills in the gaps
playing typical and familiar American
airs. The relish and enthusiasm with
which the audience welcomes the Of
fensive references to the white man. in
general and those of the Philippine is
lands In particular indicates pretty
clearly how the Japanese feel about
us, and what the true purpose of the
| play is.
| One of the acts shows the governor S
palace at Manila with Japanese gov
| ernor presiding, attended by a Japanese
| naval officer as aide de camp, and one
| of the speeches of the Japanese governor
| is: I'm dealing with the white man 1t
| Is necessary to use many spies" This
| line owing to the fact that Manila. and,
| in fact the whole of the Philippine is
| lands are simply swarming with Japan
| csc spies our Prophet marked as es-
pecially full of Significance. He says the
| policy of the United States in allowing
| the Japanese to soak into and saturate
| every branch of the civil and military
In Manila is so foolhardy that it is pos
| lively suicidal. Japanese workmen and
mechanics have invaded everything In
| the islands he says. and they are. almost
| all of them, employed by the Japanese
government as spies. He compared the
secret workings of their spy system and
| their hordes of underground agents. to
| the silent and certain destruction which
| the white ants of the east bring about
giving no outward and visible sign OF
| their acts, until the supporting fbres are
| eaten out from the very heart and the
whole structure crumbles hopelessly to
| dust.
Isn't it exciting to learn all this. just
| as we are on our way to Manila? Madge
| and have decided to remain In Hong
Kong for week or 10 days, in time to
| give our friends there chance to warn
u.s. in case there can really be any scare
| in such talk.
| Of course, I don't suppose things are
50 serious or imminent, but the arrival
| of guests might be very embarrassing
| at the home of the commanding military
| officer If matters are half as bad as our
| Prophet pictures them.
We shall stay in Hong Kong long
| enough to exchange cables. at any rate;
meanwhile we are enjoying the sensation
! tremendously. IA A