Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-07-05

The political responsibilities that
this republic has so unconcernedly as
sumed in establishing its suzerainty
over the western hemisphere and a
tentative dominion over the Pacific are
so vast and so intimately affect the
nations of the world in their struggle
for the pOtentialities of power that it
is impossible to fOretell whence shall
come not alone alarms of war, but war
itself.
In a war with japan, the conflict it
self and the results ensuing from such
a struggle, we but exemplify what viii
happen, different only in time and
place, when this republic undertakes to
stop theexpansion of European and
Asian empires and attempts, without
adequate naval and military power, to
preserve intact to itself the Pacific and
the western hemisphere.
Japan must overcome difficulties
such as would not exist in a war with
Germany or other European powers.
From Hamburg to the Atlantic Coast
is six days; from Japan to California,
seventeen. But when Germany lands
her forces on the Atlantic Coast they
are within few days march of the
political and financial centers of the
republic, while Japan is removed by
unreasonable distance from them.
Faulty Growth.
The American people, and not Japan
are responsible for any approaching
conflict. In sacrificing the national
ideal to that of the individual the ex-
pansiOn of this nation has been de-
termined by his wants All national
growth, following in the wake of indi.
vidual desires, has been industrial,
while political development, together
with its cOncomitant military and ma
val expansion, has been relegated to
secondary consideration.
The ethical and sociological condi
tiOns extant in Japan, while antithetic
to those existent in the United States,
are nevertheless the product of two
thousand years of Japanese develop.
ment To remake the Japanese racial
character in order to conform with
that of the Occident would redliire,
even were it possible, a longer period
Of time than we can conceive. Such
a racial change in Japan can no more
take place than could the West alter
its civilization to conform with that Of
the Orient
In a struggle between Japan and the
United States for the supremacy Of
the Pacific all nations have more or
less interest in the outcome, but the in
terests of Japan and this republic are
so paramount that the aggregate in.
terests of the remainder of the world
are less than the interests of these
two nations. This condition of affairs
has been brought about by Japan on
three momentOus occasions:
Japan's Policy.
1.-The elimination of China as a
Pacific power by the war of 1894.
1.-The elimination of Russia as a
possible Pacific power by the war of
1904.
3.-The elimination of Great Britain
and the balance of Europe by the ten.
year Offensive and Defensive Alliance
of 1905.
The interests of European nations in
the Pacific are only tentative Condi.
tiOns that are vital to their welfare are
in Europe, or in those continents upon
whose shores the same sea breaks.
At present, and for some time to
come, there are only two powers, Ja-
pan and this republic, that can, with
geographical and political conditions
favorable, enter into war for the su.
premacy of the Pacific Japan s in.
terest and inherent advantage in this
struggle is due to the fact that her en-
tire empire is not only in this ocean,
but in the strategic center of it.
But, it is asked, if Japan became in.
volved in war with the United States
to the extent chat her entire naval
and military forces were engaged, what
would prevent Russia or China, or both
in coalition, from attempting to re.
cover their kingdoms lost, and their
prestige-now so small in the eyes of
the worldY
1t was the realization of this fact
that led Japanese statesmen, at the
conclusion Of the Russian war, to en-.
ter into an offensive and defensive
} alliance with the greatest of world
: powers fora period of ten years. BY
this alliance the undefended frontiers
of Japan in northern Asia are without
danger of attack. She is free to di.
vert her entire military forces upon
| any war that she may deem necessary
No Bars Of Trade.
} Japanese tea or silk is not so essen.
tial to America that without them the
Americans can have neither tea nor
silks, The relative value of these com.
modities that Japan annually exports
to the United States is, to the worlds
| total production of silk or tea, so in.
t significant that the entire failure Of
the Japanese product would make but
little difference to the consumers OF
such articles in the United States.
Japan, on the other hand, is nc
more dependent upon American prod
!, ucts than is this republic dependent
on Japanese tea and silks. Whateve,
American commodities Japan needs she
Will get in war as in peace,
In the national fabric of japan and
the United States, in their information
/, al and human relationship, condition,
potential Of peace are not to be found
In their racially different characters
Q no harmonious similarity exists, only
/. divergent and incompatible ideals: il
I their international politics, no restrain
ing influence that might, at least
{ postpone into the indefinite future IN,
probabilities Of war. An political re
o straints have been removed; one afteI
another pulled down and thrown asid,
q q Il