The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-07
TO AVERT WAR WITH JAPAN.
Pastor RusseIl's Letter to the Presi
dent and Congress.

The state journal secured from
Pastor Russell for the benefit of its
readers the following copy of his re-
cent letter to the government officials
showing the imminent danger of war
and a sure and honorable method of
averting it.
Brooklyn, May 26, 1913.
Hon. w. J. Bryan, Secretary of State,
United States of America.
Dear Sir: I am addressing you, and
through you the honorable president
bers of its congress, upon a subject
which I believe to be of prime impor-
lance to our nation and to the world.
I would have preferred to make this
communication a private one, but be-
lieve that its object will be much bet
ter served if it be known at home and
abroad that the suggestion comes from
a native citizen, minister and ambas-
sador of Christ, rather than if the
same suggestion were to emanate from
some official of our government or
from a politician.
The Worlds Peace Endangered.
A year ago I visited Japan and OBJ
served the congested conditions there
prevailing, and learned that her pop
ulation is increasing very rapidly, while
every foot of arabic land is under "'in-
tense cultivation Japan'S need for
room for her overflow population has
already led her to grasp Korea, and
it is no secret that she longs for pos
session of the Philippine Islands, and
would be glad of a reasonable pretext
for taking possession of them. Many
broad minded Americans have suggest
ed that the United States has no desire
to acquire colonies in an imperial
sense. and that, therefore. the Philip
pine Islands should be surrendered to
the Fihpinos. The only objection
urged against this move is that the
Filipinos are not as yet sufficiently ad-
vanced in civilization to properly gov
ern themselves. And those most in
innate with the situation have not the
slightest doubt that of the United States
withdrew from the Philippines. the
Japanese government would immedi-
ately take control and shortly the
Philippine Islands would be inundated
with ese-undoubtedly to their
benefit, as the latter people are more
thrifty and prudent and energetic than
the Filipinos.
Some Startling Suggestions.
suggest that the United States
government select from amongst the
Philippine Islands one island suitable
as a naval base and tender to Japan
the opportunity to take over the Phil
ippine Islands at precisely the same
they have cost the United States. This
would give our neighborS of the far
east exactly what they want at no
price at all com pared with the cost of
war. Additionally, it would make
them our friends, and surely all
Americans desire a world wide friend
ship with all nations. 1 advise that
this step be taken speedily, because
there is lingo" party in Japan bent
upon the requirement of the Philip
pines, which party will always be
ready to take advantage of such trifies
as the California alien law to incite
hatred against the United States and
to force their government, against its
judgment, to seize the Philippines.
1t is human nature for the japanese
to want those islands-to feel that
they need them. 1t is practical COM
mon sense to say that they can take
them whenever they are ready. The