The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1913-06-11

/ suggest that the United States
government select from amongst the
Philippine islands one island-suitabIe
as naval base, and tender to Japan
the opportunity to take over the
Philippine 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 compared with the cost
of war. Additionally, it would make
them our friends, and surely all Amer
leans desire world wide friendship
with all nations. advise that this
step be taken speedily, because there
is lingo" party in Japan bent upon
the requirement of the Philippines,
which party will always be ready to
take advantage of such trifles as the
agaist the United States and to force
their government. against it's judg
ment to seize the Philippines.
It 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
United States could not retake the
Philippines except at the expense OF
many lives and thousands of millions
of dollars--if at all.
Our Japanese neighbors, flushed
with their victory over the Russian
navy, and courageous and proud
spirited, anyway, realize truly their
ability to capture the Philippines and
probably to hold them; but they do
realize that war with America would
be very different one from that with
RuSSia--that American pride and val
or would spend thousands of lives and
thousands of millions of dollars,
rather than surrender to Japan. Pride,
courage, self ESTEEM, confidence on
both sides are the real dangers.
Surely wisdom should dictate to both
nations that, In the interest Of peace,
cause for friction should be as far as
possible eliminated I believe that no
more fair, no more just, no more hon-
orable method for adJudicating this
matter can be found than that we are
suggesting--th sale OF the islands at
cost to the Japanese.
Japan would give the Philippines a
splendid goyernment--beLt l believe
than would any other nation under
the sun except our own government.
No one can visit the Philippines with
out feeling pride for what America has
done for that people-and one in so
unselfish and noble a manner, as an
elder brother amongst the nations
helping a younger brother. Under no
circumstances would L favor turning
the Philippines over to the domination
OF a barbaric people. The Japanese
are not barbarians, but highly ciyiliz-
ed.
Il MY discourse In washington, May
Is. Peace Desirable, War a Necessity,
was evidently misunderstood by some
Of my peace friends. While claimed
That nations have never been able to-
avoid war, and that they never Will$be
able to wholly avoid It until the in-
auguration of wi essiah's king donls neY-
ertheiess II believe that all lovers Of
peace should unite their hearts, and
voices and pens and every energy In
removing all unnecessary friction be-
tween nations. BY doing in +a dvance
those things which would make for
peace and by promoting thenia For.
instance. if the move + am suggesting
we're delayed until the Japanese had
made am attack upon tlle Phi limp lines,
III would be too late. American pride
would never consent to n overture OF
saie under str ass; b or would the . JaY,-8
anese probalo lol 81 sioe illilia to purchase
then. Now seems to Be the psycholog
zeal moment, and, ais Stated at first. III
seems best that these ssigg gestinns
should come from an ambassador OF
Christ rather than from Il politician