The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-09-15
WHERE OUR DANGER LIES.

Even a few months before the
great European struggle burst forth
and caused nations to stampede like
western herd the man who foresaw
the cloud and dared utter aloud his
prophecies was ridiculed and laugh
ed to scorn. So long had our inter-
ests been protected by the wing of
the dove of peace that we imagined
war only a guise for the exchange
ii puppet crowns. We looked upon
treaty as an iron bound contract,
respected by both the mighty and the
lowly. War, to our minds,was only
history made by the extinct would-be
world conqueror and chronicled by
ancient foes.
1t is no wonder then that we were
startled beyond realization when we
suddenly awoke to find nations Crap
pling at their neighbors Threats, and
frenzied rulers seeking the blood of
their kinsmen. The civilized world
was Mortified and until this day it
has not realized fully the awfulness
of the thing. Neutral nations were
heightened lest they become engag-
ed and some even wondered how they
had escaped and went so far as to
congratulate themselves that they
had. Across the continent some de-
sired to pay homage to fancied ex-
allied power that had saved them
from the throes of war, when in real
ity, there was no cause whatever for
their participation.
The United States, one of the most
peaceful nations in the world, was
suspicious and with his back uncon-
sciously to the real danger Uncle Sam
stands at the edge of the rolling
waves each one Redeemed by the blood
from Europe's battlefelds, and
watches to see who he should watch
and all the while he scorns. the warn
ing to look behind. England also
scorned those who would foretell the
conflict that was to come!
Unless there is miraculous
change in the sentiment of the ia
panese we are as certain that we face
war with Japan as we are of things
that have happened. The little peo-
pie of the Orient multiply so rapidly
that it is absolutely necessary that
they have an outlet. They seek the
United States. This country would
be Enthusiastically foolish to permit the
hundreds of Japs to land on its
shores. There are too many here
now.
But Japan is a proud nation. She
feels that her people are just as
good as any and when we refuse them
admittance to our shores their pride
is wounded and they stamp us as
their common enemy. The japanese
also are ambitious and are over fond
of the power of dictation. A short
time ago they made demands upon
China, the compliance with which
was extremely humiliating. Not sat
isfied she now demands more. Ulti-
mately poor China will be a province
of Japan and she will also crap at the
Philippines should we liberate that
possession. She will always want
more. How far will, or can, we per-
NIT il to go?
Japan has profted immensely by
the war. The government owns
great munition plants and all of the
products will not go to Russia. She
is preparing for war with the United
States and we agree with those who
say we are powerless TO prevent it
without sacrificing principles men
have gladly died for. We don't want
to believe il and in our anxiety not
to do so we almost lose sight of the
danger.
Such a war would be a fierce one.
We are in danger of finding ourselves
unprepared and such being the case
those who fight preparedness should
be placed in the ranks where only
mere men are needed.
OF course should our relations with
Japan become again strained every
effort should and will be made to
settle the grievances by arbitration,
hut we cannot arbitrate that hatred
for America that is so firmly set in
the heart of the japanese. Our dan
ger lies 10 the West and we should
remember that friends will be need
ed should the struggle come.