The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-27
" PILL Japan and America actu-
M ally fight Of will they avoid
w q ~confict? This 10 one Of

w ally fight or will they avoid
w . conhict? This 10 one Of
the worlds greatest questions in the
first half Of the twentieth century and
a problem Of gravest import for the
japanese Government.
Those who say mo" offer as the
reason FOR their belief the facts that
the finances Of Japan will eventually
he unable to bear the expense Of such
a war. and that the military strength
Of America is insufficient for an attack
upon Japan. Those on the other hand
who expect a war assert that the
.Mperislistic policy Of the United
States has Of late become very ap.
parent. and the expansion Of the Jap
anese Government II inevitable. The
collision Of two bodies moving toward
each other is an immutabls law. There.
fore Japan and America must fight.
Which view Is correct? The writer
cannot answer this dificuit question
onhand. but he ventures to predict
that an ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS wal 10 .
dangerous possibility. Although Japan
is poor. yet she 10 unwilling to suffer
the disgrace Of the ruin Of her country.
Although the American army IL not
strong, America has the advantage Of
great numbers.
The imperialism OF America 10 the
product OF the vainglorious vision OF
her citizens. Tho expansion Of our
Imperial Government Is inspired by
the ideal of a Create japan. Yet on
neither side have the causes tending
TO wal such great weight as to require
their maintenance at the risk OF the
nations fate. Thus we come to the
conclusion that the question whether
the two nations shall night depends for
it's answer upon the self.restraint Of
the two peoples and GENERALIZATION
concerning their aspirations and rela-
tive positions. 1t IL for the American
people to decide whether they have
sufficient moral courage to place . nec-
essary curb on their aspirations in
order to escape war. and for the Jap
anese to determine whether they have
a realization Of the relative positions
Of the two nations suficient to avoid
"A conflict.
This, then. Is the question before the
Japanese: Is Japan's military equip
..-t .k.n IL .an -,,neAAA cha
peace Of Japan? For the sake Of peace
it Is we'll that both japanese and
Americans be warned that II the
american people continue to behave
at home a. cruelty and arrogantiy to-
ward our people - they have done
hitherto. and II the japanese leave
their military preparation - incem-
plete a. II 10 at present. the possibility
Of an outbreak Of hostilities between
the two nations cannot be denied.
Those who are acquainted with the
United States and It's people will not
deny the growing intensity Of anti
Japanese sentiment and the ever ex.
pan0lng sphere OF HUnoS'Ce" osNAe
the Orient. Tho a~nti-Japaness move
ment in Hawaii and the close relations
between America and China look
toward a future Japaness-American
contes. for supremacy o N the Pacific.
The opening Of the Panama Canal and
the decline Of Japaness influence on
the sea will tend to hasten such an
e~ventuality.
Some sixty years 9 Japan. which
had for centuries slumbsred peacefully
on the shore Of the Pacific. Wa reused
for the nrst time by pIoneers or the
commercial struggle Of Western OWL
lization. 1t was during the hot sum
mcr OF 1853 while our people ON the
coast Of Idzu Province were enjoying
their siesta and the u shons BRILL.
antly in through tho windows that sew.
eral small black specks wore seen of
he harbor Of Urass. One! Two!
Three. Four! Arc they ssasulls?
80. Are they whales? No.
\Vbor ,bcy CANA nearer II Nas