Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-01-29
sen. PHELANS VIEWSONPERIL
OF JAPAN SET forth IN ARTICLE
Californian Declares Pacific
Coast Constantly Menaced;
Preparedness a Necessity

United States Senator James D.
Phelan Of California has lately figur-
ed in the news dispatches good deal
as prophesying war with Japan. The
following article, written by Senator
Phelan in Washington few days ago
and published by the Hearst newspa-
pers, sets forth his ideas more fully:
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. 9. -
There are two views of preparedness
-one which would lead the country to
prepare to meet an actual or possible
danger, and another contemplates the
purpose of averting danger by the
known ability of the country to repel
attack
The war among the civilized nations
of Europe has shown the inefficacy
Of diplomacy and the insecurity of
solemn treaty obligations. The
strength of nation seems to be the
measure of its immunity from attack
and the ambition, commercial zeal or
traditional policies of nation seem
to be sufficient reason for the decla.
ration of war against another nation
which stands in its way.
After the war great armed nations
with seasoned troops may seek an
| opportunity against weaker nations to
break down immigration legislation
and restrictive laws or to levy forced
contributions or to acquire land in or
der to rehabilitate its national for.
tunes and pay the expenses of the
war
Japan Powerful Aggressive;
ResentfuI Of U. S. Policies.
Mexico was invaded and the policy
and protests of the United States liz.
ncred, while cur armies were engaged
in the Civil War and when Lincoln
was asked to intervene he said:
Gentlemen. one war at a time
but at the close CT the Civil War,
Sheridan at the head of his veteran
troops, marched to. the Rio Grande
and overthrow, by its very presence
the dynasty of Macmillan.
So very often, after wasteful war.
the soldiery OF a country are we'll pre-
pared to fight-certainly against raw
levies drawn from a peaceful popula
ticn, unused to arms.
Japan is a powerful and aggressive
nation in the Pacific, constantly in
creasins its army and navy and re.
! sentful of our domestic policy, as ex.
pressed by the Federal naturalization
laws. the policy of our government
expressed in the 'gentlemans agree
nent' and the land laws of Califor
MA
BY menace and threat, Japan has
given fair notice to the United States
and recently Count Okuma, premier
of japan. in the New oYrk Sun of
December 4, 1915, in unmistakable
terms, intimated that Japan would
hold the United States responsible for
the inequalities imposed upon its peo
pie and fight If necessary
California understands the Japanese
question, but the East is i'm need OF
education. The Japanese are capable
of crowding out our white population
and making Japanese colony of the
Pacific coast, and our restrictive laws
are simply an EXPRESSING of the eter
nal law of self-preservation
1t is preposterous to imagine. in
view Of this fact, that the United
States can yield to Japan and allow
her, as in Hawaii. to take peaceful
possession of the country and every
thing for which American institutions
stand.
There are $4,000 able-bodied Japan
csc in California, owing loyalty to the
Emperor of Japan, who might be call
ed a hostile army already within our
gates, because in time of trouble they
would, believe, forcihly array them
selves against us In view of this
fact, is it not duitfui and patriotic to
strengthen our defense? That is the
demand for preparedness.
Now. assuming that there was no
immediate danger from any source,
still conditions change rapidly and
the taking of American lives By land
or sea, dishoncring the flag or an in.
fr.ngement upon cur vital interests
and territory and independence might
mean call to arms. but when we.
are called, shall there be no arms?
These conditions may be brought
about by the simple fact of our IN
preparedness Our weakness will in
vite attack, so preparedness is not
only the sword, but it is the shield
No nation will attack us if we are
strong.
An Insignificant nation might at
tack us if we are weak, so prepared
ness shall avert war, and therefore, is
more a peace measure than war
measure. knowing the genius OF our