Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-31

tno entrance or this mighty nation OF
yours into the struggle against tho
insane deSpoiler OF our civilization.
We all know that you did not under
take this solemn task on the impulse
of the moment: but that you threw your
mighty weight into the struggle. only
after exercising most admirable pa
thence with firm determination that
this world shall be made free from the
threat OF aggression, from that black
shadow Of a military dcSpotism WELD
ed by nation taught with the mothers
milk that human right must yield to
brutal might To us the fact that you
are now on the side OF the allies in this
titantic struggle constitutes already a
great moral victory for our common
cause. .. -.
I'VE Of Japan believe we understand
something of the American ideal OF
life. and we pay our most profound
respects to 1t. Jerferson-your great
democratic President-conceived tho
ideal Of an American commonwealth.
to be not rule imposed on the people.
by force of arms. but as a free ex-
preston OF the individual sentiments
of the people. . Hc saw COM
munity OF people guided by a com
triotism. using their own special talents
in their own special way under their
own sacred roof trees. Not a machine
made nation, but a living, growing or
ganism. animated by one passion-the
passion Of liberty.
JAPANESE IDEAL NOT
so FAR AWAY FROM OURS
II assure you. gentlemen. that the
Japanese ideal of national life is. in
It's final analysis. not SO very far re-
moved from yours. We conceive OF our
nation as a vast family hold together
not by the arbitrary force Of armed
men. but by the force OF natural de-
Telopment. We shall call the common
force that animates us a passion OF
loyalty to our Emperor and to our
homes. as we shall call that Of Ameri-
cans passion for liberty and OF 10y
atty to their flag.
Blind loyalty without rational con-
sciousness OF tho responsibility of self,
Is but another name for slavery, while
right of liberty. ili-conceived. ignor-
ing the mutual human affection and
respect for the rights OF every man
which form the essence of true loyalty,
must be tantamount to afnarchy These
two passions-passion Of loyalty and
passion for libcrty--are they not really
one? You must be FREQ to DO
Americans. and we must be free to be
Japanese. But our common enemy is
not content with this freedom for the
ration or for the indlvidu-' nc must
force all the world to be German, too.
I'VE OF Japan took up arms against
Germany because a solemn treaty was
not to us "a scrap OF paper We did
not enter into this war because we had
any selfish interest to promote or any
ill-conceived ambition to crafty. We
are in the war, insist on being in It.
and we shall stay In II. because car
nestly. as a nation and as individuals
We believe in the Righteousness of the
cause for which we stand. because we
believe that only by a complete victory
tor that cause can there be made a
righteous. honorable and permanent
peace. SO that this world may be made
e for all men to live in. and so that
sill nations may work out their destinies
untrammeled by fear.
"Mr. President and gentlemen: What
ever the critic half-informed. or tho
hired sianderer may say against US, in
forming your judgment of Japan. we
ask you only to use those splendid
abilities that guide this great nation.
Tho criminal nlotter against our good
neiGhbor takes advantage OF tho fact
that at this time OF worlds crisis,
many things must Of necessity remain
untold and unrecorded in the daily
newspapers, but we are satisfied that
VIC are doing our best. In this tire.
mendous work as we move .oCethor,
shoulder to shoulder. to q certain vi:-
tory. America and Japan must have
many things in which the ono can help
tho other. We have much in common
AMI much to 60 in concert. That Is the
reason I have been sent. and that is
the reason you have received me hero
to-day.
IT have an earnest and abiding faith
that this association of ours-this
proving of ourselves-in the highest,
most sacred and most trying OF hu-
man activities-the armed vindication
OF right and justice-must bring us to
"A still closer concord and a deeper
confidence one in the other, sealing
for all time the bonds of cordial friend
ship between our two nations. Again
] thank you"