Japan and the United States
THERE can be no doubt, if we give credence to the newspaper discussion that is going on, that the situation between this country and Japan is very delicate; but we trust, and believe, that the reporters are getting things very much exaggerated. There is no reason whatever why we who are dwelling in such times of intelligence and professed good will, should immediately begin examining our guns and battle-ships as soon as we reach the place where it is necessary for us to have an argument with some other nation over some problem. If we were really in the time of such peace and good will as we are frequently told we are, the sentiments of the country would be so strongly against such Jingo talk that it would be frowned down everywhere. The facts in the case are that the spirit of war is even stronger in the world now than it ever was before. This is made manifest by the actual facts, notwithstanding much of the talk upon the subject. It is well for us to learn how to weigh things as they actually are, regardless of the prevailing style of talk. We have styles in talk that outrage the facts just as much as styles of dress at times outrage decency and good sense, and men and women are just as much enslaved to the prevailing style in talking as they are to the prevailing style in dressing. Men will follow current and popular sentiment regardless of its fact or good sense. That is what the majority of people are doing when they are discussing this question of war. They tell us that we are in times of unquestioned peace, and that no great wars can ever come; and yet there is nothing to indicate it. One of our leading newspapers on this coast poses as a great advocate of peace, and at the same time it is one of the loudest in its clamors that this state shall go ahead and enact certain laws regardless of the effect it may have upon Japan, and of the possibilities of our being thrown into war with that courageous little nation. That same paper, while it follows the prevailing style of talking peace, at the same time is urging that we should have a big navy, and be armed to the limit for war. It is true that the paper referred to claims that this is the best way of insuring peace; but if we have to insure ourselves at such awful cost against war, are not the sentiments of war the spirit of this age, rather than the sentiments of peace? There is but one conclusion to be drawn.