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Show I i1t Goodwins IVqqAIis 1 Ifew HE splendid military demonstration mC fijlft ast Monday served a double purpose. ! 1 J ySJSfffly satislied even the most pessimistic Ttan mmNw citizen that the army authorities are I ' wtiW making rapid progress in transform- SMiJSf ing the recruits into regulars. It was r also a striking reminder that the civilians are not keeping pace with the men in uniform in the impera- i tive preparations for war. Our hats went off in salute to the boys in khaki as they marched by, and our hearts were saddened at the thought of the slackers that stood along the line of march. There were cheers for the soldiers and there were heartaches, too. In the strange conflict of emotions experienced by the citizens that morning, who knows but that their eyes caught the first glimpse of the grim realities of war, and perhaps here and there along the line there were derelicts who determined to face about and henceforth do their duty as becomes a sovereign citizen of the great Republic? The war is still far away from our doors, and in our feeling of immediate security, we are prone to pass lightly over our manifest obligations. But there will come a day perhaps when it is too late to avoid unnecessary sacrifice and misfortune when the peril will strike home. The shock will stagger us for a while, and then we will pick up the cross and carry it forward. God grant that it w'll not be necessary to forfeit the lives of these gallant boys who passed by in review the other day, and write the warning in their precious blood, to bring us to a realization of our common obligations. si- I - A DEBT THEY OWE. XT was altogether fitting that the Japanese commissioners should visit the tomb of Commodore Perry and solemnly pay their respects to the man who in the name of America first carried the commerce and civilization of the world to their far away empire. em-pire. The story of the opening of Japan reads like a romance. About the middle of the last century the United States began to sense the need of acquiring coaling stations and ports for shelter in the Orient. The rapid development of steam navigation in the Pacific and the growth of the whaling industry in Asiatic waters made it imperative that this country should effect a formal understanding with the Nipponese Nip-ponese government. To this end President Fillmore in 1852 invested Commodore Matthew C. Perry with extraordinary naval and diplomatic powers and ordered him to proceed to Japan to undertake the desired negotiations. nego-tiations. He set sail with a squadron of several of our finest ships and entered the Bay of Tokio in July, 1853. The appearance of the American squadron caused a great commotion amtong the inhabitants, inhab-itants, who mistook the visit for a hostile approach. Perry's mission was a most delicate one and it required extreme persistence and tact to open friendly negotiations. After impressing the Japanese with the nature of his mission, he withdrew to Chinese waters and it was not until the spring of 1854 that that he returned to Tokio with his full fleet for an answer. After considerable parley, the authorities au-thorities of Japan agreed to a conference. The reluctance manifested by the Japanese in receiving the friendly overtures made by Com'modore Perry can be ascribed to the peculiar customs and characteristics of that people. Unlike other nations ,they were in a state of voluntary isolation. A national prejudice existed against all foreigners. There had been a longstanding long-standing interdiction against intercourse with other nations. Japan, up to that time, had neither desired or sought communication with H the outside world, but, on the other hand, had done everything in H its power to prevent the establishment of such relations. Hence, H Perry found it necessary to first convince them of1 the advantage of ' H reversing their ancient policy of isolation before he could possibly H hope to discuss the terms of the proposed treaty H When the Japanese recovered from the scare they experienced at H the first sight of the imposing strangers, they were disposed to be H unusually polite, and the negotiations were opened with an exchange H of extraordinary courtesies The Americans were invited on shore H where they were asked to inspect a wonderful array of gifts that H were afterwards presented to them. These gifts included several H hundred sacks of rice, intended for personal presentation to the H Pres5 ' of the United States; also a number of coins of the realm, vl whic' virtue of a law which' absolutely forbade all issue of Jap- M anese money beyond the kingdom, constituted a mark of unusual H favor. Then the Commodore and his party were entertained by an M athletic exhibition and feats of skill. In appreciation of these honors, the Americans proposed that the M Japanese authorities become their guests. This was done and the M Nipponese were given their first sight of a miniature locomotive that , ran on its own rails. A perfect model of the telegraph was also ex- hibitcd, as were a number of agricultural implements, and their re- tl spective uses demonstrated. The Japanese were overcome with won- b M der and curiosity and simply could not express their extreme appre- M ciation when the whole collection was presented to them. Following H this demonstration, the dignitaries from the flowery kingdom were H invited to attend an elaborate banquet which had been spread on H board the flagship, and there they were treated to a m,enu of rare H viands and sparkling wines that fairly melted their frigid demeanor H and completely captivated them. To the tunes of martial music they H made merry with their delightful hosts. The banquet came to a H close with an improvised exhibition of negro minstrelsy, arranged by H some of the talented sailors, which provoked a rather unexpected H climax the chief mogul of the Japanese contingent, unable to longer H withstand the pressure, suddenly sprang to his feet, embraced Com- H modore Perry and affectionately exclaimed: "Nippon and America, H all the same heart." H The happy outcome of this hilarious party presaged the success H of the pending negotiations, although the treaty was not consummat- H ed without considerable difficulty, due largely to the inherent cautious- H ness of the Japanese commissioners. America finally got her coaling H station and was able to establish a sort of make-shift treaty, but H it required years of persistent manifestations of friendship and fair- dealing to overcome the ancient Niponese prejudice against all for- H eigners. So it was that the doors of Japan were opened to the H world and her1, wonderful era of advancement in all the civilized arts M and customs inaugurated. And so it is that the land of the M chrysanthemum owes a debt of gratitude to America that it can M never repay. H It should be said that Japan has ever professed strong friendship M for the nation that unlocked the gates of prejudice which confined M her for centuries in ignorance and isolation, but of late years Amer- M icans have had good reason to question her sincerity. Also, it is M quite to the point to remark that the attitude of Japan in the present M war, notwithstanding the fact that she has appeared to array herself M with the Allies, is not altogether pleasing. Hence it is that thought- M fnl Americans are inclined to take her recent manifestations of gOQd M will vith a grain o salt. fl -mt wwMWMW WWII HIWII-H'lil.r MJmi J""""" H "BUT ONE LIFE TO LOSE." B Y arc remmcled that this clay is the one hundred and forty-first H vJLJ anniversary of the execution of Nathan Hale. In view of the H' supreme sacrifice he made and the immortal sentiment uttered B with his last breath, it is well worth while to pause a moment in H, solemn contemplation of the character and career of this courageous H American. Hj Captain Hale was a spirited young patriot and had won his spurs H in Knowlton's Rangers, called, "Congress' Own' who had acted as B a body-guard for Washington in the early days ot the Revolution. H' During the siege of New York, he volunteered to serve as a spy H with the enemy's lines and was so commissioned. Pie entered the H British camp disguised as a farmer ,and was successful in making H a number of valuable sketches and notes before being betrayed by a H Tory kinsman. He was taken before General Howe and frankly H acknowledged his name, rank and mission. The British commander H ordered him to be hanged the following morning without 'the slight- H est semblance of a trial. m All through the night the intrepid young officer was taunted M and tortured by his captors in the hope that he might in turn dis- H close valuable information. These efforts proved fruitless and on H the morning of the execution he was even denied the services of a H clergyman and the use of a Bible. Pie had written farewell messages M to his family and betrothed but these letters were destroyed before H his very eyes. In the presence of a vast multitude of sorrowing spec- M tators he calm,ly walked to the spot of the execution, and as the H noose was being fastened about his neck he smiled and said : "I H only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." H Captain Hale was but twenty-one years of age and facing a H splendid career when his life was so suddenly snuffed out, but he H lived long enough to write his name in illustrious letters upon the H fair page of American patriots. We pass this brief review of his H work and words along to some young American ol this generation, H in the hope that he may read the record and find inspiration to risk H at least one life for his country. H H TITLES EMPTY AND OTHERWISE. H' H TrtTITIi the mobilizing of an army of several million men we are H vix bound to witness a mushroom growth of military titles be- H stowed more or less promiscuously upon erstwhile plain, every- H day citizens. Still there is no cause for alarm over the likelihood of H this having a tendency to upset our time-honored custom of social H simplicity and encourage class distinction. Titles that distinguish H military rank serve a very useful purpose during war time, but it goes H without saying that Americans will preserve their rare gift of humor until the war ends, and then the man and his record will count for H everything and the title for nothing. H What are titles anyway? Do they give dignity to the holder? H The man who deserves one as a rule overshadows his title. We speak H of Balfour, Asquith, Lloyd George and Kerensky, and forget to H mention their titles. It is only the little fellow whom we decorate in H such a manner. We mark the great men by plain names. Does Eng- H land speak of the great Kitchner as Field Marshall or "K. of K.," H and did it not always call Roberts plain "Bobs?" The Hero of the H Marne is "Papa" Joffre to the French people and no title Napoleon H ever received meant so much to his soldiers as "The Little Corporal." H America can attest to the same disposition to speak of her great H men in plain and familiar terms. We speak of Washington, Jefferson, H Jackson, Webster, Clay, Lincoln, Grant, Sherman, Sheridan and all H the other illustrious Americans, content to dignify them by the H, simple use of their plain names. And if, perchance, wq wish to grow H familiar, we speak of "Old Rough and Ready," "Old Abe," and "Little H Phil." Some of these men were) of such a character as to not even H permit of the use of familiar nam.es in their day, or since. H And so it is that titles are not taken seriously! in America. As B a ru.le their use is confined by common consent to certain whimsical H old men who fail to sense the humor in the application. The South Bb. MMa-B0aBia has made a specialty in this for years. For generations every white man born south of the Mason and Dixon line has been a Colonel or Major or something else. It is all very fine, only it doesn't am,ount to much. The story goes that Arkansas makes a Colonel out of every distinguished Northerner it catches in Little Rock and that Kentucky made a fellow by the name of Lampton a Colonel for writing the poem : The corn is full of kernels ,, And the colonel's full of corn. And although the South has more Colonels and Majors than you can shake a stick at, it remained for the single, solitary Southerner, Private John Allen of Mississippi, to become the foremost man of his state for two generations. We remember this man when we have forgotten all the rest. So with the country at large. Our able men need no titles and the others who insist upon decorating themselves with titles are perfectly harmless and will not disturb the equilibrium of our social system a particle. A PICTURESQUE PERSONAGE. AYOR PIEYWOOD of Ogden has announced his candidacy for re-election. He deserves to succeed himself and his fellow townsmen will make no mistake in giving him their unqualified support. sup-port. We have seen mayors come and go the great, the near-great, and the no-account but this man more nearly measures up to ideal requirements than any other mayor that has yet come within the range of our observation. His record is so clear and clean that he who runs may read it, and good citizens quite agree that he is an honor to himself and his community. The Judge takes public life seriously. By this we do not mean that he has an exalted opinion of his own personal importance, but that he has a sacred regard for the oath of office. Also, he combines rare ability and aggressiveness with honorable ideals, all in wholesome whole-some mixture. A man of independent means, he does not seek office for the salary. Public affairs appeal to him and serving the community commun-ity has been his life-long hobby. Nor is he content to act simply as an official ornament. Pie is not a poseur. When the occasion arises, however, he never fails to meet the requirements of the moment in superb fashion. Dignified yes but something more than a superficial super-ficial decoration; he does things, and he insists upon doing them his way. The records show that he is usually right. The Ogden mayor has his enemies, of course; the sort that strong men always make. His public improvement program has created opposition among the crepe hangers, but he is going right ahead with the splendid work. He is out on the job every morning at seven-thirty, seven-thirty, personally inspecting the work and nothing escapes his attention. atten-tion. The campaign will be fought out on this issue and our guess is that the mayor will win. He is giving the people a run for their money, and they know it. The croakers are simply courting trouble for themselves. They are sure to find the Judge as fit as a fiddle and itching for a first class fight, himself. Ogden is to be congratulated upon his decision to make the race. We like his style. A LIVELY YOUNG MAN. QOTWITPISTANDING all reports to the contrary, Kerensky still appears to be very much in evidence as Korniloff has discovered discov-ered to his sorrow and continues to rules Russia with an iron hand. Instead of permitting his enemies to celebrate his funeral, he has afforded his friends an opportunity to rejoice over his marriage. All of which goes to show that he is still of1 sound sanity and that his superior nerve has not been shattered a particle. Kerensky is a unique individual. lie has the habit? of confounding confound-ing his enemies in the most casual and commonplace manner. To stamp out a serious revolution, proclaim a republic over 175,000,000 ' souls, and take unto himself a wife all in the short space of one week is incontrovertible evidence that he is still on the job and going strong. |