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Show WHY SYMPATHIZi WITH JAPAN! It Is strange that any people should measure their opinions and adjust their sympathies In thc present war between Russia and Japan, upon thc labor question ques-tion in this country, yet we have a note in which the writer evidently Is opposed to Japan because "the Japs are the greatest enemy to tho working man In this country." This is a great mistake, for Russia is driving to this country many more persons to work In sweatshops sweat-shops and depress the labor wage than all the Japanese that ever came over. Besides, the war, so far as Japan Is concerned, is to gain a foothold In and control of Korea, with a view to sending send-ing there her surplus population, thus keeping the overflow out of this country and other countries where they may not be welcome. So that even from the curious standpoint taken, Japan Is the more worthy of encourugement, and her triumph should be hoped for. But it is not that alone, nor even chiefly, .which Inclines the American sympathy toward Japan In this war. Russia herself Is largely responsible for It. From the moment that sho seized Manchuria, her officials began a systematic sys-tematic exclusion of and discrimination against American goods; Russia prevented pre-vented thc opening which Secretary Hay had arranged for, of ports In that province, even while nominally recognizing recog-nizing China's sovereignty, and though China agreed to the opening. Besides. Russia solemnly pledged herself to evacuate the province, and oven set a date In the month of October last when she would begin the evacuation. But all the time she 'has strengthened her occupancy, occu-pancy, and more and more has assumed the sovereignty of the province, using an alleged sovereignty of China only to save herself trouble and expense when she wanted something done, by calling on China to do It. It is inevitable, therefore, that Americans Ameri-cans should sympathize with Japan, which stands as the representative of the open door for commerce and trade, and as demanding that Russia shall keep her pledges. It Is right, too, from the labor standpoint, for with Japan's success, all her surplus population and energy will be employed in the occupation occupa-tion and development of Korea. |
