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Show OUR government appears to be in the dark so far as tho situation in China and Japan is concerned. The other day wo received a rebuke from Japan and when wo called on England for a little sympathy we received a rebuke again, and Washington confessed that is was puzzled by the British attitude. All this appears to be tho result of our preoccupation with our ideals. Isn't it about time to corns out of the clouds, plant our feet on solid earth and find out what's going on in the world? Too long we have pursued our altruistic policies to the neglect of our own interests, as for Instance when wo were trying to compose the quarrel between the Teutons and the peoples who are now our allies. It is all right enough to sympathize with China and to encourage en-courage her in her leaning toward democracy, but let us not repeat tho mistake mis-take we made in Mexico of assuming that when somebody says "Let us change tho form of government" presto the change is made. Revolutions do not destroy tho monarchical principle over night. And after t all democracy does not spell perfection, as we may perceive from a study of our own history. There are evils of democracy as well as of monarchy and it would be well to take the poet's suggestion: For forms of government let fools contest: Whate'er is best administered is best. Wo butted Into Mexico and then butted out; so let us profit by our experl; ence. Wouldn't it be well to let the peons of China (if there be Chinese that may be thus designated) work out their own salvation? Great Britain has more interests in China than we have, and apparently she thinks it wise to let the Japanese pursue their own particular policy in that country. The government of Japan has a kind of Monroe doctrine for China and demands that no cession at any future date shall be made to any power of any island or any portion of the Chinese coastline. True this is a selfish policy intended to secure a privileged priv-ileged position, a fine field for Japanese trade, but the questions involved ought not to be made the subject of dispute at this time. Town Talk. |