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FEBRUARY 23, iOOG
The Commoner.
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his eldership, he' Replied that ir compelled to
choose between them he would rather be an elder
than speaker.
The Catholic population of Japan numbered
fifty-eight thousand in 1803; at the last report
the Protestant communicants numDered nearly
fifty-one thousand. There are among the natives
four hundred and forty-two ordained ministers,
five hundred and fifty-nine uuordained ministers
and helpers and one hundred ana eighty-six theo
logical students. I met a numDer of Japanese
Christians and was profoundly impressed by their
earnestness and devotion. There is a largo Y.
M. C. Ar at Tokyo and a smaller one at Kyoto;
at Kogoshima I found a Women's Christian As
sociation. While I have met American mission
aries everywhere, I have tried to gather informa
tion from Japanese sources as well and have
been gratified to find such cordial co-operation
between foreign and native Christians. A physi
cian in the navy introduced himself and volun
teered the information that one American woman
had undertaken the establishment of Christian
clubs at the various naval stations and within
five years had gathered together more tlian five
hundred members. He said that she met with
opposition from the authorities at first, but now
had their hearty support. The war with Russia,
while retarding the work of tne Greek church
among the Japanese, has been utilized by other
denominations to reach a large number of sailors
with Bibles and pamphlets.
Japan needs the Christian religion; a nation
must have some religion and sne has outgrown
Buddhism. The ideals presented by these two
systems are in many resjiects diametrically op
posed to each other. One looks forward, the
other backward; one regards lire as a blessing
to bo enjoyed and an opportunity to be improved,
the other sees in it only evil from which escape
should ,be sought; one crowns tnls life with im
mortality, the other adds to a groomy existence
the darker night of annihilation; one offers faith
as the inspiration to noble deeds, the otlier pre
sents a plan for the perfecting or self with no
sense of responsibility to God to prompt it or
promise of reward to encourage it; one enlarges
the sympathies and links each individual with all
other human beings, the other turns the thought
inward in search of perpetual calm.
Christianity dominates Europe and the west
ern hemisphere, while Buddhism still holds the
Orierit under its drowsy spell, on the islands
of Japan a struggle iB now going on between these
two great religious systems, ana the triumph
of the Gospel of Love and of consecrated .activ
ity in the land of the Rising Sun will open the
way to a still larger triumph in Asia.
Copyright. ' -
JJJ ' ' .
CHINESE EXCLUSION , "
For several years various pretexts have been
resorted to in certain quarters in the "hope of
cultivating a sentiment favorable to a material
change, if not actual repeal, of the Chinese
exclusion act. This agitation has now taken on
serious proportions and is supported to- a con
siderable extent by the so-calied Chinese boy
cott. In the. opinion of Americans having some
acquaintance with the situation m China this
boycott was not instituted so much in the spirit
of resentment as for the purpose- of, bringing
pressure to bear to secure a modification of
the exclusion law.
In the opinion of well informed men the ex
cuse for this boycott will be removed whenever
it shall be demonstrated beyond a doubt that
the American government will not yield its
position-in protecting the American laborer from
the death dealing competition that will come
from any material change in tlie exclusion act
The Chinese question is one that effects the
entire country, not the Pacific coast alone or
the laboring men alone. It is true that the Pa
cific coast would feel the evil effects of Chinese
emigration first, and it is also true that the
laboring men would come into Immediate con
tact with Oriental labor, but in its ultimate in
fluence the subject touches all parts of the coun
try and reaches all classes.
The question is whether we are going to
build up a strong, independent, upright and pa
triotic people and develop a civilization that
will exert a helpful influence on all the world,
or whether we are going to be a greedy, grasping
nation, forgetful of high ideals and concerned
only in the making of money.
Aside, from present-day pretexts -Chinese im
migration is defended hy those who Relieve that
"universal brotherhood" requires -us to welcome
to our shor.es. fljl people of all lands. This is
the sentimental argument advanced, in favor of
Chinese immigration. There is no more. reason
why we- should construe "brotnerhood" tore-
quire the admission of all people to our country
than there is that wo should construe "brother
hood" to require the dissolution or family ties.
The family is a unit; it Is the prace where char
acter and virtue and usefulness are developed,
and from the family a good or evil influence
emanates. It is not necessary nor even wise
thafr the family environment should bo broken
up or that all who desire entrance should bo
admitted to the family circle, in a larger sonso
a nation is a family. It Is tho center for tho
cultivation of national character, national virtuo
and national usefulness. A nation is under no
obligation to the outside world to admit anybody
or anything that would injuriously effect the na
tional family; in fact it is under obligation to
itself not to do so. The influence of the United
States will bo much more potent for good if wo
remain a homogeneous nation with all citizens
in full sympathy with all other citizens. No'
distinct race like the Chinese can come into
this country without exciting a friction and a
race prejudice which -will make it more difficult
for us to exercise a wholesome Influence upon
the Chinese In China, not to speak of our influence
in other nations.
JJJ
ENFORCE IT
The New York World asks: "If eventually
Mr. Roosevelt has the supreme satisfaction of
signing a federal rate-regulation bill, what assur
ance can he give that the railroads will show any
more respect for a commission-made rate than
for their own rates which they have so long been
permitted to violate with impunity?"
When a governor signs a law providing a pen
alty for crime what assurance can he give that
the criminal Will show any more respect for a
legislative enactment than for -the instruction
received at his mother's knee, wnlch, instruction
he has long violated?
If Mr. Roosevelt signs an effective rate reg
ulation bill the people will not De so much con
cerned as to the willingness on the part of tho
railroad managers to comply with the law as
they are with the disposition of the executive
officers to require obedience on the part, of tho
rjch and influential, even as obedience Is re
quired on the part of the humblest member of
society. ' "
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DEEP WATER
The New York Tribune directs attention to
the report made by the New York Life Insurance
company committee with respect to the demand
made for an accounting from Andrew Hamilton.
. The Tribune says that these accounts ought to
,be explained, and that proceedings should be .
taken looking toward the restoration of the funds
intrusted to Hamilton.
Well, Mr. Hamilton was in some respects an
employe of the company, and ho claims that tho
money paid .to him was for the transaction of
legitimate busiuess. It has, of course, been made
quite .cleai at least to the satisfaction of tho
general public that the money given to Hamil
ton was to be used in corrupting legislators. In
any event even the Tribune admits that Hamilton
is in the position of one who may make an "ac
counting." .Ho may have some credits, the par
ticulars of which the public has not been ap
prised. But the same testimony to wliich the Tribune
refers discloses that $148,000 belonging to policy
holders in the New York Life was paid to the
republican national committee. Of course it
would not be proper to ask tne committee to
make an "accounting" unless one is willing to
admit that the New York Life managers hired
the republican party to corrupt the electorate,
even as it hired Andrew Hamilton to corrupt
the legislature.
But why does the Tribune so ready to de
mand an "accounting" from Andrew Hamilton
fail to advise the managers of the republican
party to make restoration to tne policyholders
of the New York Life.
It will occur to a great many people that
the republican party Is getting into pretty deep
water. It is plain that republican editors are
greatly embarrassed. Whenever they make
reference to misappropriated funds rightfully be
longing to the policyholders In any or these great
insurance companies they are reminded that the
political party which they serve became the bene
ficiary of a considerable sum of these misappro
priated funds. When a republican editor insists
that the Hamiltons and other Individuals shall
restore the money 'they stole rrom the policy-
holders, he lays himself operi to1 the reminder
that it is also his duty to call upon the managers
of his own party to "put it back."
Do republican leaders expect the people to
forgot the shameful facts relating to their partici
pation in the' embezzlements of policyholders'
monoy? It is well known that many republican
editors aro growing rostivo because of tho em
barrassing position in which tney aro placed.
How much longer aro tho republican leaders to
mnintaln silence in tho presence of tho growing
demand that tho republican party shall restore
to the policyholders tho money stolen for the
benefit of republican candidates 7 How much
longer will Mr. Roosevelt bo able to keep In his
cabinet tho republican party chairman, to whom
was traced $48,000 of these misappropriated funds?
It will not be an easy undertaking to con
vince the people that a political organization to
whoso very treasury a considerable sum of stolon
money has been traced, and whose leaders have,
when exposed, refusod to make restoration, is
in, truth and in deed, the "party of God and
morality." ' '
JJJ
LINCOLN, MARCH 6
Nebraska democrats will participate in a
"Dollar Dinner" at Lincoln, March G. Tho speakers
will be' General James B. Weaver and Cato Sells,
of Iowa; Mayor Rose of MilwauKeo, John H.
At wood of Kansas, G. M. Hitchcock bf Omaha,
Nebraska, A. C. Shallenbargor of Alma, Nebraska,
George W. Bergo of Lincoln, Nebraska, W. H.
Thompson of Grand Island, Nebraska, and P. H.
McKlllop of Humphrey, Nebraska.
Those who attend may safely -count upon
a treat so far as the speeches aro concerned,
becauso each of the speakers chosen has estab
lished a reputation as an orator.
It is to be hoped that democrats from all
sections of Nebraska will attend this dinner. It
will give them an opportunity to renew old ac
quaintance and to fortiry themselves for the
work in the coming campaign.
Every Nebraska democrat to whoso attention
this "Dollar Dinner" has been called should make
it a point to attend, and also to call upon his
democratic neighbor to do likewise.
JJJ
"PUT IT BACK"
Postmaster General Cortelyou recently de
livered ah address at Grand Rapids, "Mich. On
that "occasion Mr. Cortelyou said:
"Hateful as tho domination of tho boss
has become, there Is a tyranny that is worse
than that of any boss the tyranny of an
irresponsible clamor to which weak men bow
and public officials at times yield their con
science and their judgment. Nothing strikes
a deadlier blow at liberty than the Insidious
appeals made in her name in times of public
excitement. Every convicted violator of her
immutable principles should do scourged to
his just punishment, but half a case is no
case in her tribunals."
Can it be possible that in referring to "the
tyranny of an irresponsible clamor" Mr. Cortel
you refers to the criticisms made with respect
to his acceptance of campaign runds from money
belonging to the policyholders of great insurance
companies?
We do not remember that Mr. Cortelyou or
any of his associates have "yreldod their con
science and their judgment" to this . particular
"clamor."
A great many old-fashioned people boliovo
that Mr. Cortelyou, postmaster general and chair
man of the republican national committee, would
not give great offense to his "conscience" even
though he went counter to his "judgment," if he
concluded to "put It back." n-
JJJ
NOT SO VERY STRANGE
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The Philadelphia Record calls attention to the
case of a negro in Philadelphia who is afflicted
with what the Record is pleased to call a rare
disease acromegaly. The negro in, question Is
a middle aged man, but his disease has started
hinf to growing again, and he has added six inches
to his Stature within the past year.
There Is, however, nothing remarkably strange
about this sudden change in stature. True this
negro is growing larger, but quite a number of
American gentlemen once considered quite large
have been "growing" smaller and smaller with
wonderful rapidity during the past twelve monvhs.
We do not know the technical name for "growing
smaller," although acromegaly Is given as the
technical name for unusual growth. The scien
tists should get together and conjure up a 'name
for tho disease that has so suddenly and so
sharply' attacked a lot of erstwhile big men and
reduced them to very diminutive size in public
estimation.
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