A Good Day for Mountain View
By Editor
A Good Day for Mountain View.—Sabbath, August 17, was an especially good day for the church at Mountain View. Brother Reed, president of the Pacific Union College, spoke in the forenoon and evening, and Brother Sharpe, in charge of the Normal Department of the college, spoke in the afternoon. The college enjoyed an exceptional year of prosperity during its last session, and the prospects for the coming year are the brightest ever. Calendars for the college can be had by addressing Pacific Union College, Healdsburg, Cal. War with Japan.—Is there danger?—Yes; but not immediate. Japan is not able to go to war at present. She has not recovered from her Russian conflict which left her impoverished in men and means. Russia would be of no help to Japan, and China is not yet sufficiently trained. This nation has no desire to go to war, for the "jingoes" are in a decided minority. I wrote our representative in Japan as to the feeling over there, and he writes: "There is a 'jingo' element in Japan, the same as in America; and it is from this element that the disquieting reports and statements have emanated. Count Okuma is a man of considerable influence and ability, but, being of pronounced opinions, is very free to put himself on record in the public press and by public speeches. But, as the party with which he affiliates is not now in power, he is all the more free to express his mind on all occasions and subjects, without the restraint that is expected from statesmen in power. It is his following that has been most pronounced in their anti-American sentiments. A recent number of Tokyo Puck was devoted very largely to the agitation of this question between America and Japan, and some of the cartoons were very suggestive. One represented American missionaries hurriedly returning home to convert the heathen in their own country. Another showed General Kuropatkin on his visit to Japan while he was Russian Minister of War, and the prospective visit of Secretary of War Taft to Japan; and underneath the pictures was written somewhat as follows: 'After General Kuropatkin's visit we had the Russo-Japanese War. After Secretary Taft's visit we shall have —.' One reporting the situation here might easily dwell upon this warlike phase of the matter, and make out quite a case. But I have carefully watched the papers; and while there have been occasional 'jingo' outbursts, the Tokyo press as a rule have shown restraint and good sense in discussing the situation. All practically agree that the real solution is the removal of the present restraints which interfere with the Japanese freely migrating to, and living in, America. As to the responsible statesmen of the country, the men now holding the reins of government, they have been very careful not to say anything to stir up this feeling against America. Marquis Ito has been especially solicitous, apparently, to quiet the feelings of his countrymen by pacific utterances." Altogether too much has been made of the San Francisco incidents; if it had not been for the papers, both troubles would soon have blown over. Americans have suffered more from the hoodlums of their own land than have the Japanese, and San Francisco was disposed to do the right thing in education. It never ought to become more than a local issue. But it is questionable whether unrestricted immigration of Japanese will be allowed. There is much war-blood in each country, and sooner or later it may be tested, but there is no immediate danger. Now is the time, as our correspondent remarks, to proclaim the Gospel of peace.