Uncle Sam’s Opinion of the Japs.

Manawatu Herald, 12 March 1904, Page 3

Uncle Sam’s Opinion of the Japs.

Mr H. D. Bedford, writing from Honolulu, gives the Otago Daily Times some particulars of the manner in which the Americans look upon the Japanese population in those islands: “My predilections for the Japanese suffered many a rude shock during my brief stay in Honolulu. With the traditional antagonism of a Briton to Russian aggression, I fondled the hope that j Japan would foil the Bear’s aspira-1 tion.s in the East. If, however, I am to believe what I heard and saw i the Jap is apt to be very much overrated. Said a distinguished and learned citizen : ‘The Jap is little more than an anthropoid ape. All his ancient arts he borrowed from China. Even in his imitations he frequently misses the central ideas. I have just returned from Japan. Whilst at Yokohama I lodged at a large new hotel built on the most approved European plan. I was amazed to notice the failure to seize the central ideas of the. things copied. The Jap is distinctly aggressive, with a full-blown conceit of himself, and what may be the upshot of the triumph of Japan over Russia fills us with a vague dread. An alliance between Japan and China, with their illimitable millions, might make it necessary for us to pull down our present maps of the world and hang up new ones.’ Such were the sentiments expressed by the Americans at Honolulu over the Eastern embroglio. They profess to know the Jap, and they pray for 'Russia’s success. This hope does | not appear to be entertained by the United states Government, but it I seems a fact worth recording considering its source.”