WARS BORN OF BOYCOTTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 130, 23 May 1908, Page 4

WARS BORN OF BOYCOTTS

All hough the recent unpleasantness between China and Japan, due to the hci/.uri: hy the former of the Tatsu Mam, lias been otlieially declared to have been settled by the release of the impounded steamship, H .seems not un- , likely that Avar may yet break out ow- ! iug to the persistent boycott, which ; China is now declaring against all Jap- ! ancse goods. : For history teems with wars due to | this very cause. And that although the word only dates back to 1880, when a certain Captain Loycott, of Lough Masi; Farm, in Ireland, was so served by his indignant neighbours. But the practice was known long previously. To it was due the war which lost tiie lliitish Empire the fee simple in all those rich and magnilicent territories that now comprise the United States of America. The colonists would have none of our goods, nor goods borne in Itritwh ships. They threw overboard in Boston Harbor the'tea we sent Ihcin. and made bonfires of other more inllammabli- commodities. Then w;* landed troops to compel them to do otherwise, and hostilities broke out.

To Xapolcou's Berlin decree, ag'i n. was due, more than to aiivthing el-e. the share we took iu the series of wars that led to his downfall. It declared <t boycott—the biggest on record—against British commerce the world over, il it had succeeded, there would to-day hav been no British Empire. Our forefathers, shrewd, hard-headed old chaps, foresaw this, and forthwilh voted dUMmO/MIl) fur his overthrow. And as did Britain then, so very likely may Japan do to-day. Nn more than individuals, do nations rolinli being " touched in their pockets."