St Ignatius College - Ignatian Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

Page 24 text:

gg TUE IGNATIAX of timorous minds in fretful, distorted imaginings, wherein, details are exaggerated beyond all p1'opoY'1i011S to Tlltil' HCV ual iinportanee,-suggestions that are fit objects. therefore, for the ridicule of sensible Americans. Moreover, there are those in the United States today, and their number, unfor- tunately, is great, who base the safety of the nation on its geographical remoteness from the powers of the East. Fifty years ago the isolation of the American continent. was a reality. Today-due to the rapid advance of science and the relatively incredible speed and facility of maritime trans- portation,-that which at one time was isolation the reality. is now isolation the illusory niist. Let us not depend for our national safety on defenses so obsolete as territorial remote- ness. VVhait, then, according to the tenor of this article should be the attitude of America? The purpose of this essay is not an infusion into the hearts of its readers of a spirit of antag- onistic aud aggressive suspicion toward Japan. its message is this: Watchfulnessl Firmness! Preparedness! Let us stand by our rights and defend them. Let us be hopeful for the best, but let us be prepared for any emergency. Let us never permit the consciousness of our power to dim the na- tional vision in its perception of dangers that are real and may be iuuninent. Vtfatchfulness-without suspicion, Firm- ness-without arrogance! Preparednessfwithout inilitar- isin! This should be the attitude of America toward Japan. '52 :Hi 11 2? it S' Far out across the waters of the broad Pacific, an eastern eagle swoops and Swilils with lazy vigilance in the air. On graceful pinions, her powerful talons glistening and extend- ed, her keen eyes frowning into the NVest she wheels above the nest she has usurped. From time to time she listens with inteutluess. She has heard the distant flutter of other wings. The silence is almost oppressive. NVill she now scream- and break the peace-and die?

Page 23 text:

THE 191111115 Ol THE EAST 21 mandate hy reason of the terms of which Japan could have exelusive control over Yap. did so ahsolutellv without the knowledge, consent or authority of the Government of tln- llnited States of America. Fourth: The llnited States tlovernment therefore, in view of the fact that at no time has it ceded its rights in Yap to the Government of Japan, and in view ol' the fact that the Suprelne Council conferred the mandate upon Japan with-- out the consent or authority of the Government of the l'nited States-wishes to assert to all the world that it still has the same rights in the island of Yap which it had prior to the granting of the League mandate to Japan. That hriefly is the declaration of rights hy which Amer- ica has protested to the world the injustice of the Japanese claims. Already France, Italy and Great llritain have evi- denced their support of the llnited States in the controversy. Japan alone remains silent. Wlizit will he her answer when it is finally given to the nations? She has only two courses open to her pursuit. One is an admission of Ameriea's rights in Yap, involving as it does the humiliation of a with- drawal from the attitude which she has so determinedly as- sumed. The other is the answer which in all prohahilitfv would he most favorahle to her arrogant, military caste, the answer which would amount to a plain, hlunt announcement to all the world that henceforth the Far East and its adja- cent. side of the Pacific is exclusively the Dominion of the land of the Mikadosl Of the two courses the first is more in conformity with the dictates of unimpassioned judgment. The second is more in harmony with the militant spirit of a Prussianized Japan. To choose the first course is a ehoiee unshadowed by the hint of disastrous complications. A se- lection of the second might emlmroil Japan in a war with a mighty white coalition. Japan knows all these things. lim still-1Japan remains silent. The suggestions of possible eonfliet with Japan are to some in the light of present events, due to the indulgence

Page 25 text:

The Pessimist of Gold-Bug b ltlayo J, llrolan N OLD-BVG GULCH was a bad place, goodness knows, yet it was neither better nor worse than the ordinary run of early mining camps. lt had its half dozen sa- loons for every five hundred inhabitants, but the climate was dry and the inhabitants drier. lt had its wide open gamb- ling-hells, the shrines of miscellaneous wickedness, but it made no apology for itself, offered no invitation to the straight-laced and virtuousg it simply said, l am what l am. lf you woo me you must. take me for better or for worse . The ordinary inhabitant never bothered his brains to see on which side the balance lay. This call of the wild had filled his ears and the glitter of gold had dazzled his eyes. There was but one exception, Seb Steffins, the man of the cool gray eyes and stubborn chin, rugged of form and the best pistol-shot among them. He had made up his mind on the first day of his advent, Gold-Bug lied if it spoke of The better 5 and yet it seemed paradoxical that it couldn't be Worse . Taeiturn on other subjects, he was eloquent on the short- comings of Gold-Bug. ln the beginning, local pride was sensitive, quite a number loudly protested their anxiety to champion its nameg some few were rash enough to make the attempt. Then Gold-Bug awoke to the fact that it was prouder of its new citizen than of its good. reputation. At least it was willing to concede him privileges that it was still shy in granting to others. Besides, it was no little dis- tinction to be considered the worst place in the world by a man whose pistol-finger was so highly respected. But if Seb Steffins found Gold-ling so bad, he was far from' being a severe moralist. The whole world was blaelt to him, what else was to be expected of Gold-ling. The town sometimes wondered, but never he. Every new facc