Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-08-07
THE WAR IN ASIA.


According 10 all reports, the causes
that led to the declaration Of war be-
tween japan and China are many, and
thelr existence accounts for tho failure
Of tho friendly powers 10 prevent M
outbreak between tue Mjngolians.
The actual cisus BAH was the rebel.
lion In Cofoa. japan claimed that tho
King Of that country was unable TO
protect Japanese interests and citizens,
and proceeded to look after her own
affairs 10 that neighboring domain,
while China Inserted her exclusive
right 10 help the Corean king TO
maintain order ia his kingdom. THIS
claim goes, according TO Chinese tradi.
ton, ~ far back ~ the twelfth century
before Christ, aud Ia founded on the
fact that at that remote time some
Chinese fugitive Of high rank found n
friendly asylum on the peninsula,
after which ume the Chinese emperota
for such seems TO have boon their
peculiar notions OF what constitutes
rights OF possession-have claimed the
country as an integral part Of tho
FloweTy Kingdom. Japan's claims do
not 10 as far back a. these, a nd they are
founded on successful invAslons--tho
right Of gunpowder, ~ Mr. Spurgeon
used TO say-aDd although the Japs
were Afterwards virtually driven out
OF the country, they never considered
the title ~ n forfeited. CoTea seems 10
bo a case Of Alsaoe. Lorraine Ia Asia.
But this fact alone would hardly
have determined the mikad3 Of Japan
To let slip tho dogs Of war. IL 10 claimed
that ho was almost forced 10 do some
thing In order 10 divert the attention OF
his own subjects from the Internal al.
mlnistratiou, ia order 10 prevent re-
bellion. The fact h that tho millions
inhsbiting the japanese islands have
not been able 10 follow the rapid strides
OF civilization that have been taken
among them. A great number view
the decay Of tho old institutions and
the progress OF foreign customs with
dlssatiufacllon. There IL fauatioism
enough left In japan to kindle a flame
OF hatred against those who
grant to Christian re.ig Gus privileges
which they think are due only to their
own. Thewar was therefore declared,
It rs thought, Ia order 10 save the new.
planted civilization from the tompusls
OF rebellion, the mikado rightly Judg.
ing that n hp were successful hu woull
10 eudoar himself TO the masse, Of the
people that internal Disturbances
would be- impossible for a long time to
come. The last Napoleon maize the
snmu calculation when he stlkui all
he had left on war with Germany.
He failed misonbly. Tue japanese
NAPOLEON may wla.
Ii Is bus natural, ns the world
goes, tnat contest between the
two Aslauc powers should follow IA
tho wake OF the progress OF civilization.
Japan has done everything a power
could No to ne the nation toa position
Of Intellectual supremacy ia her part OF
The world. And her success has been
phenomenal But among Kingdoms,
as between iuuivIduuH, intellectual
sup,Iluuty alone Is useful ouly 70 iar
us DO can place lts rosscssoriua position
Co command respect boy i- ueigaOort
aud all t4u world. Tho proslus
10. western civilization 400 Japaa,
therefore, cauiei with if thy
uoc.-lly of testing ut snmr
| lun uapth,r China or Japan should be-
tha Uu. power TO- Asia, ll ,hs war,
.uou, is looked upon az % "kullur.
aampl"a wrestling match between
modern western civilization aud O
civilization Of ages png aud gone, %
/ wlI Dee Iutors5aur .1 follow be progress
tlU watch lu domination. The result
, alll leo %, worldwide Importance.
lthas turned cut mat Russia--as the
NEwa .uImised when tho nrst wal
umos uosanta ny-is particularly ip-
. tent on 1ue struggle. She has suddenly
discovered that size has some intefestf
! ia Coreu, OF which no one was aware