The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-17
TIE JAPAN-CnINA WAR.

| this side OF the world TO judge intelli-
gently Of the progress of the war in
China, in military sense, we are able
to note the effect of the struggle upon
the civilized world aud observe the senti-
ments and acts of the Western nations
whose interests may be affected by the
fate of China.
Two events Of first Importance have
just been reported: The refusal of the
United States and Germany to join the
powers and intervene between China
and Japan, ana the refusal of Japan to
consider the overtures of China for
peace.
That this country should refuse to give
the very powerful aid of its approval TO
England's scheme for the division OF
China, under pretense of arbitrament
for peace, ought to excite no surprise,
and does not, in fact, carse so much in
tarest in this country as Mr.. CLEvE-
LANDS silence regarding the New York
campaign. The attitude OF the State De-
partrhent is regarded rs of great import
snce and significance abroad, however,
as indeed it is. America lies between
England and China, and has a
better right to interfere in
China's affairs than England has.
When, therefore, this Government says
TO England that it will not join in a
movement to coerce the perfectly free
and independent government OF China
the effect is very like what it would be
if the United States were to say that it
would not permit England to meddle
with affairs that do not concerp her. In
her refusal 10 join England to intervene
the United States says more than that
she does not care to attempt TO advise
or coerce China; she says that, being
more nearly concerned than European
nations, she does not approve OF the
English proposition, and desires to be
understood as opposing it.
The refusal of Germany to join Eng
land is ostensibly based upon "the
chivalrous regard" of the Kaiser for the
Cars condition; that is to say, the
Emperor declares that he will not place
himself in an attitude of hostility to-
ward the plans of the sick monarch Of
Russia. There is, of course,
better reason, but the shrewd EN-
peror wells his contempt of England's
scheme with his "chivalrous regard" for
the sick Gar. 1t is apparent that the
Kaiser rules by the direct favor of God,
as he declares, as mere human agency is
too impotent to be credited with such
concatenation Of fortuitous circum-
stances. France and Russia are also un-
derstood to favor non Intervention.
The resolution of japan to continue
the war, regardless of China's offers Of
peace, can scarcely be expected
to lead to anything but the
utter prostration of the Flowery King
dom. The report that japan would not
at present consider terms of peace is ac-
companied by suggestion that China
cannot long avoid revolution aud an
archy. What will happen to China if
Japan's arms continue to be victorious
is purely speculation, and events have
not yet. so far as known, made it neces-
sary to even speculate about it. There
can be 10 very brilliant future imme-
diately before China, unless there is a
great flight of a great Mongol tribe
away from her. and great thrush of
people able to develop the country
which is not likely enough to even JUS
tify the trouble of formulating the no.
| ton.
Russia doubtless disapproves or Eng =
lands scheme Of intervention solely be-
cause she has plan of her own, to work
which she does not desire cooperation.
Russia could throw an army of more
than 100. 900 men into Manchuria, the
northeastern province of China, at
once. Manchuria has an area of $780,
900 square miles and popula-
tion OF 21.000,000. The possession OF
this province would real ize for Russia
one Of her ancient dreams of empire
stretching to the Pacific, and aid her
tremendously in her modern schemes
for Improvement. II would enable her
to shorten the great Siberian railway
1000 miles, and select for its eastern
terminus port more suited to her
needs than that of Vladivostock.
Why does England appear so anxious
to take dominant part in settling the
trouble between China and Japan
That question might be trnthfully,
though brutslly, answered, that England
is merely following her instinct for
commercial piracy. II is renewal of
the Boston Harbor tea fight of 12l years
ago.
England wants America for market
for her Ceylon and Indian teas. Since
1891 China has lost about three
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