The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-23

4
less on tie ground Of principle We are
doing an excellent trade today with Japan !;
We are likely to increase this trade; we
are respected and esteemed by the Japan
csc nation, bat we should damn ourselves
forever in the eyes Of this gallant little
people II We joined hands with Great
Britain TO rob Japan Of the fruits of her
courage and intelligence By forcing her to
seeept less sdvantageou, terms of peace
than her warIike success has won.
A. a matter Of principle, Japan is right;
she does not wish to conquer Korea; nor
TO conquer China; she only desires to
make China respect the Independence Of
kores.
The situation of Korea with reference 10
the seif-preservation Of Japan is not unlike
that OF Switzerland in Europe. Ssitzer-
land is small country. with bat 5000
square miles of territory. inhabited by
about 100000 Of people. The independ-
ence Of Ssiizsrland does not rest upon the
arms of her gallant mountaineers: Ii rests
upon the guarantee Of the great powers OF
Europe, even as does that of Belgium.
Switzerland touches the frontier of France,
Italy. Austria and Germany, and for this
reason none of the great powers desire its
occupation by another. and all the powers
have agreed to respect its neutrality.
The strategicai importance of Switzer-
land was appreciated by the first Napoleon.
since from Switzerland France could be
attacked; from Switzerland Germany.
Austria or Italy could be attacked, and
from the mountain roads Of Switzerland
Napoleon debouched upon the plains of
Italy on his great campaign Of 1900.
The Independence of Korea Is as essential
10 the military and naval defense OF Japan
against China. Russia or any other power
as the independence of Switzerland is to
the military powers of Europe that touch
It's frontiers.
Another illustration would be Mexico.
The United States does not desire to con-
quer Mexico; il could not accept 1t with
its mongrel population as gift tomorrow.
It's peaceful population is indolenr and
ignorant. and its warlike races are nothing
but energetic bandits and irreclaimable
Indians. Nevertheless when Napoleon the
Third poured his troops into Mexico We
warned him to evaeuate. because We could
tolerate no powerful enemy on our flank
The Independence of Mexico we desire,
but the occupation of Mexico by great
power of Europe We would resist
Just 80 with Japan: she desires the in
dependence of Korea. but as matter of
military prudence she cannot afford the
occupation of Korea by another power, be-
cause the possession Of Korea and its ad-
jacent waters is the key TO the military
and naval defense of Japan. For these
reasons Japan's wari just, and the United
States could not afford in policy or prin-
ciple to help Great Britain cheat Japan of
the fruits of her courage. energy and skill.
Great Britain makes no secret of her
sympathy tor China. because she is the
greatest European seller of commodities
to that power, while the United States has
the best of Great Britain in Japan. Great
Britain has thus far thrown oil her in
fiusnee for China She forced Japan TO
leave Shanghai unmolested, thus securing
for China a great seaport and harbor OF
repair and supply. In the matter OF the
English transport destroyed by Japan.
that power was elearI, right under inter
national law.
The English cruisers have used their
search lights TO disclose the approach OF
Japanese war vessels to the Chinese, and
England has refused 10 allow Japan to
treat rice as contraband of war, although
she enforced IL at the time Of the war be-
tween France and China
The United stases has rightly refused to
interfere with Japan, and IL is no, likely
that Russia or France will act as cats
paws to pluck British chestnuts out of
Chinese blaze. IL Great Britain under
takes TO coerce Japan, Russia aud France
would at once protest, aud Germany will
no, so out Of her way 20 ruiiie Russia. At
sadowa and Sedan Russia compelled the
neutrality Of Europe and thus made the
empire Of Germany possible birth.
Great Britain has not only a commercial
bat political interest In China and Japan,
and her political interest IS 10 resist the
efforts Of Russia TO become the supreme
European srhiter OF the fate Of Asia: Of
course Great Britain can not count on any
help from Russia in her design to c!rcum-
vent or eoeFce Japan. France is certainly
not disposed TO help out the designs Of
England in Asia. With three Of the great
powers Of Europe representing aatago-
nistic interests in Asia 10 Is certain that
Japan wig not be eosreed 20 make peace or
cheated out Of Der victory as Russia was
by England a. the conference % Berlin
after her victory over Turkey in ISIS.
Russia undoubtedly desires the dis
me1nesrmsnt Of China. and 50 for that
matter does France.
Germany Is toisy Russian rather than
English in her symPsthles. The German
and French press seous the idea Of say
interference with Japan, aad the London
TFmrs declares that interference would
oest Great Britain too much. Under these
circamstanees the ultimate defeat Of China
seems certain. IL the japanese capture
PsSlng the present Chinese dynasty would
he upset. and IL 10 net impossible that the
Chlnsss Empire will be broken gp and at
soreed By Russia, France. England an3
japan. IL this should take place II
would - great day Tor ths advance o.
modern civilization. for Chlaa Is the moss
gigantic ana fsrrn,dsbss B5arsson ia a.
Asa