The sun., 1895-05-02

the responsibility for putting such an Ad-
ministration in power, and may suffer the
penalty; but the Administration itself has
no part nor lot in true Democracy. The test
10 infallible.
why Should Japan and Russia Fight?
There is no conceivable contest between
foreign nations, which would be more re-
GREETED in this country, or as to which
American sympathies would be moro pain
fully divided, than a war between Russia
and Japan. We have never had but two we'll
wishers among European peoples. France,
during our struggle for independence, placed
us under vast obligations. which can never be
forgotten, though it must be admitted that
under NAPOLEON l., and again under NAPo-
LEON ILL.,, she showed herself our enemy
OF Russia, on the other hand, it must be
said that for upward Of a century she has
been our steadfast friend in every time Of
trouble. AS against Germany, and especial
ly as against England, whom we have cause
to distrust and detest we should be with
Russia, heart and soul. But how could we
regard without distress conflict between
the great northern power, that shielded us
from an English French Intervention dur
ing our civil war, and that island empire
which the United States introduced into the
family of nations, and whose swift progress
and surprising triumphs we have followed
with the lively interest and keen satisfaction
Of a foster mother. Is it not possible to
avert grevous clash of sentiments? Can
not our State Department do something to
reconcile our gratitude to Russia with our
almost parental liking for Japan?
1t is, of course, against our traditional
policy to enter into an alliance with any
foreign power, although we were glad
enough to avail ourselves of one during
our Revolutionary war, and should have
snatched at the chance of another in 1863,
had the intervention desired by NAPOLEON
III. and Lord PALMERsTqN been carried out.
An alliance is one thing; mediation is
another. Through Minister DENNY at
Pekin and Minister Dun at Toxic, our
Government, with propriety and with sue
cess, rendered its good office for the pro-
motion of peace between Japan and China.
Would it not be even more conformable to
the sympathies and wishes OF our people,
If the State Department should now under
take like conciliatory function for the pur-
pose Of preventing the threatened conflict
between the Gar and the Mikado? AS
surcdly we should be listened to with defer
ence at ST. Petersburg, and we know from
recent experience that our counsels would
be likely to be needed Mt Toxic. An attempt
OF our diplomatists to bring about in this
instance friendly understanding, would
have the better chance of proving effectual,
not only because they would be known to
be entirely disintercsted, but because they
would be able to demonstrate that both
parties to the present controversy are in the
right, and that consequently there must be
middle ground, on which their claims can
be accommodated.
We who uphold the MONROE doctrine in
the New World can appreciate the Japanese
devotion to the corresponding programme
Of Asia for the Asiatics" so far as the en-
croachments of France and England in the
far Fast are concerned. On the other hand
we can but recognize that Russia, not only
through the conquest of Turkestan, but
through the occupation and colonization of
Siberia, is by far the greatest of Asiatic
powers with respect to area, and cannot,
therefore, on any ground of justice or
equity, be treated by Japan on the footing
Of an interloper, and forever barred out from
access to the sea. Japan's claim to adequate
territorial and pecuniary reward for her
sacrifices and successes is not whit more
legitimate than is Russia's demand that, in
the reconstruction of the map of the Asiatic
seacoast adjoining her possessions, her vital
need OF harbor open all the year round
shall receive consideration.
1t should not be difficult to hit on an ar
rangement which both parties might be
prevailed upon through our good offices to
accept. We deem it quite possible that the
renunciation of Port Arthur by the Mikado
might provoke a dangerous insurrecton, if
not n revolution, in Japan; for, rightly or
wrongly, the mass OF his subjects seem to
believe that the retention of that harbor Is
Indispensable to assure the payment of the
promised indemnity, and to hold back the
Middle Kingdom from entering at a date
not distant upon a war for revenge II this
be true, and all the evidence attainable
points in this direction, the Toxic Govern
ment will be driven for self-preservation to
fight, sooner than relinquish the territory
ceded TO it by treaty in the Chinese extra
mural province Of Liau-tung. Russia,
therefore, should be urged to seek in some
other quarter the harbor which she reason
ably asks for.
Such a harbor is at hand in Port Lazareff,
the natural terminus of the trans Siberian
railway. There is no doubt that the King
OF Corea, IL requested by his protector, the
Mikado, would cede it to Russia; and there
is no reason to think that such a cession
would excite a rebellion in Japan.
The Future of Japau