The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-06-02
AN ARMY OF PROGRESS.
Telephone No. sc.

Day by day the wickedness Of Rus
sia's conduct In Eastern Asia becomes
more apparent. She is playing her old
game, which she has played in the
Balkans, in Central Asia, and elsewhere.
with varying success. Disorder and an
archy are her favorfte methods Intrigue.
bribery. and even violence and terror are
used to overthrow the existing order.
Then she steps in with a strong hand as
''the savior of society" and makes the
unhappy land satrapy of her dlshon-
ored empire. That is what she would
have done In Bulgaria years ago, but
for the genius and courage of Stambou-
loft. That is what she is now trying
TO do in Corea and will do unless the
Japanese use all their wit and all their
valor ito defeat her. Already she has
managed to thrcI.tle The government
and thwaI't almost every effort for re-
form and progress. Count Inouye Is re-
ported to be discouraged at the outlook
and on the point OF returning TO Japan
II he does return, only the presence OF
Japanese garrlsons will keep the country
from anarchy. And Russia is clamorins
for their removal so that there may be
nothing to prevent her coming in ana
SELLING Corea as her own.
That Japan will consent to such un.
doing OF the prime achievement OF the
war Is not yet to be believed, To do so
would be to lose nearly all that she has
gained and Ito have the cause OF civilis-
alton and progress lose nearly all that
1t has gained. 1t would have been far
better to leave Corea as It was in its
motive baatbarsm and subject to Chinese
intrigue and oppression, than to have
II now come under Russian control.
Moreover, II Russia gets Corea she win
stand between China and Japan and pre-
vent the latter from requiring fulhlment
OF the terms OF the treaty of peace,
China may then repudlate her pledges,
close her ports to commerce and check
the whole course of progress Initiated
by Japan. That, doubtless, would
please Russia, and with Russia guarding
the Gulf OF Pe-ChI-Ll, Japan and all
the rest OF the world might protest In
vain. It would require another war to
regain the lost fruits OF the war just
ended. and war, too,I with Russia as
well as China. To those who have liveo
in the 'far east" or carefully followed by
Intelligent reading Russla's course on
the coasts of China and Japan, this ques-
tlon, far from being settled, is only now
assuming proportions.
Russia indeed seems to be trying 10
play the role Of new BonapaIte. She
sets herself up as the arblter Of all the
world. In the Balkans, In Scandinavia,
IN Central Asia and now In Eastern Asia
she would impose her will on every
other state. All must be subject to her,
No other reason ds to be required for
anything than that II Is her will. But
she differs from Bonaparte in this, that
while he really made for progress, she
makes ror baclSwariness and barbar-
ISM She is trying to crush the superior
civilization OF Finland down to the Cos
sack level and to extlngulsh the fires OF
liberty ana progress In the Balkans. In
Turxestan she has been more Of Tar
tar than the Iartars, and now she would
make the state OF China and Corea worse
than Il was before they were illumineo
and put IN the way Of progress by the
genius OF Japan. In such courses more
even than dld Bonaparte, she makes her
self an enemy OF humanity, ard she VIII
II she persists In them one day arouse
the same general and resolute antag,
onlsm that finally overcame him.