The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-17

|
very elaborate one discussing very
thoroughly the way In when the war
between China and Japan came ABOUT
the objects and purposes of Japan IN
! that war. it's tendencies and effects upon
! the balance OF power in the East. Eng
| lands interest in the contest. ana Kus-
sia's position towards IT,
The writer's conclusion. so far as ia
| pans justification for the war IS con-
| cemod, Is. that II was a war OF absolute
aggression upon her part. totally unpro-
| yoked and without any excuse Whatever
! except the fact that The japanese knew
they were perfectly prepared for It,
while China was wholly unprc2ared Tor
II. and that they knew, therefore. that
! tGey would be able TO coerce China into
ced.ng TO them a great deal belonging TO
China that they wanted. So clear Is this,
says the writer, that Japans defend
ers, driven from one excuse after an
other, have now taken the position that
the real cause OF the war will never be
| known, which ne thinks, and which We
|
no cause for it existed at all.
This writer says that in their method
cal preparations for plundering China
the japanese established a literary bu-
reau which had its ramiications in all
civilized countries. and that the agents
OF this bureau primed the press of all the
civilized world with the tales we all read.
when the contest was in its early stages,
Of the progressive spirit Of japan that
was prompting her, i'm China's and civil
ization's interests, TO carry the beacon
light Of intelligence and advancement
into and amongst China's benighted and
unciviized hordes. All this, Backwood's
writer asserts, was nothing but part OF
the game, whose object was plumber Of
the Chinese.
Russia he says, understood Japan's
| game from the beginning. and her situa-
| ton was such that she was compelled TO
notify Japan at the outset that she would
never stard by and see Jajan' carry her
purposes into effect. Russia is sepa-
| rated from her seaport at NMGiyostock
| by an immense stretch Of territory bor-
! dored along its southeastern boundary
| by Korea and Manchuria. Whilst those
regions are inhabited and controlled by
an inert. semi-civilized body of people
| like the Koreans and the Chinese, Rus
sla's communication with her eastern
sea front runs no risk. But II the terri
tory were in possession of a live, grow
| ing, military power like Japan. there
would be perpetual menace to the in
| tegrity of the Russian empire establish
ed upof~ its flank that might result in
| Russias loss of her entire possessions
in the East so far removed from her
base for making effectual war in their
defence. 1t was, therefore. a matter of
life and death to Russia that Japan
should not be allowed 10 establish a foot
| hold either in Korea or upon the Laio
Tung peninsula. The article goes on
then 10 give very clear and very inter
esting account Of the proceedings in d-
plomacy whereby the European coal-
ton. led by Russia, was formed, that
forced the japanese, when the war was
over. to content themselves with a mon
ey indemnity and the cesson of the ISL
and of Formosa. This brings the writer
10 The point which he had principally in
| view, and that is that instead of being
an impediment in Russias way in this
line of policy; it was England's true
| interest TO have united with her. and TO
have effectively restrained Japan in her
predatory foray. English journals, says
he. threw up their hats when it was an
nounced that Japan had coerced an i'm
mouse war indemnity out Of China, never
rejecting for a moment that it would
be paid by the cotton-spinners Of Ian
cashire and the exporters OF Manchester.
The article insists that it is time Eng
land should abandon the old-time error
OF seeking to deny Russia free access TO
the ocean. and a recent article in the
Spectator strongly advocates this view,
declaring that England has really aban-
doned the idea OF keeping Russia out Of
the Mediterranean, and would raise no
sort Of protest IL Russia should occupy
Constantnople by marching on it from
the East. and leaving the Balkan States
undisturbed.
But Blackwoods writer insists that
Englands policy OF making friends with
Russia should go much further than
abandoning opposition TO Russian ingress
to and egress from the Mediterranean.
II should 30. says he. 20 a cordial under
standing at all points Russia. he says,
IS not England's rival or enemy in the
East. She has all the territory in the
East that she wants, and is perfectly
content with Englands domination OF
! India. Elsewhere the interests OF the
two countries are on all-fours. Russia
buys immense quantities of manuiac-
turod articles from England. and sells
her great quantities Of food products.
There is every reason, therefore. says
lie. why there should be a cordial union
between the greatest naval and the great
est military power of Europe, while there
are no reasons for the animositios be-
tween the two countries which have
been manufactured rather than spring
ing from natural causes. The article is
a very notable one, and is destined TO
have very important effect upon the
, thought Of the day.