Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-03-14
TIMELY TOPICS.
BY PUBLICOLA.

BY PUBLICOLA.
We hope hereafter, with more or less
regularity, to publish in the REGISTER a
column or so of short original articles on
"Timely Topics" They will cover every
line of thought that may attract the writer S
attention from time to time. They ought to
be interesting and instructive, as the author
is quite capable of using trenchant pen.
The REGISTER may not always editorially
agree with all the opinions expressed, but
they may be none the less interesting on
that account.-ED. REGISTER.
THE WAR IN THE EAST, Our Ameri-
can newspapers give their readers very
meagre reports of the progress of the
war between China and Japan, and we
scarcely realize that for many months
actual hostilities have been in progress
between the most populous empire in
the world, and another very ancient,
but modernized power of forty-one
millions of inhabitants. Both of these
nations have armies and navies armed
and equipped with the most improved
modern officers. 1t was at first pre-
dicted that the Chinese Empire, with
its nearly eight times the population
of Japan, would speedily crush and
overw helm the latter. But strange to
say, the vast population of China has
proved itself unequal to hold its own
against the fiery energy of the p'ucky
and we'll organized japanese. The
latter haye defeated and driven the
Chinese out of Corea, they defeated
the Chinese fleet, and sunk portion
of it, in a general naval battle off the
Corean east, have landed their armies
in China, captured two of the strongest
fortified cities in Asia by assault, and
seem to haye recently captured most
of the Chinese fleet which they had
not previously destroyed. This fleet,
be it remembered, was composed OF
modern built iron clads, equal to the
best in the world. This addition to
her already powerful fleet of steel cruis-
ers and iron clads, makes Japan one
of the most formidable naval powers in
the world-rating next after England,
France, and Russia-if, indeed she is
not now superior to the latter.
The secret of this success of Japan
seems to lie in her new awakening, and
the adoption of the best of the thought
and administrative appliances of mod
ern civilization. The displacement of
the old forms, old ideas. old antiquated
religions, by the new, has filed the
japanese with new hopes, new ambi-
tions, new zeal; and these have lifted
the nation to a higher plane, as all
right reformations ever have, and ever
will, elevate and ennoble people.
The constitutional and inbred con-
servatism of the Chinese seems to
make them as yet incapable of discard
ing their worn out and antiquated sys-
TENS, and adopting the new. Hence
she finds herself paralyzed and impo-
tent in the face of her energetic neigh
bor, incapable of organizing and using
her mighty resources of numbers.
But the war is likely to result in a
new education to China, and may even
tuate in a new awakening, and the
gradual adoption of modern civiliza-
tion throughout Asia.
The passage of joint resolution by
both House and Senate of the Missouri
ital from Jefferson City to Sedalia, and
submitting the proposition to vote of
the people at the next general election.
was distinct surprise, especially to
the good people at the capital. What
the result will be it is too early to pre-
dict at this time. Sedalia proposes to
erect new modern capital buildings,
more valuable, and better suited to the
present needs OF our great State. free
of cost to the State. Certainly more
antiquated, old fogyish, unsuitable
place than jefferson City does not ex-
ist in the State, while Sedalia would
be most admirable location in every
way. If Sedalia can put the question
of cost out of consideration, so that
the taxpayers will not have any addi-
tional taxes to pay, 1t would seem as
if her more central and beautiful loca-
ton, where our State Capital can de-
velop on modern lines, ought to win
for her the victory. But to win, she
must be prepared for a tremendous
struggle. for all the army of State Off
GERS at Jefferson City, and all the old
fogies in the State, will be against re-
moval.
THE BALTIC CANAL was reading
few days ago, in cablegram from