The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-09-03
ANOTHER 0lsIENpAL WAR
Is But u QaoStIun of TtIRS-RuSsIa and
Japan ut Variance.

| IL but n @nesiiGn 0f timo-RuSsln ana
Japan Ht Variance.
San Francisco, Sept 2.-Chsster Hol'
comb, who has lust returned from
China after tweutY-OueiYears' service in
tho American legation at Pekingr says
the recent massacre is traceable to the
roIult OF the recent Chineae.JRpanese
war.
"AG the commencement! OF the recent
war between China and Japan" said
he, ''is was generally feared tnat the
lives Of Foreigners Ia China would ba in
great danger as long as the war lasted.
As matter OF fact, there was praCtl-
cally no danger as long rs the war
lasted, and 1t is only since tho HOSTILE
ties ceased that the Danger has COM
msnCei. We have had proof Of the
fact In tho recent massaCres, and |
think | eau explain tho reason,
'In the first place, the great mass OF
Chinese arc disappointed With tue re-
suit OF tho war, aud arc taking revenge
on all tue foreigners, whom they eau
kill with ImpunlGy.
an tue second place, the killing and
pillageis given great encouragement by
reason OF the deprsdations committed
by hordes OF disbanded soldiers all over
tho country. Tho Chinese government
has peculiar method OF disposing OF
its troops At the close Of a war. When
the soldiers are no longer needed they
are discharged from service az the
place where they happen to be ut the
time. The TACT that an army may be
several hundred or a thousand miles
away from nome when it is disbanded,
aud the fact that the soldiers may not
possess any means Of getting home,
does not interest the government in the
least. The troops arc turned loose, aad,
to use an American expression, they
have 10 "beat" their way back TO the
place from whence they came. That
they should pillaGe aud commit depre'
dailons is therefore natural to such
people under such conditions, and tran.
guilty will not reign in China for lome
time to come.
Just before left Japan Learned an
American missionary who has been Ia.
boring noar Psking Tor many years had
been assaulted and severely cut by
knife. His name iS d. S. Sheffield and
| have known him quite we'll for years.
1t Is only fair TO cay, however, that
the assailants were arrested aud will DO
tried for their odense, II such prompt
action was taken in the cAsss Of the
other offenders, tho wholesale killing
OF missionaries in ChiRa would be
speedily stopped. It is almost impossl.
bio, however, to mcte out justice TO a.
Tending Chinese In the interior pro.
yinces aud it Is the fault OF the govern
ment."
Mr.. uocomb says the most interest.
ing question in tue orient at the pres
nt,Iouside OF the missionary massacreS
and the cholera, is the approaching
conflict between Russia and Japan.
"Ihat Japan aud Russia will become
mixed up in dispute which will result
in war, goes without saying" said he,
"and the commencement Of tho actual
hostilities 10 not far Of, Then the
Japanese have big grievance against
Russia, and Russia is preparing TO make
things warm iOr the Japanese. The
other day was told very frankly by
japanese officials. who hold high posi-
tionI in tho government that the Jap
auese would 1.-Two to rue tho day she per-
mittOd herseIit to become mixed up IN q
war with China. It has given Russia
an opportunity she has long waited Tor.
mo ono knows beltor than / how
narrowly Japan escaped war with
Russia whom sho got through with her
war with China. Tho Japanese were so
inrenssd at Rassias attitude 10 the
matter OF the C0siion Of tue Lao TunR
peninsula that the Japanese officials
talked seriously OF engaging IN
s1uabblo with Russia was IN Japan
at the time aud heard 1t all. 4 certain
mcnber of the Japaneso cabinet, whose
acquaintance | made when ho was sent
TO Pekln Rs the Japanese minister to
China, said TO me at the time: Russia
has six ironclad hatllcshipI. Wo have
but one, aud that we captured from the
Chinese. II wp had but four ironclals,
or only three, VIC would defy Russia"
'lhnt is Just what Russia wanted
thOm to do. Russia will yet so aggravatd
tho Japanese that they will declare war,
Thun Russia will avtompt to drive tho
jauano,O out OF Korea, whore they ato
now masters ol tho situation. Tho
I0pauasa arc debating affairs IN Korea,
for while tho king still remains on tho
throne, ho dou8 nothing that counts In
authority, Tho light DGtwOon Russia
and Japan will bc ovor Korea and u
will como iu,t as soon as Russia hnds
tina, shu wants an OpUn port on tho
Pacific" ,,,,
ME iloIcombo will leave ior Washing.
ton, u, T., tonight.