Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-05-20
PRESS COM I'M ENTS.
A New Order in the East.
IN. Y. Tribune.)

On. Y. Tribune.)
The world learned several new lessons
in warfare from the recent struggle be-
tween Japan and China, and now the set
Element of peace is equally instructive.
Not in the memory of man has any other
conquering power imposed such terms
upon its fallen foe. The rule has been
that ''to the victor belong the spoils, -
and usually the spells have been taken in
n manner calculated to humiliate the
beaten nation as much as possible Ger
many insisted upon marching her victo-
rious legions through the streets of Paris,
and crowned her Emperor in the Hall of
Mirrors at Versailles. France showed no
generosity to Siam. Russia simply swal-
lowed Turkestan, and would have done
the same thing with Turkey had not Eng
land interfercd. And as for England, a
successful war means conquest and an
nexation every time. Japan, too, might
have followed the same stern course
There was nothing to prevent her from
taking Peking and debating terms of
peace within tho innermost precincts of
the forbidden city. Instead she called
a halt to her armies. and held upon her
own soil tho council for peace; and the
NnOlC JOliC VI VIC IitSOUidUlODS WAS Innu
of a conference between equals, instead of
between victor and vanquished.
The terms of peace are. of course fav-
orable to Japan. But in no respect are
they unduly humiliating to China and
they secure-apart. of course from the in
demnity and the cession of Formosa-no
advantages for Japan which are not also
freely extended to all the world. Corea
must be independent; that is an interna-
tional gain. China must relax some of
her barbarous laws toward all foreigners
as we'll as Japanese. China must open
her harbors and rivers to the commerce
not of Japan alone but of the world.
China must permit the introduction of
machinery. not merely from the shops of
Japan, but from those of England and
Germany and America as well. japan. in
brief, has simply done what for many
years the European powers have wanted
to do, but have been too jealous of each
other to do. She has "opcncd'' China
But she has done so not as England or
Germany or Russia would have done, for
exclusive selfish gain, but for the common
gain of the whole world
In taking Formosa and some minor is
lands for her own she has, of course. eff
fected some important self-aggrandize-
ment. But she has taken lands which
geographically form a natural part of her
empire, and over which China's authority
has been little more than nominal. The
report that she will make Formosa auton-
omous is, If true, exceedingly interest
ing. That is not the way in which con-
quered province is usually disposed of
A military dictatorship or crown colony
system would seem more in order. Bnt
In this, rs well as in the rest of the case.
Japan sets new example to the world
1t may be that through her extraordinary
political genius she will be able to make
that savage and anarchic island peaceful
ly, governing as she has within a few
years transformed her own ancient despo-
tism into free representative govern
ment She has done so many extraordi
nary things that it will not do to pro-
nounce even this impossible.
But what spectacle it all is, A few
years ago actually down to twelve months
back the European powers were looking
patronizingly upon Japan as an inferior
nation existing only upon their sufTerance
70 be worked" for their profit and one
day entirely disposed of as they pleased.
NOW, Japan takes rank as n first-class
power and they must form a triple or
guadruple league of self-defence against
ner, lest she take it In hand to dispose as