The San Francisco call., 1897-12-22
THE CHRISTMAS WAR SCARE.

= AROLS OF Peace on earth, good will to
men" will be sung this year to a
- world on the verge of widespread
war. From the British isles to the isles
OF Japan, across the length and breadth of
Europe and Asia, the nations are armed and the
peoples watch another with suspicious OF hos
tility. The first aggressive movements have been
already made, and the salute to the year may be
thundered from the guns OF warships in battle.
The course OF events in the Orient will be the
interesting feature OF international history this
winter. The fact that both Germany and Russia dis
claim any intention of conquest in China does not
weaken the significance OF their action in occupying
Chinese ports. 1t will be remembered that Great
Britain has always disclaimed any intention of
quest in Egypt. Modern diplomacy abhors the word
conquest" 1t sanctions the act as of old, but if
gives it another name
The powers of Europe are seeking to extend
their spheres OF influence for trade purposes and in
this generation that is tantamount to conquest Ger
many France and England desire to establish them
selves firmly in China, mainly for the markets they
hope to find there for the products OF their factories
Russia is probably animated by military and
political motives and seeks imperial expansion
rather than commercial advantages. 1t matters not
about the motives, however since the end
is the same. The partition Of China seems to
probably hurry to precipitate end
In former times such action as that taken by
Germany and Russia would have been a cause of in
slant 1t is different now. There has grown up
III diplomacy immense power known as the con-
cert of Europe, which acts as a restraining force
upon the military spirit 1t moves slowly, but its
force is unmistakable. 1t prevented Russia from
dividing Turkey after her successful war withethat
country, it compelled Japan to yield ner conquests
III China and it forced Turkey to submit to arbtra-
ton her demands upon exhausted Greece. 1t is
potent enough now to make Russia and Germany
halt, or at least consent to division 81 the spos
The issue seems to be so far away from us that
our Government will probably account it as no con-
OF the United States We will keep our hands
off and let the aggressive Europeans fight or argue it
out for themselves Nevertheless, the partition of
China would be certain in the end to exert pow
crfu influence upon the Pacific Coast OF the United
States and if the threatened partition takes place
we may find before this generation passes away that
the matter was OF more concern to US than to any
part of the world except the Orient itself
Rudyard Kipling has told US that Europe will
never reform Asia, for there is too much Asia and
she is too old. The aggressive powers now de-
scending upon China can do nothing more than
break up the kingdom and thus dissolve the moral
and political bonds which have kept the Chinese out
OF the competitive labor markets of the civilized
world. When that is done deluge of yellow men
will flow wherever steamships and railways will
carry them, and will be fortunate for the victorious
white if by rigid exclusion acts he can keep the
flood Of cheap labor out of his own land and save the
workngmen of his race and country from being sub
merged by it.