The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-09-02
EDITORIAL COLUMN
RusslA's PEACE PROPOSITION.
(From the Pioneer Press.)

ence looking to a general reduction OF
European ornaments, it is we'll to
weigh not only the intrinsic merits of
the proposition itself, but likewise the
source from which it comes and the cir
cumstances under which it was made,
before concluding that it is inspired
wholly by humanitarian desire for
universal peace and the tightening of
the peoples burdens.
Russia stands alone among the great
powers OF Europe as a nation which,
Notwithstanding the immensely of its
resources and the vastness of the arma-
ments it has felt compelled to maintain
and in maintaining which it has in
fact '.set the pace for the other powers
has never been victorious in any war
which it has waged. 1t has contributed
auxiliary forces to the armies OF other
nations-as when it assisted Austria in
the suppression of the Hungarian revo-
luton under Kossuth--but its own mill
tary history is but a record of success
sive defeats. The character of its do
main, the inertia, loyalty and fatalistic
patience of its masses, the readiness
with which an sutocratic government
could gather fresh armies and fresh
resources with which to repair defeat
these, and a favoring fortune, account
for the fact that after each reverse to
its armes-as was the case after the
Crimean war and it's forced retirement
from the Balkans at later period-it
has gathered itself together and been
able, by watching for its opportunity,
to make subsequent advances even
greater than those which it had vainly
endeavored to defend in battle. All
Russia's gains have been through long
headed strategy and the use of diplo-
matte arts, in which sincerity and good
faith have often seemed to exist only in
so far as they have been compatible
| with Russian interests. History would
seem to indicate that Russia never
| makes treaty with any intention of
keeping it if anything can be gained by
violating its provisions. She never
makes a proposition to other powers
but that the suspicion Of an Interior
purpose-of "a card up her sleeve''-is
justified by her past record. So it may
welltbe believed that Russia's present
suggestion of general interchange of
olive branches and a general disarma.
MT ho {c {hn To hat
Russia cannot, just now, use her own
vast military organization with any
particular success in pushing further
territorial ambitions. If general dis
armament can be brought about those
ambitions may tbe furthered by her
customary tactics; While there will be
none to urge against her the only argu-
ment she has ever .heeded-that of
!! force.
| The immediate circumstances under
which Russia appears as the advocate
OF disarmament are these: The czar S
aggressions in Chinahave been so teeb-
ly met by the Chinese government
1 (which seems to care little whether Its
territory is dismembered or not. and
that government has shown itself SO
willing to yield everything to the
threats of Russian Representatives,
under the evident impression that Eng.
land would do nothing but TALK
that the British ministry seems to have
been finally driven to a holder attitude
in defense of British interests. The
queen is said to have withdrawn hel
declaration, made years ago that Eng.
land should never again make war OF
Russia during her lifetime. An ulti
matum is alleged to have been sent tc
Russia requiring her to agree to keel
hands off of China, so far as British in.
terests or the British s'sphere of intlu
ence" are concerned Meanwhile, q
British fleet, the strongest ever known
III Eastern waters, is gathered at Wei
hal-wel, opposite Port Arthur, ready tt
sweep the Russian fleet from the oceal
and the Russian power from every port
on the Pacific. And France, Russia's
trusted ally, is unready to help defend
Russian interests in the Orient at The
expense of a war at her own doors
Afghanistan remains faithful to Great
br'tlan--not by Afghan hands will
Russia be let in ''the back door of In
dia." The great trans- Siberian railway
is yet unfinished, and but a small par
of Russia's vast army can be made
available in China. The premonition,
of AN entente cordiale between England
and the United States also disturb tn,
czar, who not long ago was willing L
join in scheme of intervention to pre-
vent our country from retaining tn,
Philippines. Verify, does not this com
binatiCn of circumstances make th,
moment an opportune one to the cZa
. for proposing Il general disarmament
a universal peace?
|. Peace will give Russia time to com
plete her great railway to the Pacific
coast. a disarmament will enable he