The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-30
WEDNESDAY. MARCH 80. 1895.
THE srrUATIoN IN THEFAR EAST

Nfuscoyito diplomacy and Muscovite de-
ceit have never been more strikiugly IL
Illustrated than I'm Russia's course i'm re-
spect TO the acquisition of Chinese terri
tory ever since the war between Japan
and China wa brought to a close Joel
Chandler Harris story Of the rabbit ana
tho tar baby furnishes an apt smile. AS
fast as The rabbit struck the tar baby
the striking limb stuck until the whole
rabbit was securely fastened 20 the tar
baby. Russia has fastened herself just
as securely to China. and. though she
NAV not have annexed China, him has
annexed her. The Japanese find them
selves. therefore, I'm the position OF the
animal that pulled the chestnuts out OF
the fire. They pulled the Chinese empire
down and now the Russians appropriate
all the material from which IT was con-
etructed. But the peculiarly Russian fea-
4ure Of the case is the way I'm which u
has been done. Sh0 has been occupying
one position after another with the fun
est protestati0ns 20 Europe at each step
that she meant nothing but temporary
occupation. but now she has firmly in
her grasp every strategic point that she
desires. and the whole Of Manchuria n
The Gulf Of Pcchili are practically hers.
England has been declaring an along
that she will not permit Russia 20 mo-
nopolize this part Of china without war.
Her position has seemed to DE that she
f-sf. e.. tfn g.t.nfrr T.Nnr in
Russian more than I'm Chinese possession
provided it was under treaty stipulation
that the ports and She territory should
be entirely open TO the trade or an the
world. But Russia has taken possession
Of the Chinese fortressos and has not
given all the assurances demanded. What
IS going to be the outcome Of this? is
Great Britain golng to quietly pocket the
defiance. or is she going TO keep her
word and make Russia fight for what she
has seized? If Lord Chatham or even
D'Israoi were Prime Minister OF Eng
land there could be but one answer TO this
question. Russia would have 70 vacate
Port Arthur and Ta-ia-Wien within a
weeks time or she would be in a deadly
graphic with all the power that Great
Britain could command.
But Lord Salisbury SO ms 20 be a states
man Of a different order. He seems TO
be something Of "a Spaniard-a man 70
make great provisions OF war with very
small performances. Indeed, England
seems 20 20 just now almost destitute
OF a Prime Minister. The health Of the
Marquis Of Salisbury seems 50 impaired
that he appears TO be incapable Of CRAP
plng with tho tremendous problems that
confront his administration
We have enough Of war and prospect
Of war IN our own domestic matters 20
occupy our attention, but we are COM
PEELED 10 think that the Eastern horizon
IS FAR more threatening than anything
that confronts us. We have never
thought It probable that Spain would
force US into n fight II she could posi-
bly, avoid g.. but even If she did so. we
have never thought that 70 would be a
fight that would tax us much more than
an Indian war. But the status in the
East Is q very different AFFAIR. The ex-
istence OF the British empire seems 10 us
10 DO ultimately imperilled by what is
going on there. II England permits Rus
STA 20 defy her I'm the East and TO estab-
llsh herself upon Chinese territory at
every strategic point that the country
offers, IL IS good bye 10 English pres
tige In India and. perhaps. rule. at no
very distant day. She finds II hard
enough to suppress the recent rising upon
the ~Afghanistan border. meagre as that
rising has been. But II those people learn
that tho Gar is their ally and that he is
bootlng the English about az his pleas
ure. the rising viii soon be one that half
Of India will be participating In. Her rule
In India IS founded upon the sword. and she
must never hesitate about drawing the
sword when an ormcd adversary threat
ems her.
We do not see how war between Eng
land and Russia Is 70 be avoided, unless
England satisfies herself by taking an
even bigger slice Of China. England
must either compel Russia 20 respective
uitimatum sho laid down at the end OF
the Japanese Chinese war or she mus