New-York tribune., 1898-01-23
A NEW TURN IN THE EA ST.

Russia. after ALL and not Germany, appears
10 be the chief troubler Of Asiatic peace. Inc
latter. with all the big words Of the Kaiser and
his brother has relapsed into comparative quiet
The "maied fist" is unclnched II not alto
gether withdrawn, and, instead Of seizing
province and establishing absolute sovereignty
over It. Germany IS content TO lease port for
a term Of years and even then not to have IT
for her own exclusive use. but TO throw 1t open
TO all the world That Is an eminently MOI
crate and reasonable course to pursue, ana II
presents a striking contrast 10 that OF Russia
For the crux OF the present situation is the de-
mand Of Russia for the exclusive monopoly or
n Chinese port Great Britain has offered China
the loan the latter wants on by far the easiest
terms ever heard of in that quarter or the
world. But she asks that three more Chinese
ports be opened freely 10 the commerce or the
world-to the commerce Of Russia and France
snd the United States as well Of Great Brit
ain herself. To that China would readily as
scnt But Russia says she shall not. and threat
cns her with war II she does. Why? Because
Pussia wants one Of the best of those ports,
Taljen-Wan for her own exclusive use. She
wants 10 have il open 10 Russian commerce.
but 10 exclude therefrom British and American
and all other commerce. That is the threaten
ing feature Of the case to-day.
For while China might yield to the compuA
sion Of her great northern ne,ghbor and foe
the other Powers most interested will certainly
NOT. Great Britain will not. Her responsible
Ministers have within the week declared that
she will fight before she will see equality OF
commercial rights and privileges IN China de-
stroycd. Neither will Japan yield to the Rus
siap demand When she conquered China and
dictated peace at Simonoseki she sought no ex-
elusive privileges She insisted upon the open
inc of Chinese ports and the admission Of ma
chinery. but the ports were TO be open TO all,
and the machinery was 10 be received from any
nation that might send II. We may be sure
that Japan will insist upon the maintenance Of
that principle. She sOwed for all the world
She will not consent to Russias reaping the
harvest for herself alone. Moreover Japan
went 10 war and spent treasure and blood freely
for the independ .nce of Corea and the opening
Of that land 10 civilization. She will not now
consent 10 see that WORK undone. and the indc-
pendence of Corea destroyed and that land
again closed agans, the world, by the very
Power that n ye:f ago solemnly covenanted
to stand with Japan for the preservation Of the
fruits Of the war.
Nor is the voice Of Japan to be disregarded.
It's moral force is greater than that Of any other.
And behind II is n physical force that may well
give any adversary pause. The Japanese Navy
could sweep from the sea In twnkling every
otter warship now east Of Suez. with the excep-
ton OF the British. 1t could cope with any force
Russia could possibly send against il, and with
the whole German force to boot. There IS not
a ship in either Of their nav!es, II indeed there
IS IN any navy in the world. that could stand
against such nonstrous engines OF destruction
as tho Fuji and the Yashima. And II IS beyond
question tha, the whole japanese Navy, and
the Army, toe. have just been put in the most
perfect possible state of preparation for war.
II war were declared to-day there would not
be tomorrow morning single warship lackin &