Washington sentinel., 1899-09-23


good when taken in small quantities
Those who grid at France should re-.
member that her ridiculous position
arises from her fighting for civil liberty
with one hand and for military tyraunv
with the other; whereas we IN England
or America are superior TO the rest of
the world because, except on very rare
occasions, we assert the beyond all
question predominance Of the civil
power. Well for us that our navy can
never play so large part in our civil
life as to give the tone to our method of
dealing with home affairs or set shackIes
upon our freedom,
a FORECAST FOR THE FAR EAST,
Singapore Free Press,
Those who haye given steady attention
to the course OF events in the Far East,
and to the gradual change OF political
equilibrium as the result of the China
Japan war, and the quite obvious
opportunity that gave to unrelenting
Russian aggression, will not fail to
appreciate the chance today's telegram
affords OF saying out, once for all, what
has to be said, out OF loyalty to the
interests OF Britain, and of the peaceful
commercial Powers, which are identical
and indivisible. Even willis Japan and
China we're at war we insisted in these
columns on the fact that they were really
natural allies, for these two nations and
Britain were, more than any other,
bound to maintain the status quo in the
Far East. That simply means, as tar as
possible, the holding at bay of the one
disturbing and malevolent element, the
determined unhinching aggression of
Russia. Quicker than we had expected
this view was justified, because Russia's
notice to Japan to quit the Laotung
Peninsula, backed up as that notice
was by Germany and France, was
nothing less than a declaration by
Russia that she looked upon all Man
churia, down to Port Arthur in the
Gulf of Pechili, as her reversIonary
share of China, to begin with. The
expected happened. Port Arthur has
been seized and turned into Muscovite
Malta, and Manchuria, without a declar-
alton of war, has been annexed by
open Cossack invasion. Russia's pre-.
tentloDs now practically extend to an
open domination over the foreign policy
OF China, and Chinese ministers are
so convinced OF the reality of Russia's
military force on the other side of the
Great Wall that they are proving
obsequious and probably we'll remun
Grated tools of Russian diplomacy,
Russia's programme is not to be mis-.
taken. Il is 10 gam such position OF
ascendancy as to make China her serv-
ant, and the Chinese multitudes the
military raw material for the Cossack
drill sergeant to lick into shape as an
instrument OF further aggression in the
Far East, with the aim of turning the
Pacific into a Russian lake. The one
obstacle Is Japan, For no mere naval
demonstration on the part of other
powers can intervene between Russia S
land advance and her Chinese quarry.
But japan, with her army, end her
reserves, and her whole population
within few hours steam of Vladivos.
tocks is in position, If she chooses with
heri immense carrying tonnage available,
to invade the coast of the Amoor dis
trict, and thrust Russia back along her
single line OF railway through Siberia.
Navally Japan has the whiphand OF
Russia, and she has besides the maRnifi-
cent advantage OF dividing the Port
Arthur squadron from the Vladivostock
squadron and taking in hand each where
and when she likes. RussIa's squadron
cannot coal except by permission of
Japan. And it seems to us that the
psychological moment has come for
Japan to assert hersellIn arms. Failing
that with a China Russifed. and the
Siberian railway in iull swing as a rein.
torcement avenue, she stands in peril of
her national existence. Now it is an
ascertained fact that a special Chinese
mission was sent recently from the
Empress Of China to the Emperor Of
Japan, that Japanese Admiral has been
comforting with the two Yangtse Vice
roYs, and that, generally, an evident
effort has been made at an offensive and
defensive rGppT0ehsiBsIt between China
and Japan. Signs are not wanting that
Russia is SO confident in the incapacity
Of Britain and other powers to intervene,
that she is determined to try and bluff
Japan into inaction. For instance, we
note that M. Payloa, the Russian
stormy petrol" in the Far East, has
come to the conclusion that a serious
crisis is inevitable IN Korea, and that
Russia must be prepared to interfere.
That is a straight slap in the face to
Japan; it is a throwing oil the gauntlet
into the ring. For Japan's interest in
Korea IS preponderant, and It is here
Russia means to dare Japan to vindicate
her interests. Now we hear today that