The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-04-03
BULKY BUT Nor s1RnNn

Russians themselves, Otherwise there
would have been movement on 1ur
key and another on the Indian frontier
long ago That Russia hates Great
Britain, as most other powers do, may
be conceded. but the hatred Is tenn
pered with prudence which apparent
ly puts the day OF collision, II 1t ever
is to come, very far of. This prudence
due 90 a conscious weakness, has been
shown in the relations of Russia with
much smaller state than Britain; Tor
when the Car wanted to coerce Japan
at the moment OF her triumph over
China, he felt called upon TO ask the
Kaiser and the Government of France
to come to his aid so the Japanese
might be properly impressed.
Russia is vast indeed, geographically,
but bulk does not make greatness. The
mere bulk of China kept the nations in
awe for a century. General Gordon
warned Europe about 'rousing the
drowsy Chinese giant" and Lord
Wolsely spoke OF the "somber menace
OF the uncouth barbarian of the Mon
gol Empire. Just before the Japan
China war Emperor William painted
Europe called to arms against the poor
Chinaman, whose placid, peaceful face
the imperial magician had transformed
into hideous effigy of war Yet with
IN n fau ,nnptbs. Janan had anna n ad
the prestige of China as one Of her sa-
mural might have broken tea bowl
with his mailed fist. Despite China's
four hundred millions, her last fatal
stand was made at Wei-hai-Wei against
an army but 20 900 strong, which car
ried all Its artillery on the backs OF
mules Even that little force was
enough to show how puerile was the
threat of China's anger. What Japan
did was to differentiate bulk from
strength, and that is what must also be
done in the case of Russia before we
can arrive at a fair estimate OF her
power to do mischief among the ma
tons.
WHAT makes an aggressive, warlike
power? What are the qualities and
possessions needed by it, aside from the
ayarice or ambition which Is the
handspring of aggression? Military
adaptability is one thing, but the mod
ern Russians have never possessed this
in any very marked degree. Their
with Ma nnlnnp
tinction save for that prudence which
led them to take refuge behind q
dreadful winter. In defending the Cri-
mea they did strenuous work for a
time. but defeat there led to the COL
lapse of a war which greater Russia,
judged by bulk alone. ought to have
been able to continue indefinitely.
When war came between Russia and
Turkey in 1917 the Turks wore them
selves ont whipping the Russians; and
in the opinion of military experts, if
they had enjoyed the benefits of a
modern organization and commissariat
they would have won the ultimate vic
tory. Russia was, however. beaten in
another fashion. On approaching Con-
stantinople, she found the British
lion In the path and her spirit of con-
quest oozed and dribbled away. One
might have thought the bear a sheep
from the way the British rebuff was
taken.
Next to military adaptability-a
thing which implies patriotism, public
spirit, love OF conquest and desire for
the public good, qualities as unknown
to the Russian moujik as they are to
the Chinese coolie--we have to con-
slider financial resources. poor ma
ton cannot make expensive wars, and
Russia Is too poor to even care for her
own starving peasants. She Is so i'm
poverished that when 1t came 70 the
point OF paying for new artillery she
tried the unique experiment of dlsar-
mament conference. Without money
to put great armies and big navy on
war footing; with few strategic rail-
roads; with a public service honey
combed with corruption and a people
permeated with the essence of Nihilism,
Russia is in most respects another sort
of China-imposing to look at with
al, but as unsubstantial as a shell.
If the time is to come when battle
lines are drawn against the Slav, 1t
promises to be far distant. The Slav
is alone in Europe with his ideas of
medieval power and despite the I'M
natural alliance with France, he is
without friend that would stand the
test OF self-interest. Opposed to him
is the spirit OF the age. and this he
knows he cannot combat, and therefore
seeks to circumvent by his Oriental
craft. But he never can triumph in
the task. The civilized world is against
him, and he must either become a
part OF that world or be crowded back
to the solitudes whence he emerged.
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A Western railroad is taking time by