The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-24
WHY RUSSIA IS suspECrEp.

free to express the opinion that Russia is
chiefly responsible for it. 1t is asserted by
some that the growth and activity OF the
Boxers is the result of Russian plotting.
The desire of Russia for the acquisition of
China is well known. The ruling power in
Russia is hat Of the survival of the fttest.
All its ministers are men of wisdom and
experience. The single purpose of this ruiz
ing power, in which there is no change of
administration, is to secure universal rule
through the acquisition of territory. World
monarchy has been the central idea in the
Russian policy for two hundred years.
From an area Of 265, 900 miles, when Peter
the Great was ruler, Russia has so con-
tinuously and persistently pushed Its pur-
pose of territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT that it
now holds a larger part of the globe than
any nation except Great Britain. For years
Russia has not been able to disguise its
design to annex the vast empire Of China.
Other European nations suspect this de-
sign, and some of them, following Russia,
have obtained footholds in Chinese ports.
The diplomacy OF Russia is the most
skillful, adroit and resourceful in the
world. All its craftsmanship is diplomacy.
and hat diplomacy is devoted to the single
purpose OF strengthening the peculiar des-
potism Of Russia and extending it's domain.
For the uplifting of the millions Of it's
people Russia has no craftsmanship. In
deed, a vast population of ignorance, to live
in poverty and furnish revenue and men for
armies is the policy of Russia. To educate
and elevate seems hostile to the idea of
government which came with Peter the
Great. To educate would lead the people
to demand participation in ruling. which
would overthrow the present despotism. 1t
would be quite in accordance with the
methods of Russia to stir up the present
troubles by its secret agents, to the end
that Russia might interfere with its armies
to save the foreign element and then to
make it appear that China is not capable
of any sort of government and must be
ruled by an outside power. If Russia had
suppressed the instruction and was there
with it's armies it is possible that Russia
0OdAO 1873 thai IL SAdAi cAtcnQ u ROWtT
over all hin
In addition to the general distrust of
Russia the breaking out Of the Instruction
at the present time increases the suspicion
hat Russia is behind it. More than any
other government Russia fears Great Brit
ain because of it's wide domain. it's navy
and its resources. Just now, however,
Great Britain is fully occupied in a distant
quarter of the world. At any other time
British ships and forces would have been
near China in the event of trouble. but now
it will take time for Great Britain to pre-
pare to take such a part in the suppression
Of the insurrection as would make that
government potential in the settlement.
Germany. which can Ill afford to permit
Russia to carry out its policy Of extension,
is not repared to take the part it's inter-
ests demand. The United States and Japan
are the only powers except Russia which
have any considerable armies near at hand.
As for the United States. it has no further
interest in China thar to insure security
to the lives and property of Americans and
to enjoy equal rights in the markets of
China. We want no part of the territory
of China 1t might better subserve our
commercial interests to have China remain
an Independent nation. If it is to be par
titioned among the European powers and
Japan, our interest is that Russia, which
confronts with it's dynastic and despotic
purposes the progressive civilization of the
age, should have as little of it as possible.
power to convert its inert mass Of men
into armies. might close that quarter of
the world to any higher civilization than
Russia possesses, which, for its masses, is
little better than that of China.
There is no element in the United States
in favor of ruling a part Of China. We
want commercial privileges, not provinces.
Consequently our duty for the present will
end when, with the other nations, we shall
have obtained security to the lives and prop
erty of Americans. We may have some
voice in the settlement of the future of
China-whether it shall undertake., by the
support of the powers, to maintain an in
dependent government or shall be cut up
and parceled among the nations. But I'm
any event the influence of the United
States cannot consistently be given a gov
eminent which exists only to extend do
minion holds as little better than vas
sails the masses OF people under its auto
cratic and ~despotic power. Great Britain
and rma are civilizing nations. They
may nave been abrupt in their methods at
times, but with the years these methods
become beneficent. Nations which, like
Germany, compel the education of every
child under their rule must elevate the
masses. So, If there is to be a breakup in
China, the sympathy CT an intelligent and
freedom-loving people should be with those
governments whose people are the most In
telligent rather than with the power that
compels ignorance and views population as
the source of revenue and recruits for vast
armies.
CONCERNING CITY NOISES.
A notable feature of modern city life is
hostility TO unnecessary noises. In Chicago