New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-18
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
AN OVERSHADOWING WORLD POWER.
VAST POSSIBILITIES OF DANGER IN RUS
sIA's CONQUEST OF CHINA.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: dispatch just published quotes certain
views expressed by Professor Frederick Starr head
of the department of anthropOlogy at the Uni
versity Of Chicago, IN address on the Chinese
question delivered before the of that In
sututon. The special point to which I wish to
call attention is the Professors opinion that If
control passes from Chinese hands It will drift into
Russta's. He says there are four possibilities Of
the outcome of affairs in China. First, the Dow
ager Empress may out victorious and this
he apparently regards the most desirable event:
second, the so-caled Emperor may be restored
under a coalition Of the foreign Powers; third.
China may be divided among the Nations. and
fourth Russia may seize China But of these pss-
siotities he regards only the first the fourth as
probable.
Professor Starts opinion as to the probability
Of Russian control Of China is widely shared. and
II 1t is not borne out by the event. 1t will not be
from any want of willingness on Russiais part
to take possession of China, from any dearth
Of circumstances favorable to her wishes in that
connection. Recent utterances of leading Russian
publcists show that the whole of Asia Is regarded
by Russia as her proper domain and other nations
who occupy territory in that division of the globe
are looked upon interlopers. Geographically.
China is bounded on the north by Russia for thou
sands OF miles and the latter Power Is hurrying
to completion railways that will put her in direct
communication with the former. When these
lines completed. 1t Will be easy for Russia to
necessary for its subjugation, and nothing but the
most determined resistance the part of civilized
nations interested IN averting such result can
prevent her from doing so.
That an opinion such Professor STAIRS should
be widely held Is therefore in way surprising
but the equanimty-I might almost say satisfac-
tion-with which so stupendous a change in the
worlds balance Of power seems to be contemplated
by many is little less than amazing. The same
railways which will enable Russia to transport
MT wills a1rIal y
when her domination in that country is as
sured, to enable her to transport into Europe the
countless levies she raise out of Chna's vast
population With direct communication by rail-
partly by rail and partly by inland waters
from the frontier of China to that of Germany
Austria-HUngary and Rumania Russia will have
at her disposal for operations in Western Europe
the vast addition to her military resources which
her domination in China will give her.
In and of themselves the Chinese are in no way
formidable from a military standpoint. but it is
the testimony of those who have had excellent
opportunities of observation among them that, If
armed and drilled according to European methods
and put under European leadership, they would
make admirable soldiers; and accustomed they
to work for the lowest imaginable wage, they
would furnish the cheapest soldiers in the world
Moreover, China IS rich IN natural resources both
agricultural and mineral, and with these developed
by Chinese industry under Russian direction China
would prove rich a source of that in
money, as well as in men, Russia would be enor-
mously strengthened by her control Of that
try. Her present population is upward of one hun
dred and thirty millions That of China is various
ly estimated at from two hundred and fifty millions
to four hundred and fifty millions. At a moderate
estimate for China, her population added to that
of Russia would probably make total of not less
than five hundred millions. Such population has
never yet been assembled under the sway of one
government,
But with China successfully annexed. the matter
would not stop there Japan and Corea to the east
ward, with India, Persia and Asiatic Turkey to the
westward. would inevitably fall without delay
under Russian control and We should have con-
planet under one flag, and that the flag OF abso-
lutism, ,-., 1910 1T,
make a successful stand. If all the nations OF
Western Europe could be combined into a confed-
though with some difficuty of holding its own
ALLIANCES RHf With vi h and 5Pe e ad
her in the execution of her vast designs, though
it should require no great foresight to enable her
statesmen to see that they would thus be digging
possibly be thrust by those against whom the Rus
sian alliance is intended to secure her. In the
indicated the ti will of Russia Would be Supreme
Throughout Europe and ASIA not to speak of Africa
For ourselves the Atlantic to the east and the
Pacific to the west of us would doubtless place
in a condition Of comparative security. so far as
regards ability to defend ourselves against invasion
but if We continued to hold the Philippines, the
Hawaiian Islands we should do so as matter of
make them desirable to Russia she would simply
take them. Moreover, in the matter of commerce
ests would be subject TO such conditions this
colossal world power might see fit to make. In
fully defend even our strictly American interests
in where it would be necessary carry o
it is hardly possible that should be able to
compete even in naval matters with a Power so
mighty.
Many seem disposed to regard the Eastern ques-
ton in which Russia and Great Britain
among the Western Nations, the chief parties
in interest but this is short sighted view of the
matter. Germany has a more vital interest
than Great Britain n preventing so enormous an
China would give her
Granting that IT would doubtless cost Great
Britain her Indian Empire, that would be calami-
tous through the addition 1t would make Rus
sias strength rather than through any direct loss
1t would entail Great Britain herself: for owing
strengthened where Great Britain has chiefly been
burdened. And If this Strengthening of Russia
be far more to Germany and Austria Hungary
TO cay nothing Of other continental natons-since
theSe countries lack thaI secure defence against
INVASION when Tor nearly millennium Great Brit
ain has found in the priceless strip of by which
she is separated from the Continent.
1t is no eXaggeration to say that however little
intentional unselishness there may In her action
Great Britain is rendering greater service to Ger
many and Austria Hungary than to herself by
keeping Russia out Of India
To many the idea of such enormous develop
ment Of Russia's power as has here been spOken
of may chimercal but that 1t may be realized
cence or even half hearted ineffective resistance
so far bury their differences and Law aside
their mutual jealouses to together with
present trouble in China may be prevented but
not otherwise; and 1t would seem TO require little
that a nation hardly afford to be indif-
Ierent spectators where SO momentous an issue is
Washington, D, c., June IA, 1900
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