The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-24

twists by the empress dowager and the
reaction against foreigners and their
ways, however. must have been insptr-
ed by Russia or Il could not have be-
come the policy of the ancient nation
which is now humbled In the dust be-
fore her. And the question which
great many Americans are pondeTins
is. Can we AFFORD to see China Rus
sianized, her troops commanded by
Russian officers. her ports fortified and
held by Russian soldiers The alarm
already felt in high quarters would
seem 10 be abundantly revealed by
most recent occurrences in China and
dispatches from Picking TO our depart
msnt Of state.
In the preliminary diplomatic naneu-
vering that has taken place Great Brit
ain. America and Japan have seemed TO
stand as against France and Russia.
while Germany has Joined neither side.
and her attitude is doubtful. though Tor
commercial reasons she is hostile 20
England and the United States. So far
Russia and France have had the adj
vantage.
The bulls and the bears are now IN
the China shop, and there is great dan
ger that some valuable crockery win
be broken before they get out. The
contention OF Great Britain and the
United States for an open dosr has been
met by Russia with a sniff OF scorn. COR
the only open door, the Bear believes
in is one TO which he holds the key.
Like the camel In the Arabian fable,
first the Bear thrust his head into thd
Chinese tent. then his neck. next his
legs. and lastly will come his bulky
body. Having q coterminus boundary
line with China for 1000 miles. he par
alleled II with his railroad: finding
Vladivostok not 10 his liking. he sought
an outlet across Chinese territory by
building a branch southwark from
Nertchinsk. about $50 miles long. TO the
gulf OF Leaotong. nominaIiy to revert
10 China after SO years.
Though the rising OF the Boxers has
been made pretext for invasion. yet
the game OF Russia's diplomacy, now
in its last stages toward completion, Is
not difficult to penetrate, for Il has
been amply shown that nothing short
OF the rectifcation of the Russo Chinese
frontier Will satisfy Muscovite rapacity
ali north China down 10 the noun
tains and the great wall. at least. and
then. If possible. Picking. or the re-
mately 1000 miles southwark.
AS TO the next obJective: With Man
churia and the coast of Leaotong. at
which the great wall terminates In
Russian possession. with Port Arthur
and Talienwan already theirs and
strongly fortified. thus entirely isolat-
ing the peninsula of Korea. what more
natural than that this latter should
fall like a ripe plum into the arms OF
the Bear7
Russia left a door conveniently open
in Korea not long ago when II gave
warning that II the Koreans could not
maintain order and independence 70
would take measures for its own pro-
lection there and stipulated with Japan
TO join with her In preventing foreign in
trusion. Here. in fact. is "A bone Of con-
tention and casus belii ready at hand
whenever either party shall consider
itself able 10 pick II up for Korea IL not
large enough for two. while both bow
ers want ~.
Russia declares that Japan IL merely
an insular power and must remain 50.
while the willy Jap holds otherwise and
Is not afraid TO try conclusions 20 test
the assertion. Russia is vast. but pom
derous. Though strongly lntrenched az
Port Arthur and with a respectable
feet at call. les base IL far away. In
all the estimates OF forces little account
has been made OF the Chinese army and
navy. except as accessories To a stron-
ger power: and this may explain Rus
sia's alleged request that China should
call upon II for assistance.
On the other hand, Japan f. alert ana
striving 10 be prepared It's feet IL said
to be stronger than Russia's. while lts
dos kyards and bases OF supplies arc
near at hand. As the situation stands.
with ali the powers apparently acting
In concert. with warships OF the great
nations gathered at TAku ard forces
concentrated at Tien-tsin. there II yet
deep distrust OF the White Cars mo-
tives. ITO sup with the devil" as the
saying II. "one needs long spoon"
and. despite surface Indications. neither
Great Britain nor Japan can forget lts
repeated defeats In former diplomatic
battles TRISrRAM w. WILCOX
A BOOM IN TOY SOLDIERS