The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-26
Will ddpan and
Russia Go TO War?
For The Tribune.

For The Tribune.
vt Is unprecedented in diplomatic history that
country preparing TO resist the terri
u torial aggression Of another nation not only
not within the sphere OF her suzcrainty but
also outside Of her direct political influence
should speak out aggrcssiytly and emphatic
ally as Japan has toward Russia. Japan has no
treaty dclatons with China. The fruits OF her
war with the Celestial empire, through the
audacious Vaccinations Of Russia backed up by
France and Germany and aCquicsccd in by Great
Br,tain and the United States, were snatched
from her grasp eight years ago. The monetary
indemnity did not rccoup her expenses for the
war. Japan docs not sharc with other powers the
favored nation treaties like Great Britain and the
United States, because she was destitute of civ
iliacd influences and institutions as China was
herself sixty years ago But her interests in
China are none the less predominant and per
mcating. There is an identity of race, religion,
language and what is Of more importance
psychological identity as uniform in its char
actCristiCS as that between the different branches
OF the AngloSdXon race. There is no love lost
between the Chnaman aud the japanese But
they understand each other They speak with
notifications the same tongue. Their ancestral
religion in Buddhism, for ConiuscianiSm Is no
more religion, Mr.. WI Ting Fang to the con.
trary. than the stole apholisns of Epictetus of
Marcus Aurclius can be regarded as a religion.
IT,
II China is TO become civilized in one sense,
it can he only brought about through the III.
stiumcntality Of Japan, and China herself
ognilcs it. Russia cannot lick her millions Of
mouiikS on her soil into civilization and she Ger.
tairly would fail with such unplastc material
as the Chinese II has often been contendcd on
behalf of Russia that no conquCring nation so
o,sil, mi llt no is sn
The Russian for the time being degradcs him.
self to the level of the subject race, but once
his supremacy is assured his tyranny becomes
perfected. They misintcrpret the constitution
Of the Russian empire who can read in it any
but undilutcd dcspotism, and this is as great TO.
day as it was in the time of Ivan the Terrible
ur OF Peter the Great The car is the tool and
the creature OF his autocratc powers, lie has
almost as little independent volition in his pot.
ical action as the emperor OF China. Not so
the mkado. lie is the real not the nominal.
head Of a constitutional government with sub.
iects that adore him, not rs detCd monarch
or the hicrophant OF rational religion, but
Just as Englishnlcn might look upon King Ed,
ward if they were as convinced Of his states.
manship as they of his social prestige. On the
other hand the unfortunate young car is kept in
bullctwoof cage to Irotcct him not merely
against his subjects bat also against his scrv.
ants and conhdants, perhaps against his minis.
tels.
It has hccn accepted with fatalisic rcsicna.
tion almost pathetic that Russia must naturally
aud inevitably absorb the continent of Asia
from the Caucasian mountains 10 The Pacific and
from the Arctic ocean to the mouth Of the
Gauges The expansion OF Russia within tho last
century does not Justify that destiny either in
is own resources and population Siberia, the
ri ,lp nd tf lap -