The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1903-10-16
JAPANS EXISTENCE
Depends Upon Her Resistance
to Russian Aggression.
The Day Japan is Cowed Inv Russt.
the Disruption of the British
Empire Commences.

The eyes of the world are fixed unop
the OrleHt-Yet more strictly sDeak;nc,
upon what was once the Orient hut 10
now the meeting place OF east and west
the Aelatic shore Of the Pacific ocean
says the Portland Oregonian. Thitber
nave the OutpOsts OF western civillza-
ton at length attained, from America
westward and from Europe bv wav of
India and the straits Thitbpr has tho
eastern world ga' hered its forces CON
tralized and marshaled under the nov
ertul leadership of that colossal desnot-
ism, that young giant among the world
OF ancient races-RuEsia.
Japan has been born again into tho
western world. She il a western mower
She must either live through support of
western powers or else 90 down before
the advance of the COssack, the Tartar
and the Hun. All can see that .JaDan
at length has reached the supreme crisis
where she must fight for her life. Every
year her extremity grows more acute.
She would have done better to resist
Russlan encroaches five years ayO. before
RUSSIA had equipped herself for the
struggle, before the struggle with the
Beers had weakened the British atom.
ach Tor war. Russia will not Weld in
Manchurla. She may yield in Corpa but
nothing short OF British aid of Japan
can force her to yield: and Indications
are that Great Britain has served notice
on Japan that this aid cannot be de-
pended on
Japan's existence is at stake; but this
ls relatively small matter. The great
thing at stake is the power of Great
Britain. Russian aggression menaces
Brltaln's eXistance as pOtently on the
shores OF the Pacific as at Constantine
pie or the Persian gulf. 1t ia unite as
essential to the integrity of the British
empire that Japan be saved from Rus
sla as that urkey be saved from Russia.
1t is task of tremendous difficulty: for
Russia alone among great powers, can
engage the rest of the world upon her
outpostE, protected the while at her
vital points by intervening distance.
The defensive shell that surrounds the
heart OF the Russian empire is as i'm
pregnable today as when Napoleon
marched his iegiOns to Moscow.
Perhaps il would have been better for
England to nave helped Napoleon to
government at ST. Petersburg. Then il
looked to Englishmen as if their ma
tlOnal and racial enemy was France.
Today they know it to be Russia. Forty
years later they knew iC to be Russia.
FIFTY years later they realized that to
stay the Russian advance at the Bos-
phnrous had become their painful and
necessary task. Now they see it also on
Z ha MI r.. a
to yield on the Pacific lt will be a fatal
mistake. The day that Japan is cow.d
by Russia and the agents of the czar
extend bis rule from the Baltic to the
Pacific and from the Arctic to the HO-
ang Ho, will be the signal for the ulti-
mate disruption of the British empire.
1t Is quite time that British statesmen
TOOK account OF the strength of their
foe. The Russian power is compact and
mobile in the hands Of single undivided
head. There is no fear of a Liberal vie
tory, no parliamentary dread Of being
compelled to go before the country for
approval. Power that ia disaipated
through partisan wranglings, friction
and waste in Britain is concentrated in
execution OF the imperial will in Russia.
The state, moreover, has powerful CO.
operative or instrument in the church.
In the conflict, therefore, is TO be seen
also the battle between the ancient and
the modern order The Russian church
which Is the Greek church, which is the
eastern christianity, is the old order of
ecclesiastical despOtism joined to the
state. lt has never been awakened from
the ancient dream through which west
ern Europe slept in the middle ages. 1t
bas never been hammered by wars and
reiOrmatiOns into the modern spirit. 1t
has never been taught reason rests in
authority and tradition. 1t becomes at
once, therefore, the efficacious instru.
ment OF Russian ambition and the in
evtable foe Of western ideals
These are the elements of the world
drama OF the twentieth century. Two
colossal figures enter the arena-the
British, representing the west, Russia
representing the east. 1t is significant
hint OF Japan's alignment that she so
readily accepts the manners and faith OF
western christianity. Her maintenance
ls impossible if Russia is allowed a free
hand on the continent of Asia; yet her
maintenance is the essential first out
post in the defense of Great Britain
against the advance of Russia. It is
necessary for British ships to occupy the
waters of North China and Japan, and
for British effort to supply the sinews OF
war for Japan's army of unsurpassed
lighting spirit and skill 1t is much, but
II ~ necessary.