The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-05-25
JUDGE SpEER'S PROPHECY
OF a CLASH IN MANCHURlA
Eminent Georgans Vivid Picture of Contest Which Must
Come for Control of PdCIC-iS ManChuTid TO BE
Scene of the Opening Conflict?

ent unvaryng principle. 1T rests SAID
the historian Alison. ION combination
OF physical strength with diplomatic ad-
dress. of perseverance in object with YER
satility OF means. which was never be-
fore exhibited on the theater Of the
world Said the Russian historian,
I[aramsin with frankness almost bru-
tai: '"The object of the character of
our military policy has Invariably been
r.. seek to ne at peace with everybody
and TO make cnnquests without war; al
WAYS keeping on the defensive, placing
no faith in the friendship of those whose
interests do not accord with our own
aud losing no opportunity Of injuring
them without ostensibly breaking our
treaties with them" While the cool, i'm
perturbable policy of the government
never makes it anticipate the period of
action. and never relaXes the sinews OF
prcparatiou. the neXtinguiShable passion
for conquest among the masses of the
Russian people respond with enthusiasm
to every aggressive disposition of the
car. "The meanest peasant in Russia,
saws Alison lis impressed with the be-
lief that his country is destined TO sub
due the world. The rudest nomad OF
steppcs pants for the period when
second Timur is to open the gates of
Derbend ana let loose upon southern
Asia the long pent up forces of the north
ern wilds."
This physical power OF Russia Is com
mcnsurate with the vast schemes of
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of its government, and
il cqualled at ali is equalled alone by
the combined development OF all the Eng
lieh speaking peoples Writing in 1912
Alison predicted that in 1900 Russia would
have a population OF 120,00000o IN 1900
its population was 1856 coo 600. It has been
little more than two hundred years since
Peter the Great mounted the throne of
Russia This is but Il brief span in his
Tory. There are many present whose
graudfathers and some whose fathers
might have talked with General Ogle-
thorpe, the noble founder of Georgia,
and General Oglethorpe might have talk
ed with Peter the Great. When that
fcrocious MuscOvite resolved to arouse
the latent forces Of his empire,
Russia had no seaport save
frozen Archangel on the Arctic sea, and
the Russian power was given az little
consideration by the cabinets OF Europe
as we now give to the Imaun of Nuscat
on the Ahkound OF Swat. With his own
hands Peter aided in the construction Of
the small and rude vessels yet relgiously
preserved by the Russians, which was
the foundation of their magnificent navy,
now on all the oceans third in power.
Now, three mighty seas, the Caspian,
the EuXine and the Baltic. are pract-
cally Russian lakes. Rapidly is she cX-
tending her influence over Persia and
forging her way TO harbors ON the
flank Of Fngland's communications with
her Indian possessions. When she is
ready Turkey and all the powers OF Eu-
rope combined cannot prevent her from
sei2ing Constantinople and the Darda-
nelles. Her trans-Siberian railway. the
longest in the world IS practically com
pleted 10 that impreenable fortress on
the Pacific VladNostok. whose very
name imports "the dominator of the
east" and It's Manchurian branch is rap
IDLY approaching unsurpassed Port Ar
thur. which bears a relation to north
China scarcely less important than that
Of New York TO the middle and eastern
states of our union. Russia said a
modern writer who lived much among lis