The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-05-09
AS TO MANcHURIA.


Opinfon on the mainland seems L
be that Russia did intend to continu
the occupation OF Manchuria indefinite
1y despite the disclaimer from st
Petersburg that followed the prompt
protest from Japan, England and the
United States. Further, the cable ad-
vices to the effect that Russia was
about 10 conclude an alliance with
China would bear out this view. 1t Is
the history Of Russian diplomacy that
though the slav may bend before
storm, he never goes back. What he
gets, he keeps.
And the Russ does not change his
nature as he advances across Central
Asia. This characteristic of the Rus
sian, this cold persistency in the fol-
lowing OF an aim that halts, that bends
TO adverse winds. but that never, re-
treats began to be recognized as long
ego as when Catherine named one Of
her grandsons '.Constantine" as a kind
OF confirmation OF the claim of Russia
TO be considered the heir Of the East
ern Empire. Nobody believes, nobody
has believed since that time that Rus
sis. has ever given up her intention to
plant her capital in the religious CAPT.
tai of the Greek Catholics, which is
Constantinople. AS eternity moves; so
moves the diplomacy of Russia. The
Turk, in the view of this great, silent
force is an episode, merely. Sooner or
later. If not by force of one combina-
ton then by force of another, the Turk
win be driven out and the Russian
viii hold his place. This is so largely
recognized as the ultimate inevitable
ending that there has sprung up in En-
gland-even in England, where the fear
OF Russia's advance, upon the Med
itteranean and upon India is the buga-
boo to brighten embryo statesmen-a
school of thinkers who assert that there
would be greater evils than the control
of the Black Sea entrance by the Slavs, |
and that the possession of Constantine
pie by the Gar would carry no threat !
to the safety of the road to the east.
And Russia, in the meantime,
her position in the Balkans
at every move on the board. She may
be held back, for the present, from the
Within recent time, she
has been held back by the diplomacy of
Disraeli- But she is on the spot to in
herft when the inevitable break comes.
II she allies herself with China, it is
but another way to do what the pow
ers have prevented her doing by more
open means. Whatever the event, Rus
STA Is in Manchuria, and Russia does
not withdraw. Her troops will stay
as owners. If they can, as allies if they
can do no better. But they are there.
The pluck of the japanese in setting
themselves against this great force is
10 be admired. Of course, but their wis
dom may be doubted. Japan can resist
the Russian method no more than En-
gland has resisted it. Russia will fight,
when the time comes to fight She has
always been ready to do that. But,
tight or not. she continues to advance.
and no pretext of diplomacy that any
1ther nation has ever found serves to
stop her. The sooner the Japanese
earn to recognize this. the better it
will be for Japan, and the cheaper-al-
.hough as young nation 1t is probable
hat the land of the Mikado viii not
earn the lesson until it has been en-
,hasized by some blood letting which
nay serve to give the little brown men
/ glance at themselves in truer per-
Ipective than they have ever had since =
hey put on the garments of civiliza- !
ion. But Russia-Russia- continues to
Idvance How far she viii go after !
Ganchuria has been assimiIated is. an
pen question. but there is enough of ]
china to satisfy a very considerable
and hunger.