The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1904-02-24

Frederick A. Salaman.
Rooms 1866, Vincent Building, New
York City.
THE RUSSIAN IN HISTORY.
Why American Sympathy Should Lie
With Japan in Present Conflict
To the Editor Of The State:
It is difficult to understand how any
one who is at all acquainted with Eu-
ropean history, especially the part Of it
that relates to Russia, can sympathize
with that country in it's struggle with
Japan; for viewed from any stand
point, except that of brute force. Japan
is by far the more highly civilized ma
ton Of the two. From its very first
contact with civilization Japan has
made a progress that Is almost mar
velous, while Russia has remained
practically barbarous despite the fact
that she has been in intimate associa-
tion with the civilzing influences Of the
other countries Of Europe.
The truth of tine matter is that Rus
sia has a pretty black record behind
her. a record Of tyranny, oppression
and duplicity that almost surpasses be-
lief. 1t Is easily within the memory OF
people now living when it was a not
uncommon occurrence for ladies Of the
Polish nobility to be stripped to the
waist and whipped in public by off,
cialS Of the Russian government. When
Sweden was practically forced to cede
Finland to Russia, the latter country
pledged itself that 1t would not inter-
fere with the language or local gov
ernment of the people. This promise
has been most shamefully violated, and
the virtuous, enlightened and patriotic
Films have been subjected to almost
every indignity that Russian ingenuity.
could devise. But the darkest blot on
Russia's record IS found in Siberia.
Countless thousands Of its own cti-
Zens and from it's provinces like Poland
and Finland have been consigned, for
no offense whatever, at least nothing
that would be considered such in civ
iliZed country, to living death in the
mines Of Siberia, without the slightest
hope of relief except by death, held as
they are by the iron hand Of Q despot
ism that would have hardly been eX-
cusable in the~dark ages.
There is something almost farcical in
the attitude that Russia assumes as
the champion Of civilization and Chris
tianity. for she stands in sore need OF
civilization herself and, in act at least,
Is a stranger to the precepts Of Chris
tianity. What was the conduct Of the
Russian troops during the recent trou-
bic in China? Looting by wholesale
aad the murder of thousands Of help
less and inoffensive Chinese, driving
them into a deep river just as If they
were wild beasts. While the Russians
We're acting like savages. the Japanese
troops maintained their splendid dis
cipline, and returned to their own
country with clean hands and with
q Sinop1o h1nt thair raonrI p1t
putting all other questions aside, Rus
sia is the aggressor and this being the
| case deserves to lose. Japan clearly
sees that the time has come when she
must make a supreme effort for ma
tional existence and she can be counted
on to struggle to the bitter end. Rus
sia has no need Of additional territory
while Japan, with it's dense population
stands in sore need Of an extension Of
| its lard area.
1t is very easy to make comparisons.
but the present struggle is being waged
under conditions that have never here
tofore existed. In the South African
war England had to transport troops
and munitions Of war 5000 miles, but
there was not hostile vessel to inter-
fere with her transports. 1t will be i'm
possible for Russia to send n single
man or gun by water and her sole de-
pendence is on one single line of rail-
road, and this is very long one. EX
perience has demonstrated that sin
gle line, even for comparatively short
distance, is not adequate for the trans
portation of large bodies of troops.
Germany has probably about eight sep
arate lines leading to the Rhine and
about the same number in the direc-
ton Of the frontier. facing Russia. In
case of hostilities breaking out between
France and Germany they would each
have a million men on the frontier in
less time than it would take Russia to
put one-tenth that number in Man.
churia. Unless something entirely un-
expected happens Russia will be con-
fronted with very much the same con-
dtions that prevailed during the Cri-
mean war. She had plenty of troops and
resources but could not, owing to the
lack OF transportation facilities, get
them to the front quick enough. This
. being the case. baftled but not crushed.
she had to accept the terms offered by
France and England. Japan cannot.
Of course, exhaust the resources Of
Russia but stands a good chance of
eXhausting all the resources that Rus
sia can make availa BILE.
To call this war a struggle between
Y
verieSt nonsense. Russia today is more
a barrier to the propagation of Chris
tianity than is Japan. for a nation, just
as it with an individual. that processes
to he Christian and who. at the same
time does the greatest violence to the
teachings of hc~Master. is a greater
enemy Ia Christianity than all avnwed
disbeliever. If ii could be accomplished
without bloodShed the partition of the
Russian empire would be Il tremendous
gain for the cause Of civilization. for
then the Russian people, stepped in
dense ignorance and ground beneath
the heel of an iron despotism. would
breathe the air of freedom and happi-.
ness and be given the opportunity to
emerge from !! position that is but lit
tie superior To that ot the beasts of
the field.
The people Of the south at least ought
to hold in everlasting remembrance the
fact that while they were engaged in