The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-02-26

II.
Rooms 1866. Vincent Building, New
York City.
THE RUSSIAN IN HISTORY.
Why american Sympathy Should Lie
With Jnpnn In Present Conflict
TO the Editor OF The State:
IL Is difficult to understand how any
one VINO Is Mt oil acquainted with Eu-
ropean history, especially the part of 1t
tnat relates to Russia, can syrnDathi
with that country I'm 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
olon OF the two From It's very first
contact with civilization Japan has
made u progress that is almost mar
Vei"ns. while Russia has remained.
practically barbarous despite the fact
tnat she has been in intimate assocla-
tion with the civilzing influences OF the
other countries of Europe.
Ihe truth of the matter is that Rus
sio mas pretty black record behind
her, II record of tyranny, oppression
ana duplicity that almost surpasscs de-
iiei. 1T Is easily within the memory OF
people now living when it was n no,
uncommon occurrence for ladies OF the
PollSh nobility to be stripped to the
waist and whipped in public by Off
C!aiS OF the Russian government. When
SWcien was practically forced to ccda
finland To Russia, the latter country
pledged itself that it would not inter-
iere with the language or local gov
erhinent of the people. This promise
has been most Shumefuly violated. and
tne Nirtuous. enlightened ana patriotic
IiNilS nave been subjected to almost
every indiSnity that feussian ingenuity
could devise. But the darkest blot on
tussla's record is found In Siberia.
Countless thousands of It's own citi
zcns ana from its provinces like Poland
anu FINLAND have been consigned. for
no oifensc whatever at least nothing
mat would be considered such in n civ
ili.:eu country TO q living death in the
mines OF Siberia, without the slightest
nope OF relicf except by death. held as
they are by the iron hand of q t,espot
ism that would have hardly been cy-
cusable in the dark ages.
There is something almost farcica, in
me attitude that Russia assumes as
the champion OF civili1atio and Chris
tianity. for She stands in sore need of
ciNilizatio: herself and in act at least.
- n strange to the precepts of Chris
tianitE. What was the conduct of the
ltuSslah troops during the recent trou-
pie IN China? I.oOtinE by Wholesale
| ana Inc murder OF thousands of help
less and inonensive Chinese. driving
'hem INTO a deep river just as if they
We're wild beaStS. While the Russians
were acilng like savaGes, the Japanese
troops maintained their splendid dis
c'pline, and returned TO their own
country with clean hands ana with
out single blot upon their record But
putting all other questions aside, Rus
Sia Is HE aSSressor ana this being the
case deserves to lose Japan Clearly
sees tlysSt the time has come when She
must make supreme effort for ma
tlonal existence and she can he counted
on TO struggle to the bitter end Rus.
sla has no need Of additional territory
while Japan. with its dense population
stands III sore need of an extension Of
it's land area.
it Is very easy TO make comparisons.
put the present struggle is being wascd
under conditions that have never here
toiofc existed. In the south African
war England had TO transport troops
ana munitions OF war 5000 miles. but
there was not n hostile vessel to inter-
icfc win her transports. II will be i'm
possible FOR Russia to send Il single
man or gun by water and her sole de-
pehd"nc" is on one single line of rail
road and this is n very long one. Ex-
pcriencc has demonstrated that n sim
Eie me. even for a comparatively short
Instance, IS not adequate for the trans
poftation OF large bodies OF troops.
Germany has probably about eight sen
hIate lines leading to the Rhine and
ahout the same number in the direc-
tion OF the frontier. facing Russia In
case OF hoStiiiticS breaking out between
france ana Germany they would each
less time than it would take Russia 10
put one-t"nth that number in Man
churia. Unless something entirely un-
expected happens Russia will be con-
irpnted with very much the same con-
dltions that prevailed during the C'ri-
mean war. she had plenty Of troops and
resources but could not, owing 10 the
lack OF transportation facilities. gel
thcm 10 the front quick enough This
being the case. ballcd but not crushed.
She had to accept the terms offered bv
france ana England. Japan cannot.
OF course, exhaust the resources OF
RuSSia but stands n good chance OF
eXhausting all the resources That Rus
Sia can make available.
Y" call this war STRUGGLE betweo,,
Christianity ana hcathenisin is thr
Ycli"st nonsense Russia today is D,ora
q pliricr To the propagation of Chris
uanitN than is Japan. for nation. inst
rs u WITH an individual. that PROCESSES
70 he Christian ana who at the same
,lhle doeS the greatest violence to the
tcachlnGS OF the Master. is n greater
enemy 10 Christianity than an avo,yrd
dlSbelicNcr. IT il could ne accumulated
without blo0lShed the partition of tho
ltllSSian empire would be a tremendous,
gun Tor the cause Of civilization. for
men the Russian people stecped in
uehSe ignorance and ground beneath
me heci of an IRON dcSpotism. would
breathe the air of freedom ana haupi-
ness ana be given the opportunity 10
emerge rom q position that is but lii T.
ne supcrior to that of the beasts Of
the field.
The people Of tho south IT least ought
TO hotd in everlasting remembrance fhc !
lact that while they were engaged i'm
lhcir great struggle for independence
ituSSia uaed her influence to the
. "A