The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-02-23
RUSSIA, JAPAN AND THE WESTERN
POWERS.

at its commencement, of war between
Japan and Russia, appear thus far to
have been fully verified. The imme-
diate phases of the war, naval and mill
tary, are necessarily of absorbing IN
terest, and it's fluctuations, If there be
any, will be closely observed, especially
when reports are published from the
great newspaper correspondents, VINO
are probably now at the scene OF ac-
ton.
The effect of the hostilities upon the
destiny of China and upon the question
of preponderance in Asiatic trade, com
merce and civilization, is, however, the
deeper question upon which the thought
of statesmen, diplomatists, and the ad-
yanoed representatives of business,
education and enlightenment, is con-
centrated. Broadly stated, the under
lying issue is between the Western
Powers, with which for the time, If not
permanently, Japan is Incorporated, ana
Russian medievalism and exclusive
ness.
The effect of the treaties between
China, the United States and Japan,
lately ratified, has been already dis
cussed in these columns. They have
Ctlluliily ldl Soy Noi's'''''NN ~
qualification of western influence
against the Muscovite. Secretary Hays
note to the Powers, inviting them to
make their neutrality effective and to
conserve the integrity of China, was
most astute piece of national strategy
founded upon principle, and has already
met with marked favor and explicit as
sent. Japan has definitely promised to
respect the sovereignty both of China
and Korea, and, in that respect, as in
all others, stands committed to the Tree
access of America and Europe to the
Asiatic continent. The United States,
by treaty, long since guaranteed the
autonomy of Korea. Manchuria is part
of China, and even Russia, on paper,
has been compelled to acknowledge our
treaty rights. The response of several
leading nations to Secretary Hays note
is an answer to the contemptuous
threat of Lessar, the Russian Minister
at Pekin, when, speaking of China
standing in the way of Russian designs
in Manchuria, he said: Bah! We'll pull
her queue until she bites.'
The seed planted in Japan by Com
modore Perry has yielded much fruit.
1t is undeniable that Asia supplies the
most inviting field for commercial eN-
pansion in the Twentieth Century, and
it is remarkable that an Asiatic ma
tion occupying comparatively small
insular area on the western verge of the
Pacific. should have beer so rapidly
transformed into the active representa-
tive OF Western ideas in that part of
the Asiatic continent. She has become.
so to speak, the sentinel of modern
progress at the Pacific entrance to Asia,
and she proposes to keep that entrance
open, not only for herself, but for the
civilized world
1t is said occasionally that commerce
is selfish. The French once derided
Great Britain as a nation of shop-keep
ers. Brother Jonathan has been iron
ically coinplimented on his wooden nut
megs, his gimcrack watches and his
sharp bargains. But Uncle Sam has
superseded Brother jonathan and, side !
by side with John Bull, though en-
tangled by no alliance, has acquired, !
not merely territorial but moral, In !
tellectual and financial supremacy. The |
landmarks of commerce have ever been
freedom and intelligence, and, even
though in dealing with inferior races
there has been much fraud and brutal
ity in past ages, still those character
istics or dishguring features of Teutonlc
marches are rapidly disappearing from
the onward movements of this century,
in which all races are gathering them
selves to burst the bonds of ignorance
and stolidity. The door to an isolated
nation once pushed open, not merely
trade but the arts, the sciences, educa-
ton, religion, morality rush in, and the
TRANSPORTING and elevating effect are
speedily apparent.
Japan has studied. copied and origi
mated beyond prediction. In China,
brain is abundant and the integrity of
its merchants is proverbial. But Chi
nese methods have run in narrow
grooves, set thousands of years ago,
and, With the possibilities of develop
ed manhood within its own teeming
population, China has remained virtual
ly imprisoned for many ages. Its OPP
portunity is near nj hand through the
"open door" which Is about to be lifted
from its hinges. Already the stirring
of new life in that isolated empire is
conspicuous. This fact may be illus
trated even in the line of military force,
I'm which during the war with Japan,
only ten years ago, there was "A defici-
ency, so notable as To attract ridicule.
The Viceroy of Pechili, Yuan-Shih- Kui,
with japanese military experts by his
side, has already organized and dis
ciplined 10000 men, the nucleus of a
vast army, and the Chum-Shuses in
Manchuria are source of great UNI
easiness to Russia. China has declared
her neutrality In the existing war, but
that does not prevent her from enforc-
ing her rights and her treaty obliga-
lions in Manchuria, over which her SOW
ereignty has been legally retained.
When facts are examined and false
sentimentality brushed aside, the
United States is in no respect indebted
to Russia. AS Mr.. Watterson has point
ed out In the Louisville Courier-Jeurnal,
Catherine III offered Cossacks to Great
Britain to stop our. national independ-