Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-02-24
THE CAUSE OF THE WAR
The Situation Explained in Detail
Reasons Are Given for Conflict.

Reasons Are Given for Conflict.
So far as Corea is concerned, whel
nine years ago Japan achieved he
brilliant triumph over China, she wa
battling for essentially the same
thing she is battling for now, the in
tegrity and independence of the her
nit kingdom under Japanese control
and the consequent opening of it tt
the trade and enlightenment Of the
world. Then, in debating terms Of
peace to China, she went further ant
demanded and obtained the Lilac
Tung peninsula, giving assurance
however, that all otner nations would
be permitted to enjoy in that territory
the same commercial advantages she
desired for herself.
The treaty, known as the tre.ty of
Shimoneski, was signed on April II.
1895, Gi!t drew forth an Immediate
protest from Russia on the plea that
japanese occupation Of tile peninsula
would be menace TO the peace Of
the Far Last. In this Russia induced
Ger!Jaiy and France to join her, and
all these began threatening prapara-
tions, and Great Britain; then under
the Rosebury government, Wills not
uniting in the protest, advised JapaEl
to yield, as under the circumstances
sic could do nothing else. She with
drew, and as things turned out, RUS
sia was simply making cats paw
Of the powers: She prer"nted Japan
from holding the peninsula because
she wanted it herself. S.raigntwsy
size proceeded 10 ocupy /, and to
build Formidable fortiGca ions I'll its
extremity, and subsequently, seizing
the opportunity presented by the Box
er m0fGEcnt. she melted slug issue
with China, Glazing that the Chinese
had nuddiet The strUain iri Manchur-
ia. and grabbed that prov!ace, which
is the hinterand Of the penlnsu!a,
Now that war is Actually Oh Japan
has served notice that in this conflict
she proposes to reach for more than
she defined in her original demands.
In other wofds. she will not only at
tempt to control C-rea. and see that
the door is kept open in Mancfuria.
but will endeGH0i to drive the Rus
: ians ont Of the province. And reeog-
nizins the mistake they m2dc il 1885,
nnd moving that the struggle IN is
lncst comprehensive scope is srruS-
gle between Russia aud all mankind
2 struggle CT the rest of the world to
got in and &C Russia to keep il OUT
lie powers will hardly do ausht to
stay the Japaness hand. No only from
lie .miiitary point OF view. but from
he moral :9'hwpoint. Russia is Oh the
defensive. having put herself in that
attitude by her cllicailaTy, dupliciry.
snd unhl;ishing violation OF pledges,
Ind ii Japan is victorious. there viii
f srasefg SSsrGsg! Sss. ietfFSfsf
ie1ting her getting even with japan
or MANY years to come. NJ.
Another reason for assuming thas
Jananes signal success viii consul
uta the most potential check Russla
las ever received, and ,willl stop her
rom recouping lies in the iaterestilis
act that behind ali is al intense aha;
,ition on Japan's part to arouse the
Chinese to patriotism and sense Oh
.acial pride. and to become the lead
,r of the yellow world. Another Drll-
liant triumph for japanese arms
particularly victory over hussia,
who of all people are most dreaded
and hated by the better class OF the
in the opinion Oh
many. be the beginning OF the enc OF
stirring the Jap's mainland cousins
TO an appreciation Of their own pow
or. And in that event, who shal! say
that it will not be possible to array
the 4O,OOO,OO0 Cinnamon against the
aggressive and ever aggrandlzlng
Muscovita? China aroused and en-
lightened, and conscious OF her
strength as Japan is, would be a very
different proposition for Russia TO
run against from the semi-barbarous,
half f,asleep, inert and self-confidence
lacking China of today
We see on looking beneath the gen,
eral surface and analysing the special
efatures of the case. that Russia may
reckon sadly without her host If she
expects, If defeated. her old policies
and tactics to serve her in the future
as they have in the past. All the IN
dications are that Japanese victory
will strike the most solemn and om-
inous hour for Russia's designs sne
has known in generations. Both Eu-
ropean interests and Japan's connec-
ton as to her mission point to the
giving OF the command Thus far
shalt thu go and no further" Russia
having sown the wiad, it looks as if
she is to reap the whirlwind, and
there can hardly be doubt that she
will reap it if japan inspires China to
arouse and shake herself.