The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-02-24

TIE RUSSIAN IN HISTORY,


RUSSIAN IN HISTORY.
why American sympathy Should Lie
with Japan In Present Conflict
TO the Editor Of The State:
1t Is difficult to understand how any,
one who is at all acquainted with Eu-
ropean history, especially the part of 1t
that relates to Russia, can
with that country In its struggle with
Japan; for viewed from any stand
point, except that OF brute force, Japan
Is by far the more highly civilized ma
tlon or the two. From It's very first
contact with civilization Japan has
made a progress that is almost mar
Vicious, while Russia has remained
practically barbarous despite the fact
that she has been in intimate associa-
ton with the civilzing influences of the
other countries of Europe.
Ihe truth of the matter is that Rus
sra mas a pretty black record behind
her, u record of tyranny, oppression
and duplicity that almost SURPRISES he
ilef. II is easily within the memory of
people now living when 1T was a not
uncommon occurrence for ladies OF the
Poilsh nobility to be stripped to the
waist and whipped in public by OH
SiaIs or the Russian government. When
sweden was practically forced to cede
flniand to Russia, the latter country
pledged itself that it would not inter-
fere with the language or local gov
eminent OF the people. This promise
has been most shamefully violated. and
the Vjrtuous. enlightened and patriotic
tlhns nave been subjected to almost
every indignity that Russian ingenuity
could devise. But the darkest bio on
Itussia's record is found I'm Siberia.
oouhIiess thousands OF It's citi-
zens and from its provinces ike Poland
ana Finland have been consigned, for
no offenSe whatever, at least nothing
that would be considered such in n civ
ilized country, to a 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 a despot-
ism that would have hardly been ex-
cusable in the dark ages.
There is something almost farcica1 i'm.
the attitude that Russia assumes as
the champion of civilization and Chris
tianlty, for she stands in sore need of
civilization herself md, in act at least,
is n stranger to the p%recepts of Chris
tianity. What was the of the
Russian troops during the recent trou-
nle IN China? Looting by Wholesale
ana 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
were acting like savages, the Japanese
troops maintained their splendid dis
cipline. and returned to their own
country with clean hands and with
out a single blot upon their record. But
putting all other questions aside. Rus
sla is the asgressor 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
STA has no need Of additional territory
while Japan. with It's dense population
stands IN sore need of an extension of
It's Ian area.
III Is VerV enlV IN noutyo n,,,o,;ox
put the present struggle is being waged
under conditions that have never here
tofore 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-
rere with her transports. 1t will be i'm
possible for Russia to send a single
ma or gun by water and her sole de-
pehdence Is on one single line of rail-
road, and this is a very long one. Ex-
perlence has demonstrated that a sim
gle line, even for q 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-
tion OF the frontier, facing Russia. In
case of hostilities breaking out between
france and Germany they would each
nave q million men on the frontier in
less time than 1t would take Russia to
~ nv biilD III Nldll-
churia. Unless something entirely UNI
expected happens Russia will be con-
tronted with very much the same con-
ditions 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, bafied but not crushed,
She a to accept the terms offered by
France and England. Japan cannot,
or course. exhaust the source of
Russia but stands a good chance~of
e%xhausting all the that Rus
can make available.
70 call this war a struggle between
Christianity and ~heathenism is the
veriest nonsense. Russia today is more
a barrier to the propagation of Chris
tianity than Is Japan, for n nation, lust
as IL with an individual. that processes
to be Christian M who. at the same
time does the greatest violence to the
teachings of the Master, lis a greater
enemy to Christianity than an avowed
disbelieyer. If 1t could be ACCOMPLISHED
without bloodshed the partition of the
RUSSIAN empire would be a tremendous
gain for the cause of civilization, for
then the Russian people, steeped i'm
n ignorance and ground beneath
the heel of an iron despotism, would
breathe the air of freedom and happj.
ness be given tho opportunity to
emerge from a position that liz but 1T
tie superior TO that of 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
their great struggle for independence
Russia used her influence to the