Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-02-18

-" 80. ."tv@.. .hVns enoy DJN
psthizs 10 the Of the Far East and
nine will say WITH the japanese. Ask
the nine why and Il is probable that
beyond suggesting that they are with
the weaker nation thew will scarcely
DO able to answer. Yet Russia has In
the past been friend Of shis country.
Il 10 probable that its influence mora
than any other during the civil war
kept England from assisting the con-
iedsracy.a A decade ago It was com
mon to hear Russia described % "our
traditional friend" but that term
seems to have been forgotten and
Americans extend their sympathies
to Russia's enemies. 1t Is remark
able change in q nations sentiments.
One large influence that has con-
tributed to this, and which is holding
the politicians In check. is tho Jewish
element Ia the population. No polit-
ical convention today could safely
pass resolutions ON Russia's side with
out antagonizing large and infuen.
tial part Of the voting population,
especially in the great cities and
pivotal States. We're this war one
between Russia and Great Britain,
the conventions would be consider
ably perplexed; they like to twist the
lions tail but they could not afford to
do 1t to the advantage Of Russia.
The Pacific coast, according to all
accounts, is rapidly awakening to the
menace to Americas trade outlook in
the east, which the steady advance Of
Russia constitutes. Manchuria Is
prominently an American market;
it buys the things Of which we are
natural producers, and, while Russia
may for time permit us equality Of
trade opportunities. the whole history.
OF her rule prevents our expecting
any good results from her long con-
troll. The Russians are great diplo-
mats, as any sutocratic power may
well be. They could afford to give
us some trade opportunities for the
present, while continuing their grab
Of Manchuria, In order to disarm our
as against the day when,
other administrations and parties
having forgotten that she was not
always there, would accept exclusion
from her ports as one OF Russia's
natural rights.
Such testimony as that afforded by |
George Remnants articles, substanti-
ated by abundant evidence elsewhere,
If the rigors Of Russian rule and the
ienial of everything'that approaches
'ivil liberty. naturally has an effect
lpon the American people. Having
aid so much stress upon iriendliness
or other republics" we can i'll 60
nut Of our way to support country
Without a representative assembly.
Without any guaranty Of popular
lights, without any free press, or any
proclamation to what we know as
iberty. 1t is no wonder that the
lmerican people, as a whole, look
nth extreme apprehension upon the
lacier-like movement Of Russia over
STA. We're she to get control in
nina like that which England holds
YER India, she would, from mere
,rce Of numbers and territorial re-
,urces, be q menace to the peace and
vilization Of the world. Japan, in
elping to put check to one stage Of
ussia's advance, in the opinion Of
ost observers here. is fighting a
title for the world quite as much as
r herself.
At the same time the casual trsv-
lers and diplomatic representatives
no are treated nicely BY the high. D
ass Russians, most OF whom are
Iiceholders, have proved effective q
Vocates for Russia, and as such "
We exerted an influence. Russian 0
curities, which are rather widely O.
Id In this country, have also had an A
iuence in the same direction. But n
. great current Of American feeling
with japan.