The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-02-14

are thoroughly well organized. There are
no better soldiers anywhere and no
Drawer. On one side the Japanese are fight
ing for their homes. and or the other the
Russians are fighting at the orders of their
father, the Gar. and at the same time in
the belief that it is their duty to carry
the cross into China. n thus Christian
lie the far East. That is a point that Is
not generally considered. but / am told
the Russians believe that It Is their des-
tiny to spread their religion over all Asia"
UNCLE SANS POLICY.
I'm the trouble between Japan and Rus
STA. what hou be the policy Of the
United States?"
1T should be that Of a friendly neutral
ity." replied the Senator. I'VE are in the
happy condition of being the closest
friend of each nation. h Russians have
a sentimental, as we'll as a real. friend
ship for US, and so a v the japanese.
Russia was our friend at the time of the
Revolution. it aided US during the Civil
War. and it sold Alaska to us in prefer
ence 10 any other nation. In return we
have done many things to cement this
friendship. and especially so during the
are appreciative. and to-day, notwith-
standing the efforts Of other nations to
make the United States Russia's enemy,
We are its strongest friend.
1T is the same with Japan. Commodore
Perry. n of our naval officers. opened
up that country to modern civilization,
and since then we have always been fair
and liberal in our dealings with it. In
our diplomatic negotiations We have asked
less than other nations and given more.
The result Is that Japan regards the
Unit limited states as her friend, ms if the
a finish we shall be in a position to take
advantage of the situation then. whatever
It may be. If any nation is to receive any
thing from such a settlement We at least
shall not be left out"
ITO AND wITTE
you hare met both Count Ito of Japan
and Sergius Witte of Russia. the greatest
men of the two nations. Senator Bever-
idfe? Tell me about them"
Physically they are as far apart as
the poles" replied Senator Beverids..
Witte is rosy-cheeked, tall, broad-shouI-
dercd. Both men are very great and very
quiet. 1 should say that Ito is perhaps
the greatest Asiastic now living, and I
greatest Slav. Ito Is the creator of mod
ern Japan. He wrote the Constitution.
and he has been the adviser of the Mi
kado since 1t was enacted. He Is cool. cal
culating. conservative and perfectly fear
less. At the same time he is as simple
as q child.
.Sergius Witte is also simple. In fact.
all really great men arc unostcntatious.
1t Is only the little fellow IN a big place
who puts On airs. Mr.. Wittc makes you
at home and talks to you in a low. quiet
way. "Hlti ~ very impressive. 1Ou can
net help seeing that he is great. nor feel
ing so when you realize what he has done.
He started life as a railroad clerk at
Odessa and rose 10 be manager of lie
railroads of that part of the country. 9e
was taken to ST. Petersburg and given
charge of the railroads OF the Empire and
then made Minister OF Finance. and the
right hand of the Car. 1t is largely due
10 him that the TrGns-Siberian road WAS
built so quickly. He has put the Empire
on a sound financial basis. and he in to-
day the power behind the throne az to
most matters In the far East. He is a
broairgauged man. He sees the whole
world as 1t changes from day to day, and