The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-09
Ii Is WAR.

1T is WAR.
A state Of actual war exists in the
Orient. 1t needs no formal declara-
ton of hostilities to bring this about.
T h e G Il o e has repeatedly shown for
the last three months the reasons why
this conflict could not be averted. 1t is
surprised only that Japan should have
waited so long, as her superior state of
preparedness gave her an immediate ad-
vantage. 1t is probably true, however,
that she still had steps to take that
have been accelerated as much as pos
sible.
The war is actually on, and the
world will wait with thrilling interest
for news of either or both Of the two
great events that cannot be long de-
ferred. One Of these is the meeting Of
hostile forces in Korea, and the other
the meeting of the two navies some
where in the waters of the Japan or
the Yellow sea. Either Of these events
may be practically decisive of the first
stage of the war; though in our opinion
it must drag it's weary length through
months, and possibly through years,
before either combatant can be suffi-
GENTLY exhausted to make terms.
1t is inevitable and not at all i'm
proper that we should consider, as long
as this Is a fact accomplished. what
its effect upon our own country may
be. There will be, undoubtedly, some
incidental trade advantage, though
probably much less than the most san
guine anticipate. Russia is so situated
as to be able to draw her supplies
principally from her own imperial re-
sources. The Japanese are still not
very large consumers of the food
products which We ourselves should
use in time of war, and which we are
most anxious to dispose Of Unless
the fleet Of one country or the other
is totally destroyed or seriously Grip
pied In the first stage Of the war, it
may be taken for granted that we can
not ship arms and ammunition in any
great quantities. The risk of being
intercepted would be too great unless
one power or the other were in des-
perate straits and chose to take its
chances. We will find on the whole
somewhat larger market for certain
commodities, but this will be, proba-
bly, pretty nearly balanced bv the
dlmlnution Of other kinds of business
that have been growing rapidly and
will not be limited or entirely suspend
ed by this hostile outbreak.
AS to the event, no one knows. No
thoughtful person, however, can study
the situation without becoming i'm
pressed with the one great considera-
ton which The Globe has advanced
many times with great seriousness. and
which is impressively confirmed NV tbo
opinion of a recent visitor and careful
student Of the East as published in
our columns on Monday morning. This
is the prediction that if japan should
succeed, she will place herself at the
mead Of the Monaghan race, will arm
and drill and discipline China. and will
then, some years hence, in coalition
and complete amalgamation with that
empire stand forever as one of the
mlghtiest, most irresistible and most
threatening powers in the world. This
war spark now ignited may blaze out
In such terrible opposition of race
against race as characterized past CEN
turtles. The fight that has just begun
may not impossibly be the initial point
of one of the great movements of his
tory.