The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-17
Possible COMPLICATIONS.

Some dangerous complications for
the United States as well as the west
ern European nations are likely to
grow out Of the war between Japan
and Russia. No such violent disturb
ance Of relations between two great
nations can occur in these days with
out affecting the environment of all
Of them. If, before the war between
the Jap and Muscovite is over, other
nations begin to fear for the effect
on themselves Of victory for the one
or the other Of the battling powers.
this war, which now seems SO we'll
localized. may become a world war.
perhaps that "last great fight Of ALL
Of Kipling.
Ten years ago Count Okuna, for
mer prime minister of Japan, predict
ed that the time was at hand when
Japan would become one of the chief
powers Of the world. and that no
power would then engage in any
movement affecting Asia without first
consulting Japan. Is there not here
the embryo Of an Asian Monroe doc
trine to be promulgated and upheld
by Japan? IF Japan shall win in this
war with the second greatest empire
in the world, who will deny that she
will be one OF the chief powers OF the
world? How great will be the con-
trast between the Japanese Sinking
out Of Port Arthur in 1896 before the
menaces Of the powers, and the ia
panese, conquerors of the Russians,
say, in 1906! Europeans who were
in the far east after the signal victory
of the Japanese over the Chinese, re-
ported that the vanity and arrogance
of the former were insufferable. What
will they be If the dreaded Russian
powerful in arms, rich in resources
shall, like the contemplate Chinese
be rolled in the dust of defeat and hu'
. initiation by the conquering soldiers
and sailors of the mikado?
Japan will then assume the attitude
of protector and tutor to China, ant
western civilization, prepared, b.
: Japanese use for oriental assimilation
will renovate China even as Japan ma
. been renovated in the last fifty years
a Then, indeed, the yellow peril~will b
4. well worth thinking about. Tn
: Chinese entertain deep hatred TO
e the western nations, and will not lon
= be conscious Of strength and knoWl
y edge before turning them agains
y Europe.
II Wensiang, whom John w. Foste
describes as "the wisest and most fal
~ lot
III times" was accustomed to say to fo1
III eien diplomats and others who urge
~ speedy. reform:
You are all too anxious to awake us al
% start us on new road, and you Will do
he but you will all regret it, for, once ava
n liz and started, we shall go far and fast
~ farther than you think, much faster th'
you want.
90 "Sir Robert Hart" says Mr.. Foste
~ "who has made a study of Chine
as character and capacity for half ce
at tury believes that their hatred of fo
tv eigEers is a real menace to the wor!
ne not in this generation, perhaps, but
to the early future, as the lifetime
ret nations is measured. Four hundr
millions, sturdy and passionately 6
ry voted to their ancient customs, m1e
ny, in time, under the influence of an a
'or pervading race hatred, be chang
ne from a peace-loving community II
Of a warlike people, bent upon avengi
lat their wrongs"
an Sir Robert sees only two ways
ere escape this impending danger. One
ads the partition Of China, and the oil
to the spread Of Christianity. But
AS latter advances but slowly; its c.
on verts are hardly perceptible in
err human masses of China. The pres
the war may result in such commot
nat in China that, long before it is oy
'tes other nations realizing the dang
On of a powerful and aggressive Chi
ere may decide to partition the anci
rs empire.