Amador ledger., 1904-12-30
THE JAPANEsE-RussIAN WAR.

The war between Japan and Russia
may be long way from final settle
ment. 1t has emphasized one thing
namely, that new world-power
in the orient must hereafter be rec
koned with in the treatment of ques-
tions dealing with matters in the
Far East. Until very recent his
tory Japan-with her under-sized
people-has been deemed of no con-
sequence from military and naval
standpoint. Allied to the Mongolian
hordes of China, whose military
prowess has been demonstrated to
cut little figure, in spite of over
shadowing numbers, the Japanese
have been classed on the same low
estimate as regards patriotism and
military valor with their neighbors
of the main land. At the outset of
the present war, the consensus of
opinion held the Japanese govern
ment-notwithstanding the admit
tedly just grounds for complaint
against the encroachmentS of the
Northern Bear-to be reckless in
deed to attempt to measure swords
with Russia. In numbers, in fnan-
cial resources, and in military pres
tige, the dwarfish islanders were
looked upon as hopelessly outclassed,
and destined to fall an easy prey
both on land and sea before the war
riors of the Gar. Russia has paraded
before the world for generations as
an unconquered and unconquerable
nation. Her mission is to extend
the map of Russia until it embraces
the whole or the better portions of
both Europe and Asia. Increasingly
she has pushed her from tiers in every.
direction with that end in view. The
menace of Japan by the insidious
occupation of Manchuria, and the
advance upon the Korean peninsula,
was deliberately taken in accordance
with this well-defned policy. What
temerity for Japan single-handed to
call halt on this strutting and self
proclaimed boss of the world. 1t
was like pigmy talking fight to a
giant. The war has been in progress
for nearly year, and although still
undecided, it has proved a revela-
tion on both sides. 1t has shown
Russia as an over-grown effete
bully-big merely in territory and
numbers, but wofully lacking in
naval and military preparation. On
the other hand Japan has fully es-
tablished her claim to naval and
military supremacy. Russia's navy
in the far east-at the opening of the
war supposed to be the strongest in
that part of the world-has been
utterly destroyed. One lone cruiser
remains in fighting trim. The Baltic
fleet in two squadrons is in route to
the seat of war for the purpose of re-
storing Russia's naval prestige, and
there is hardly doubt that it will
meet with disastrous defeat at the
hands of Toga and Kamimura. On
land the Japs have been equally sue
cessful. They have driven the Rus
slams hundreds of miles into the
interior of Manchuria. Excepting
Port Arthur, the Russians do not
hold any disputed sea coast terri
tory on the Pacific. That strong
hold-doubtless the strongest ever
subjected to the test of modern i'm
plements of warts practically in
the hands of the brown warriors of
Japan. Its surrender is simply
question of time. When that event
takes place the humiliation of Russia
will be complete. Her cup of bitter
ness will be full to overfowing-a
righteous outcome of the game of
duplicity and braggadocio she has
played among the nations for hun
dreds of years.
But what will be the effect upon
Japan? Will she bear the honors of
war becomingly, or will she too be-
come puffed up with her new-found
Importance? Will the nations of the
east doff the war paint, under the
stimulus of the successes of the
island kingdom? In placing veto
upon the inroads of the Slav peril,
has Japan conjured up another and
perhaps greater evil-the yellow
peril? Will the outcome of this
struggle between the occident and
the orient work for the veal or woe
of mankind?