The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-02-25
THE CAUSE OF THE WAR
The Situation Explained in Detail
Reasons Are Oven for Conflict.

SO far as COrea is concerned, Wnen
nine years ago Japan achieved her
brilliant triumph over China, she was
battling for essentially the same
thing she is battling for now. the in
tegrity and independence of the her
nit kingdom under japanese control.
and the consequent opening Of il to
tie trade aUd enlightenment Of the
world. Then, in debating terms of
peace to China. she went further and
demanded and obtained the Lao
Tung peninsula. giving assurance,
however, that ali other nations would
be permitted to enjoy in that territory
the same commercial advantages she
desired fer herself.
The treaty. kHcwn as the treaty OF
Shimcncski. was signed Oh April II.
1895, but drew forth an immediate
protest from Russia on the plea that
Japanese occupation Of the peninsula
would be a menace to the peace OF
the Far East. In this Russia induced
Germany and France TO join her, and
all these began threatening prepara-
tions, and Great Britain. then under
the Rosebury government, while not
uniting in the protest, advised Japan
to yield. as under the circumstances
she could do nothing else. She with
drew, and as things turned out. Rus
sia was simply making cats paw
of the powers. She prevented japan
from holding the peninsula because
she wanted it herself. StraiSntway
she proceeded TO ocupy it. and to
build formidable Notifications at its
extremity, and subsequently seizing
the opportunity presented by the Box
er movement, she melted side issue
with China. claiming that the Chinese
had muddied the stream in Man"hur-
ia, and grabbed that province, which
is the hinterland Of the peninsula.
Now that war is actually Or Japan
has served notice that in this ccniilct
she PROPOSES to reach for more than
she defined in her original demands.
in other words. she will not only al
tempt to control Corea, and see that
the door is kept open in MGnchrria.
but will endeavor 70 drive the huS-
Clans out of the province. And recoS-
ni2;nS the mistake they made IL 1873.
ed moving that tho struggle II is
mC&t comprehensive scope is SttuS-
gle between Russia and all nani!nG-
Il struggle Of the rest Of the wor!G 10
get in and CT Russia to keep II out
the powers will hardly do aUsht to
stay the Japanese hand. No only from
the military point of view, but from
the neral viewpoint Russia is on the
defensive. having put herself in that
attitude by her chicanery, duplic'ty,
and unblUshing violation Of pledges.
and if Japan is victorious, there viii
be scarcely any intervention encour-
aging Russia Ito try again" This is
one reason making for the blows
proving Of far-reaching consequence
in staying Russia's progress and pre-
venting her getting even with Japan
for many years TO come.
Another reason for assuming that
q Japanes signal success will consu-
tute the most potential check Russia
has ever received, and will stop her
from recouping lies in the interesting
fact that behind all is an intense am
bition on Japans part to arouse the
Chinese to patriotism and a sense CT
facial pride, and TO become the lead
or CT the yellow world. Another bril-
liant triumph for Japanese arms
particularly a victory over Russia.
Who Of all people are most dreaded
and hated by the better class CT the
Chinese-would, in the opinion OF
man,. be the beginning of the end OF
stirring the Jap's mainland cousins
to an appreciation Of their own pow
er. And in that event. who shall say
that it will not be possible to array
the 40,000.000 Cinnamon against the
aggressive and ever aggrandizing
Muscovite? China aroused and en-
lightened. and conscious Of her
strength as Japan is, would be very
different proposition for Russia to
run against from the semi-barbarous.
half,asleep, inert and self-confidence
lacking China of today.
we See Ou iOOhlilS DCuCdtu IhC Ben
eral surface and analysing the special
efatures of the case. that Russia may
reckon sadly without her host if she
expects, if defeated. her old policies
and tactics to serve her in the future
as they have in the past. All the in
dications ere that Japanese victory
will strike the most solemn and ON
inous hour for Russias designs she
has known in generations. Both Eu-
ropean interests and Japan's connec-
ton as to her mission point to the
giving of the command: Thus far
shalt thu go and no further" Russia
having sown the wind, 1t looks as If
she is to reap the whirlwind. and
there can hardly be doubt that she
will reap it If Japan inspires China to
arouse and shake herself.
Me~t-DSe na-t,1