Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-04-01
Religious sympathies In the War.

Religious Sympathies In the War.
Psradoxical ~ IL may seem. the grea,
majority OF the Christian press Of this
country has assumed an attitude OF
sympathy with the 30 called non Chris.
tian combatant in the Russo apa nese
war. This feeling Of sympathy exists.
says the Boston Congrega tionalist. mot
at all because Christendom has ceased
to value Christianity and long for its
ultimate triumph in ASIA" but because
II recognizes that Jspan's greater tol.
GRAFTON Of religious views and her mo-
dernity In point Of view ofYer conditions
for religious propaganda and civilixins
work which would be impossible under
RussiaA domino ton. In her spirit,
her political and religious institutions,
lier agrarian life." observes the New
York Outlook. Russia represents the
sixteenth century, Japan the TWEEN.
tieth." The New YorG Independent de.
clares:
Russia ckims to &c lighting the battle
OF Christendon against a pagan nation.
IL II not 10 easy to say which In the
Christian nation. Japan allows liberty OF
conscience. There are menb-S Of Chris
tian churches who command her battle
ships. who sit I'm her cabinet, who preside
over her parliament. There 10 the full
civilization that has grown out OF Chris
tianlty-public schoola. the best sduca ton.
the institutions Of business and benevo-
ience which are the product of Christian
ity. This has been given to Japan under
the tuteiase of Christian nations frankly
adopted from this and other countries.
There are q constitutional government,
elected rulers. courts and freedom. hut
what do we see In Russia? An absolutely
autocratic government, with no local self
government no congress. no constitution.
no public school system. no religious lib-
erty. the Dukhobortsi, the Jews and the
Lutheran Firms equally forced into exile
and the ArmeniAns In the Caucasus driven
and schools. Which 10 the Christian coun-
try?
The sympathy Of America. says the
Universslist Leader Of Boston, "instinc.
lively goes out to Japan, which country
has been bullied by her big neighbor
into striking the blow which may In.
volvs the IA tons Of the world" Japan
10 the rising star Of the east" adds
the Presbyterian Banner Of Pittsburg,
and the world hopes to see 1t ascend
to the zenith." The Christian Intelli-
gencsr Of New York says:
Howevss much - Americans we may
remember the traditional friendship Of
Russia. may admire the personal charac-
ter Of the csar and sympathtze with the
very proper aspiration for an open port,
We cannot but wish victory may come In
the present conflict to the Sunrise King
dom, the nation Of the east which has
been the hrst to welcome the civilization
OF the west.
Many religious papers, while affirm.
ing their sympathy with Japan, take
the view that there are dangers In the
triumph OF either combatant. In case
Japan wins, says the Western Chris.
tian Advocate Of Cincinnati, there Is
some reason for apprehension Of vel
low peril In the consequent self as
sertivensss Of pasanism." The Rams
Horn Of Chicago concludes:
have reason to watch with anxiety the
outcome. It will be with anxiety which,
ever side wins, for neither Russia nor ia
pan 10 A. yet Mt t. be the trustee Of civili-
satton In that quarter OF the world Mel
ther Of them 10 civtlised and both Of them
are far from Christianised. UnQuestion-
ably public opinion 10 with Japan. Con-
sidering that this young nation Ii removed
only one generation from utter paganism
lest admiration, but II must be confessed
that this very progress has made Japan
coneeited and self assured and In q sense
further beyond the reach Of Christian ap-
pAAi.
The Catholic press appears to be di
vided In the expression Of sympathles.
the Catholic Citisen Of Milwaukee lean
ing toward Japan, while the Boston
Pilot and the San Francisco Monitor
favor Russia. The New World Of Chi
casO 10 emphatic In Its, support Of the
Russian side OF the controversy and
says:
II this u . Christian nation it, sysmpa
thies ought - 70 out to . Christian rather
than y pagan people. Crush Russia and
paganism wtll be uniAed and strengthened
throughout India, Korea. Japan. China
and Turkey. The Russians are schismatic
Catholics. It II true. but they are Chris
tians. IT. they win in the approaching
conflict, Korea, Aanchuria and China will
be made Christian before the century
closes. II they lose. Christian civilization
In Europe may begin to take flight For
our part. we cannot see how Christians
consistently can wish to see Russia over
whslmsd. In any case. We believe the
loudly trumpeted sympathy OF Americans
for Japan exists chiefly on paper.
The Friends Inteuigsncer Of Phila
delphia expresses surprise that so few
religious papers in their comment upon
the war have emphasized the essential
sinfulness Of all war. Why is 1t taken
for granted, 1t asks, that war should
seem inevitable and that after twenty
centuries Of preaching the gospel Of the
Prince Of Peace two nations should
have the right to settle their differences
by lighting 1t out like beasts or saw.
sges?" And this. after all, Is the only
consistent attitude from the Christian
standpoint.
1t may surprise some people to know
that there are only $4,000 Japanese In
the United States and 100000 Russians.
The latter have populous colonies in