Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-11


sides other products, and a native popula-
| ton far easier to govern than that of In
dia and all nearer home, England could af-
ford to lose India and perhaps be stronger
for it. Already the annual trade of Great
Britain with South Africa aggregates more
than one hundred and eighty millions of
dollars. But to lose both Africa and India
would imply the descent of England to the
second rank among nations. Who can doubt
that the cause of enlightened civilization
|. the world over would suffer by the change
, Russia a Menace.
And this leads us to yet another side of
this Russian question. IL, through the
RIGHTEOUSNESS or lack of foresight and
moral courage of England and America,
and the opportunist course of Germany,
Japan and China are not sustained at this
crisis. one or perhaps both may succumo
to Russia. She can then conveniently drop
the French alliance and absorb the french
East Indian. colonies, operating as she
would by land and sea- Already the In
terror railways now building In emma are
threatened by Russian intrigue. All this
Is In addition to the steady advance on
India from the north The finai result
would be- since one successful step natu-
rally supports the next, that Russia would
possess half the world and rule over 900.-
600 600 Of people subject to the Unsuitable
greed and tyranny of the unscrupuious IN
stitution'' burocracy and the ranatlclsm
does the world like this picture? 1t is idle to
sheer at 1t as Utopian. but it will come true
unless the nations brace themselves to pro-
tect their interests and accomplish the duty
they owe to mankind. Let us NOT De jug
gled by the idea that because Russia Is
making material progress she Is benentlng
civilization. Her ethics are execrable. The
people and government of Japan occupy
far higher plane than those Of Russia, and
those of China cannot well be lower. and
are now on the ascending grade
This Country's Stake.
So far as the United States is concerned,
aside from the barefaced afYront we re-
ceived on the 9Th of October regarding
Manchuria. we. as a great industrial and
commercial power, can judge how we
should suffer If Russia absorbs China from
the reluctance shown to the demand for
two open ports in Manchuria. For CEN
fury the Industrial powers labored for the
opening of half dozen ports in China. We
can now see distinctly that when Russia
absorbs China she would close the ports
again. How long are the nations to con-
tinue to be the dupes Of Russian craft?
There is another point to consider In this
Muscoyite advance. The internal policy of
Russia stands for the giorihcation Of the
state. like that OF Spain, and, like that.
without principle. The higher civilization,
represented, for example. by the Constitu-
States and Of Great Britain, stands,
on the other hand, for the eieya-
ton of the rights of the individual. II
is not simply whether Japan or China shall
now preserve their Integrity, but 1t is
question as to what order of civilization
shall rule the world. Can we hesitate in
view Of these facts? Let the nations wake
to a realization of the crisis. and cry
Check to a power of which it may be
justly said, Perfdy, thy name is Russia!
8. G. w. BENJAMIN