Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-02-25

4 eAN " N1ANA "A A~aAbENf
contact with the Mongols during
almost their entire existence may well
be regarded at least as the connecting
link between the white and yellow
races. "Scratch a Russian and you'll
find a Tartar, about expresses it.
And their brand OF religion is alto
gether different than either the Ro-
man Catholic or the Protestant, being
the Greek Catholic legacy of the
faith of Constantine. Russia is strict
" orthodox. Church and state are
firmly knit together. The car is ex
officio the head of the church, and
there is no such thing in Russia as
private conscience in matters of faith.
Russia bars all other religious forms
and sects. The religion OF Western
Europe is rigidly excluded from the
cars domains.
Even Russia's much-yaunted friend
ship for America has probably been
the result OF policy, rather than from
hearty eordiality. Russia hates Eng
land, and from Jealousy of her has
sought our favor. 1t is incredible that
official Russia could find much in free,
democratic America to inspire sincere
regard on her part.
As liberty-loying Americans, with a
long heritage of political and individ-
ual freedom, won at the cost of un-
counted lives and centuries OF struggle,
what is there in autocratic Russia to
merit our favorP Its government is
merciless. Its people are abject sub
jects, not citizens. 1t stands Tor
absolutism in its essence. 1t is a
survival from the political past of
form dangerous to the world, damag-
ing to manhood, destructive TO much
that the civilized world today holds
dear. And America, especially, can
not wish to see Russia greater or more
powerful.
Now as to Japan. The Japan OF
today is not the Japan Of yesterday.
Western civilization has done in
half century for the Mongol pagans Of
those islands a work well-nigh incred-
ible. With amazing capacity, they
have absorbed at an abnormal rate the
enlightenment that has come to West
ern Europe and America only as the
slow growth OF centuries. The gov
eminent of Japan is broad-minded and
tolerant, both to its citizens and for
eigners. Its effort has been to bring
in whatever is helpful in a material
way from outside, and the results have |
been stupendous. It's martial prowess
by sea and land is only one sign of the
great awakening that has there taken |
place. And in its awakening America I
has taken part that moves our pride. |
1t was an American fleet that first /
carried to Japan the torch OF civiliza-
ton and forced from her then unwill- /
ing hands the key that unlocked the
great future to her. Hundreds and /
thousands of her young men have
come to this country for their educa-
ton, and, returning, have dissent
mated our own life and character in
wide circles. Japan is not yet pro-
fessedly Christian, but she is tolerant
OF our faith, and may in the future
find that the highest state of social and
moral proficiency cannot be attained
without it. She is our pupil, and we
feel the interest in her that is natural
10 teachers.
Doubtless, too, our sympathy is
moved in part by the spectacle of this
little David going forth to meet the
great Goliath of the North. Ameri-
cans naturally side with the smaller
when his cause seems to
be fair and right. And il does in this
case. Japan is doing what we would
do if menaced by threatening and
implacable foe. Her future demands
that she put curb on the grasping
of the Russian invader, lest
all Asia fall under his paw.
As commercial people, anxious to
preserve and widen the area of our
.rade, our interests should make Japan
a fayorite in this struggle. japanese
in Korea and Manchuria,
and possibly in China, promises far
better fruits to us than Russian
,scendancy. Japan is fighting for
the open door" in Asia; Russia would (
close it to all but herself. We have
no hope of territorial extension in
Asia, but we do want fair chance in
he vast markets of the East. We
shall have it il Japan wins; we SHAH
ose it if Russia triumphs.
These are, in brief. the reasons why
Caucasian, Christian America sides
with Mongolian, pagan Japan now.
instead of our distant cousins of the