Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-28
Premier Katsura Designates
That Fact as Secret of the
Nations Successes
MEANS LIFE OR DEATH TO THEM
Japan Prepared to Sacrifice Her Last
Man and Last Cent for the War and
the Principles Fought fo'-Domestie
Conditions Still satisfactory-crops
Exceed Annual Value.

correspondent of the Associated Press
Saturday, Premier Katsura said: ITO
Insure peace in the orient and to safe.
gllard our national existence is the aim
and purpose of our empire and no sac
ritice shall be too great for successfully
affecting this purpose.
Russia. beside violating her pledges
III Manchuria, crowned her overbearing
and aggressive policy by extending her
arms to the Korean peninsula.
I'VE were highly solicitous to pre-
serve peace, but had no alternative ex-
cept that of war, which was forced up
on US. Turnout the negotiations
Russia showed an overbearing attitude
which. as has latterly been shown, WAS
tladequately supported by military
strength. Russia allowed herself to be
deceived and sighted, for she never be-
lIeved that Japan would draw the
sword OF war. Then after suffering re-
reated defeats on land and sea, Russia
perceived the mistake she had made,
and. having discovered the seriousness
ef the situation, began to make ade-
CIuate measures.
lie case was UlllSiSIS WAStl U.s. w =
ere alive to the seriousness Of the sit
,lation and were prepared for exigen-
dies.
Russia must see that the war cam
not be concluded by the issues Of q
few battles. With us, the war means
life or death, and not one Of our A.
100000 brethren remains Ignorant OF
the vital issue at stake.
1--WE are prepared to sacrifice our
last man and our last cent for this
war.
"The delay in the decisive result Of
our siege at Port Arthur gives Russia
hope of being able to relieve the gar
1ison and for this purpose she resolv-
ed to empty her naval defense at horne
while on land corps after corps has
been mobilized and sent eastward.
THE military and naval plan of
Russia seems to center in the relief
Of Port Arthur, and General Kuropat-
kin's southwark advance, which re-
suited in his serious defeat, had the
relief OF the garrison as Its sole OBJ
1ect The Russian enperor's instruc-
tions to Kuropatkin not to retire be-
yond Mukden were designed to raise
the gloom that had been hanging over
the people Of Russia sij-ne the defeat
OF Russian arms at the battle Of Lao
Yang. and Kuropatkin assumed the
aggressive, perhaps against his own
Judgment
Everything seems to hinge on the
!tall OF Port Arthur, but do not con-
sole myself with the thought that the
capture of that Ill fated fortress will
bring the war to a speedy termination.
Its capture will give occasion for re-
newed plans for warfare by Russia and
I am watching keenly for such new de-
velopments.
1.-THE domestic conditions Of Japan
IRE highly satisfactory. The history
Vt our.diet may be summed up by say
Ing that from the first 1t planted itself
firmly In opposition to the government
on financial questions. After my APP
pointment friction became increasing
ly violent. The two great parties, the
constitutionalists and the progression
lists. held a combined front in oppose
ton to my ministry. Despite adminis-
trative reforms effected on their de-
mand we failed to satisfy them. They
criticized our fiscal measures as ex-
cessive and refused to pass the bills"
Judging by those conditions, seri-
GUS collisions between the governed
and the governing were predicted, but
when the war came this friction en-
tirely ceased and the houses of rep
resentatives, which once refused to
pass budget Of $125,000,000 as excess
sive and unbearable, gave ready and
willing assent to the first war budget
of $28S,0o0,0 900.
At this session of the diet the gov
eminent will be compelled to present
a budget calling for $3ss, 5000, 900, and
the indications are that 1t will be pass
ed without the slightest difficulty.
This happy phenomenon Is attrib-
uted to the characteristics of our peo-
pie.
People Are United.
Before great national problem our
people unite, and friends and oppon-
ents join hands for the accomplish
ment Of our national purposes. with
the great problem of the war before
them. the people of our nation have be-
come as one man. We have no war
party, and no peace party, as Russia
has, but on the contrary our nation
is one and united with determination
to fight to the last extremity.
When the war came on 1t so hap
pened that our financial condition was
such that everything indicated fresh
awakening after period of long dull
ness and inactivity. Thus our latentl|
fiscal energy was directed against the
war fund. Our people are showing
ample capacity to finance the war, and
despite the floating of domestic loans,
our economic conditions have not been
affected, while banking conditions have
actually expanded since the beginning
OF hostihties.
The war expenses reach a large sum
monthly. but the government has man
aged their absorption In such a man
ner as least to affect the normal con-
dittons of the money market. The de-
crease In circulation has been very
small, and our people are cheerfully
meeting the advanced taxation, while
every domestic loan has been over
subscribed.
I confess tfleLt the results have ex-
ceeded our expectations. They are ex-
planned by the fact that our people |
maintain a calm attitude and diligent-
1y continue their usual occupations.
Frugal habits have been maintained |
and no productive energies have been
sacrificed.
"Our crops this year exceed their an
nual value by 100000 Our foreign
trade shows an Improvement over that
II 1903. and I expect 1t will reach q /