The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-03
THE RUSSIAN NEWS.

Mr. Melville E. Stone, representing the Associated Press. undoubtedly achieved much when he persuaded the Czar to throw Russia open to exploi- tation for news. and this just on the eve of the war with Japan There was eager expectation that the military movements in the Far. East could be followed with precision and regularity, and the Czar. 1t was felt, had made quite concession to the growth Of modern spirit and methods. It Is too early to say that the worlds curiosity will not be gratifed by some real news by way of St. Petersburg, but 1t is cer- tainiy true that very little of value has so far come from that point. In fact, there have been fewer revelations about the war than the Russians them selves, as a race. They are evidently a chiid-iike people. Pictured in the im- agination of the world as a great bear, inured to all hardships and particular ly to the rigors of winter, moving si- Ientiy on, straying neither to the right nor the left, and not to be diverted by any human power from reaching Il goal so distant that 1t Is yelled to com mon mortal eyes; and, instead of this, they are actually disclosed as a sort of screaming pack, seemingly at the mercy of the finely disciplined and weii-ordered forces of Japan. As to actual achievement they have sent a Japanese transport to the bottom un- der circumstances Justifiable. doubt less, under the laws of war. but not wholly becoming fin an adversary present at the time in overwhelming force.
 They are feeling the shame of the poor showing they have thus far made and Count Cassini. the Russian Am bassador to the United States, publicly appeals to the American people to re- verse their judgment on Russia's con- duct and believe Japan was a wrong full aggressor springing at his country, when his country was unprepared and scheming for peace and expecting peace to continue. To his mind, 1t is conclu- sive we should think Russia sincerely desired peace, because she was not pre- pared for war. There is a threat, not altogether vague. that if Russia is not backed up by Europe and the United States, and is repulsed from Manchu- ria. that all the world may look out for the Chinese The world may take a little comfort in refecting that the Muscovite is in the path of John Chi naman, and while the Museovite has cut sorry figure as militant power abroad, he has been very effective in caring for and defending his own home and hreside. He may be trusted to take care of John chinaman when John begins his hostile march to Mos COW, Berlin and Paris.
 We see no reason to doubt Russia sincerely desired peace, but we do not And the proof of this in her unpre- naredness. She had bullied Japan out of Manchuria, had planted small army on the Yalu. and was feeling her way down into Korea. If let alone for eight or ten years, she would have been tmpregnable both in Manchuria and Korea as against the Japs. To permit this was for Japan insanely to prepare for her own destruction and burial within the Russian Empire It was the common talk, if we may judge from the special correspondence from European capitals, that Japah expected to be beaten eventually, but she was determined to sell her life dearly, at a time she knew she could infiict the Edeepest and most lasting wound upon Russia. It would be ihtelligible for the Japanese to undertake this very thing, but surely withNthe skill and foresight she has exhibited so far. we must credit her with ambitions of q more hopeful kind, She means to beat Russia and drive her out of China. But falling in this, she will have achieved it is now clear, the lesser feat. some of her friends credited her with wish ing to achieve, the infliction of an in- jury from which it will take Russia g prestige and pocket long time to re. cover. If she must die, she will have died gloriously.