Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-02-24
JAPAN EVER
VICTORIOUS
1.-The Child Of the World Old Age
May Successfully Grapple With
the Russian Monster.
WHY JAPAN is LAND HUNGRY
Her Expansion Absolutely Requires
a Broader Field-sentiment Of IT.
resistability.
Correspondence London Mall.)

ASSAA fANAo sAtAiH I
In the comfy of nations. Japan is
young in years, but old in wisdom.
Her elder statesmen play world
politics s~erenely, confidently, and
with a subtle craft that bears the
palm away from the sophisticated dip
lomats of the occident. Has not ia
pan, though baffled oft, yet won in
the end practically every worthy thing
she coveted, except Port Arthur,
which it took three nations to des-
poll her of. Treaty revision. sister
hood with the powers. and alliance
with England, colonies, commerce, an
army and navy. a merchant marine
and manufactures. and all good things
like these she has won for herself in
a generation.
She is the infant prodigy among the
principalities and powers of the earth.
and. as poor old China, who taught
her so much, learned to her exceeding
cost. Japan can be the enfant terri
BILE. Just now it is Russia who is
wondering how much OF a fight the
child of the worlds age could put up
against a military nation.
Not seeking but not averse to con-
fiict, the warhawk Of Japan is o
ing over the mountains Of Nippon,
keeping a sharp look out on Korea.
From the Kuriles to Formosa there
is not a son of Anna who questions for
a moment but that at its first swoop
the battlebird of the sunrise kingdom
would tear the eyes from the Roman
off bear. If you care to feel like a
prodded bear in a cage, just ~conjure
with the word Russia at present In
Japan. Talk about the publicity of
royalty. 1t is clustered gloom to the
searchlight of publicity that is thrown
upon a Russian unfortunate enough to
be in these islands now. The mere
presence of a ski" or off, in your
name is proof that you r a Rus
sian spy, and the entire public re-
solves itself into a committee OF the
whole to take notes. From the number
of spies reported weekly to the au-
,.lorities. it would seem as If one-half
of Russia is in Japan. preparing for
the other half to invade.
saw the army maneuvers which
closed this week in the presence of
the emperor. who is aging rapidly,
his care-worn air being generally re-
marked at the launching of a new
third-class cruiser at Y~okosuka, and
at his birthday ball. Tenshisama has
his troubles, and they are not all po-
known even in the palace at Toxic,
now a city of 100000 souls.
But back to the maneuvers. which
were impressive, showing a thorough
ly disciplined body of intelligent men.
filled with bursting charges of dash
and initiative, and brilliantly led. De.
spite their stiff, Earring German step.
they are able to cover remarkable dis
tances in surprising time. Keen-eyed'
hard-bitten. sturdy chaps they were;
short and compact, with depth and
breadth for lung and heart plant.
They were proud and felt their oats;
and why shouldn't they? Being quar-
tered on the helpless inhabitants of
the district. under arbitrary and inso-
lent rules that turned every house
holder into a military c~hambermaid.
Like the Yankee bad man: they de.
clared, in the vernacular. they could
whip their weight in wildcats"
The young officers were not slow
in saying that they wanted to pitch
into Russia, said a major of the great
old clan ofSatsuma, which, with Cho-
shiu, rules Japan through the Sat.Cho
combine:
Japan is in no danger OF race sui.
eide. The mothers are not Sinking
maternity as in other lands, and the
result Is that WI can spare half a
million men a year for an indefinite
number of years and not miss them.
II Is not conceivable that we should
have to pay such a price in any posi-
BILE war, but 1t is just as well, per.
haps, that We are ready and willing to
pay. This year the productive area
of japan has been increased from one.
fourteenth OF the total to one-twelfth.
Barring Formosa and the Pescadores,
we have less than 1900 0 square
miles OF territory, of which eleven.
twelfth is reproductive of food. But
nevertheless, we have close to So,
000, 900 folk to feed. Do you wonder
that we are and-hungry-that we
want elbow room?
I'VE once dreamed OF Siam, be.
cause the royal houses have a blood
tie, but that vision was vain. We
uad E.any vague aspirations. but II
has come to this: that in Asia, in our
town ATTITUDES, we must get what we
want. Ii we are barred from Manchu
ria. and. after all we d 40 to avert
II, lose Korea, we still have our last
and greatest hope to fall back upor
for the final stand. | mean China
, She looks to us now for aid, comfort
sympathy, advice and guidance. ant
she is getting all she asks and more
China does not call us 'dwarfs' any
longer. We are little genii' now, ant
truly we are doing the work of gent
in organizing that hitherto liner
mass.
you all know that the ChinamaI
excels in everything that he under
! takes. provided it seems worth Will,
to him. He excels. too. for twent,
hours a day on minimum of food an,
comfort. Hitherto he has shunne,
war, because he fancied ii was brut,
madness for men to slaughter one an
other; but the west has goaded hin
into thinking that war is sometimes
a fine thing for its own sake. H,
needs little coaching now to desir,
war for revenge and defense. whe,
: the time comes Japan will guide tn,
yellow whirlwiad and direct the vel
low storm. and | am prone to thin
that certain ntions will find It a vel
itah1a uirprra In tbaF Ianr - -