Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-26

barbarian cloud will darken the oriental
sky and make peaceful development an
impossibility. Just so, In olden times.
Persia invaded Greece and the fate Of Eu-
ropean civilization hung In the balance.
These are the reasons why we are deter
mined to fight so long as there remains
a single soul in the land.
THE result OF the war may not be I'M
like the result of the Crmean war. When
England and France fought against
Russia they did not intend to take land or
1876 the powers decided to make Russia
return the land she had taken from
Turkey and at the same time to stop
Russian advance at the Baltic sea.
.'Our war will have the same result.
We have no intention of taking land. but
only wish to drive Russia out of Manchu-
ria and insure the permanent peace of the
orient. Again. this war is not unlike the
brought about in the interest Of humanity
and commerce.
Russia is one Of the greatest powers in
the world. She is also one OF the strong
est, for she has devoted all her power to
the development of her military system OF
government to the neglect of her com
merce and education. Her population is
at least three times that OF Japan. 1t
would seem, therefore, that VIC have
undertaken very great work when we
attempt to fight with such large power.
full nation. Still we believe that We will
win, and We believe this for several rea-
sons
Foremost among these reasons is that
right is on our side Secondly, the sol
dicrs we send to the field will nearly all
have good educations. On the other hand,
the Russian soldiers are ignorant Ihey
are only fighting like slaves under their
master. They are simply an aggregation
of uneducated men. Thirdly. our officers
are certainly. as class. better trained
have strong patriotic spirit and deep
loyalty to our emperor and country. Dur
ing the feudal ages we were trained to
this patriotism. which may be summed up
in the expression bushido,' or the spirit
of Japanese knishthood.
when we go out to fight for our emper-
or and our country we are perfectly Will
ing to die. This spirit Is CHARACTERISTIC OF
the Japanese people. and one hard to fnd
among other nations. Foreigners may
small nation. undertake TO fight Russia IN
Il war which may last one. two, or three
years years we are likely to get into financial
thing for the sake Of their country.
''rhey will not hesitate to reduce living
expenses and will be satisfied with hard
fare, as will also our soldiers. 1t must be
remembered that the expenses of Keeping
our soldiers in the field IS not more than
onc-third of what ii costs Russia. The
very fact that we are lighting for justice
will make us content to suffer hardShipS.
THE war is being carried on on the
Russian side by a Few AMBITIOUS men
around the car. The people at large h1vn
no interest i'll it whatever. On the other
hand every man in our army Is intensely
interested in the outcome and will fight
on his own initiative when he knows that
his country is in danger. So that in one
sense this is a conflict between few PEG
pie. and Il nation.
perhaps these considerations might
lead any one unacquainted with the his
tory of Japan to think us a war-lovlnG
people. but if you look back to the period
of japanese feudalism YOU will find that
previous to the time of the unification of
Japan. some forty years ago. there had
been perfect peace in the land for 80
years. Such condition is not easily
found in any ether history. All our fight
ing with other countries has been caused
by external pressure; even IN our last
war with China we undertook to preserve
our national security. AS n rule. when n
nation which has been isolated for num-
her of years comes in contact with out
side nations a conflict takes place, as in
the case of China: but we have absorbed
the institutions of other countries without
such a conflict. We are q mild and peace
full people, but when compelled to un-
sheath the sword We will not cease until
we have subdued our foe
I'VE, the youngest nation to adopt CIVIL
cation. are fighting the old despotiSm II
10y sacrificing ourselves and shedding our
blood we can help along that civilization.
and perhaps even rouse the Russian peo-
ple that they may leave their barbarlsm
behind and move forward to enlightment |
we are content. News.