Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-08-03
A REAL RUSSIAN ADVANCE.


In its beginning brought out much
talk Of this sort; columns we're writ.
ten on the subject in all the newspa.
pers making a pretense to an opinion,
and there was a general expression of
sympathy for the (supposed) under
dog, Japan.
Events have proven right along that
If we would be consistent in our vote
Of sympathy, we would give II to
Russia, but the kind of sympathy dis.
played by individuals and nations in
a time of war is not likely TO be built
on anything much more substantial
than prejudice of long standing.
That the vast majority of European
and American spectators of this war
are frankly and unreservedly preju.
diced against Russia and in favor of
Japan, who will deny
Now prejudice, as we all know, is
an opinion or decision formed without
due examination of the facts or argu.
ments which are necessary to a Just
and impartial determination. All
through the progress of this war this
leaning, this state of mind has been
evident. Did Russia lose a snip. the
newspapers promptly asserted that at
least three had gone down; did she
lose an hundred men, faring head.
lines multiplied 1t to a thousand; did
she make statement, it was called
lie; did she keep silence It was
labelled evasion. Contrast the tone
OF the press and the people when deal.
ing with Russia with their attitude
towards Japan in these particulars,
and you cannot fail to see tnat in a
very large measure mere feeling and
prejudice are responsible.
Now this state of mind on the part
OF non-combatants is not likely to in.
terfere much with the final outcome
OF the struggle, unless 1t find vent
through the people to. their govern.
ment and thence by way of an expires
sion Of opinion to either the Mikado
or the Gar; but an indulgence II pre.
Judice and biassed judgment does not
hurt those who Indulge in II, and hind.
ers their real growth in intelligent
understanding of broad questions.
Moreover, 1t is the deadly enemy OF
charity and without charity the indi.
vidual and the nation is barbaric.
Few Of us take into account the
fact that Russia is new" while we
continually harp upon the one string
OF Japan's wonderful doings as a
new nation. Few of us stop to con.
slider that up to the middle of the
18th century the overwhelming mai.
ority of the Russian people were
serfs' slaves laboring for an absolute
master, being bought and sold like
cattle. and that by one stroke Alex.
ander the Hberator freed scores of
millions of these slaves.
Where, think you, would the Ameri,
can nation be today If ii had been
composed for centuries of natives tied
to the soil and living in under bond.
age whose emancipation had been ac.
eomphshed AS late as 1861? In simnIe
justice, allowances must be made
thought at tde same time ii is evident
mat the wonderful strides the nation
mas been making during the past few
years need no apology. but call for
sincere admiration.
That the Russian peasant
and remember that. in a large meas.
ure' IL is the Russian peasant that is
now engaged In the war with Japan-
lacks Initiative, is evident; but apart
from the fact that this is common 10
au the newly emancipated. this seems
TO be largely a racial peculiarity of
the slav.
As Senator Beveridge SO we'll saws
IN his most enlightening book The
Russian Advance This Is the man
who has arrived at the Pacific and
LOOKS with dreamy eyes upon the
worlds waters towards whica ne has
'hsuneIively been pushing for hund.
reds OF years, and here is the man wa
americans must stuty and consider
u We expect our foreign statesman.
snlp, whenever II touches Russia "a
Dc intelligent and therefore wise And
remember, too that he is vet man
IN the making, The Great Moulder
o' all human agencies is not vet
lone with His tashioning OF this RUS.
sian man OF the future, but We may
even now see some OF the outlines ~
ttls great handiwork. We behold the
human being about whom an the
world is talking humorous. patient
poedieni' with brain and nerves ami
heart stored with sleepy energies OF
centuries Of stolid living for Russian
snergy is a held Ions fallow. ia which
nevertheless, the first furros has Az |
ready been turned"