The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-22
japan on Her Mettle.

The peace talk deepens. 1t is heard
in the council Of state at st. Peters,
burg. It Is heard in London, where
Japan's ally Is giving her sage. ad-
vice to practice self-restraint. 1t is
heard in Paris and even in Berlin.
1. The issue is very simple one.
Japan inquiries: "Will Russia recog-
nize China's sovereign rights in Man.
churia and respect them, and recognize
Japan's sphere of influence in Korea?
1t is a plain proposition, backed by
forty-odd millions of brave and pat
riotic people, who remember how, in
1894, the Carbohydrates war left
Korea in Japans hands among the
legitimate spoils Of war, and one which
gave the motive of the war, as Korea
was the bone of contention between
Japan and China, who held 1t under
her fragile sovereignty. Then Russia,
with her prehensile ingenuity, with
Germany and France, interfered and
dictated to Japan what her war in
demnity should be, excluding her from
the tenure Of any territory on the Ash
attic continent and allowing her the
island of Forlnosa and a cash in
demnity.
A few years later, the Boxer uprising
IN China opened the way for the re-
newal Of the Acknowledgement Of China,
begun by Russia half century ago
and continued by France. Russia
laid her hands on Manchuria. Ger
many got Kiau-Chau and adjacent ter
ritory in Shantung province, England
got Wei-Hai-Wei on Korea bay, and
France secured territory on the
Kwang-Chau-Wan bay in Quang-tine
province in the south. In 1901 Eng
land and Germany made an agreemen
looking to the maintenance of the In
tegrity of China and concurrent!
agreeing that, If any other nation I'm
dertook to annex any more Chinese
territory, they themselves would com
pensate themselves territorially.
Japan, already robbed of her terri
tory conquered on the Asiatic main
land, and noting the disintegration II
progress since 1900, sees in the Rus
sian occupation Of Manchuria, he
own doom written, If the ursine dep
redator enters Korea, and is naturall
not inclined to agree to a truce which
II would only mean some delay in Rus
sia's further expansion. Russia's halt
in her eastward progress have Away
y meant only one thing-a waiting TO
opportunity to take another steI
n Every day that Russia delays bringin
the question of war or peace to "a hea'
N enables her to pour more troops int
Manchuria. Not a nation has recog
nized any Russian sovereignty owe
that territory. japan reminds her Q
this, and asks Russia to recogniz
Chinese sovereignty, as one conditio
of peace and Japan's sphere of In
fluence in Korea as the complement G
the former demand.
~ There are people who talk as if
would be a good thing If Japan as a
Independent nation were wiped OF
and brought under the heels of Rus
sian despotism and intolerance. Japa
to-day Is the star of hope in the ia
east. She presents most Interest
ing study as an example Of Asiatic GU
tured somnolence intensely vitalize
and auickened by the stimulating il
fluences of modern civilization
Japan, maintaining her independence
will impart her progressive spirit I
all Asiatic peoples with whom sh
comes in contact
Japan is the champion of moder
civilization in the Orient, and is er
titled to the sympathy Of Europe an
America in her present predicamen