The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-02-23

by. Such a galaxy of honored onel
casts halo of glory not only ovel
their native State ard their own times
but they belong to all time and to. .thl
universal brotherhood Of man. Strug'
CLING men in this generation may lool
to those great ones and gather strength
in their efforts to accorT plish worthy
takings-imitating such noble
lives.
Frederick 4. Salaman.
Rooms 1865, Vincent Building, New
York City.
THE RUSSIAN IN HISTORY.
Why American sympathy Should Lie
With japan in Present Conflict
To the Editor of The State: .-
1t is difficult to understand how any.
one who is at all acquainted with Eu-
ropean history, especially the part of ii
that relates to Russia, can sympathize
with that country in its struggle with
Japan: for viewed from any stand
point. except that Of brute force, Japan
is by far the more highly civilized ma
'tion of the two. From its very first
contact with civilization Japan has
made progress that is almost mar
velous, while Russia has remained
practically barbarous despite the fact
that she has been in intimate associa-
ton with. the ciril2ing influences Of the
other countries Of Europe.
The truth Of the matter is that Rus
sia has a. pretty, black record behind
her. a record of tyranny. oppression
and duplicity that almost surpasses be-
lief. 1t is easily within the memory of
people now living when It was a not
uncommon. occurrence for ladies OF the
Polish nobility to-. be stripped to the
waist and whipped in public by Off
cials Of the Russian government. When
Sweden was practically forced to cede
Finland to Russia. the latter country
pledged itself that, it would not inter-
fere with. the. language or local gov
ernnent; Of the people: This promise
has been most shan1efully violated, and
the virtnous, enlightened and patriotic
Firms have been subjected to almost
every indignity that Russian ingenuity
could devise, But the darkest blot on
Russia's record is found in Siberia.
Countless thousands of it's own citi-
zens and from its provinces like Poland
and Finland have been consigned. for
no offense whatever, at least nothing
that would be considered such in civ
iHzedS country. to a living death in the
mines: of Siberia without the slightest
hope;of relief except by death, held as
they are by the iron hand of a despot-
ism that would: have hardly been ex-
cusable in the dark: ages. ~,
There is. something almost farcical in
the attitude that Russia assumes as
the champion of civilization and Chris
tianity. for she stands in sore need Of
civilization herself and, in act at least,
is a stranger to the precepts Of Chris
tianity. What was the conduct Of the
Russian troops during the recent trou-
BILE in China? Looting4 by wholesale
and the murder of thousands Of help
less and inoffensive Chinese. driving
them into a deep river just as if they
were wild beasts. While the Russians
were acting like savageS, the japanese
troops maintained their splendid dis
cipline. and returned to their own
country with clean hands and with
out single blot upon their record. But
putting all other questions aside, Rus
sia is the aggressor and this being the
case deserves to lose. Japan clearly
sees that the time has come when she
must make a supreme effort for ma
tional existence and she can be counted
on to struggle to the bitter end. Rus
sia has no need Of additional territory
while Japan, with its dense population
stands in sore need Of an extension Of
its land area.
1t is very easy to make comparisons.
but the present struggle is being waged
under conditions that have never here
tofore existed. In the South African
war England had to transport troops
and munitions. of war 5000 miles, but
Yhoro . InSfS1a -
fere with her transports. 1t will be inn
possible for Russia to send a single
man or gun by water and her sole de-
pendence is on one single line of rail-
road. and this is a very long one. EX-
oerience has demonstrated that 4 sim
gle line. even for comparatively short
distance. is not adequate for the trans
portation Of large bodies Of troops.
Germany has probably about eight sep
arate lines leading TO the Rhine and
about the same number in the direc-
ton of the frontier. facing Russia. In
caSe OF hostilitieS breaking out between
France and Germany they would each
have million men on the frontier in
less time than it would take Russia to
put one-tenth that number in Man
,huria. Unless something entirely un-
happens Russia will be con-
'ronted with very much the same con-
iitions that prevailed during the Cri-
mean war. She had plenty of troops and
resources but could not. owing to the
ack Of transportation facilities, get
hem to the front quick enough. This
being the case, baffled but not crushed,
she had to accept the terms offered by
France-.as.. -tngland- Japan cannot,
# course. exhaust the resources-
Russia but stands 4 good chance Of
all the resources that Rus
'ia can make available.
To call this war q struggle between
and heathenism is the
'eriesl nonsense. Russia today is more
| barrier to the propagation of Chris
ianity than is Japan. for nation. just
IS it with an individual. that processes
o be Christian and who. 1T the same
ime does tn" greatest violence to the
eachingS OF the Master. is Il greater
.nemy 20 Christianity than an avowed
liSheliever. II it could ne accomplished
without bloodShcd the partition Of the
Russian empire would De. i tremendous
gain :nr the rauS- OF civilization. for
hen the Russian people. stepped in
len$r ignorance and ground beneath
he heel OF ;ln iron d-SpotiSm. would
,rrat he the air of freedom and happi-
less ard b.. given the opportunity to
merge from :, position that IS but lit
10 Superior To that "f the beasts OF
he field.
The propl.. of III. south Il; least ought
o hold in everlasting remembrance the
act that Will" they We're engaged in
heir s.rra, struggle for independence
russia used her inilurnc" 10 the
ltt"rmnSt to prevent the racog-