The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-02-27
Japan And Russia Fighting
From the Baltimore Sun.

While there has thus far been no formal
declaration of war by either Japan or Russia,
it is clear that the former country has deter
mined to compel settlement OF the issues
which have been engaging the attention OF
the Governments at Toxic and St. Petersburg
since last June. Diplomacy having failed,
the japanese Government last week broke off
the negotiations and is now preparing to solve
the problem by the most vigorous methods.
The seizure of Russian merchant vessels by
Japanese warships, the movement of Japanese
troops toward Korea under the protection OF
a strong naval squadron, and the occupation
of strategic points by Russian torces-all in
dictate that the differences between Russia and
Japan are 10 be submitted to the arbltrament
of war.
With Russia already in possession of Man.
churia and contemplating ultimately the alb
sorpton of Korea. the Japanese feel that they
would soon lose their rank as a great power
aud that the independence of their own coun-
try would be constantly threatened by Russia.
They would be deprived of the commercial
and industrial privileges which they consider
indispensable to their welfare. They have for
nearly nine years cherished feelings of bitter
resentment against the Russians. Having at
that time defeated China, Japan was not al
lowed to enjoy the fruits of her victory. AL
though the japanese had obtained from China
the cession of the Liam Tong Peninsula,
Russia, with the cooperation of France and
Germany, compelled Japan to give up the
coded territory and accept another settle.
ment. The ground of RusSia's action then
was that Japanese occupation of the PENN
suu would be menace to the independence
of China and Korea and permanent danger
in the Far East When the Japanese had
evacuated the peninsula the Russians occupied
it and have retained possession ever since.
On the whole, however, the forces which
have contributed chiefly to the rupture be-
tween Japan and Russia are of an economic
nature. Japan must have an outlet for her
trade aud for her people. If her inhabitants
are pent up in their islands there is danger,
as Il Japanese statesman puts it, of national
suffocation." Americans who are without
bias will find it possible to sympathze with
both Japan and Russia. 1t was an American
Commodore Perry-who brought the jap
anese into touch with the Western world.
Since that time the people of the United States
have felt more than ordinary interest in the
development Of Japan. Our trade with the
island empire has steadily grown in late years.
Many Japanese students have been educated
in the United States. The relations between
the two countries have been growing more
friendly every year. So far as the trade of
China is concerned, Japan has stood with the
United States and Great Britain in champion
ing the "opeu door," On the other hand, it
is impossible not to recognize Russia's right
to sympathetic consideration. Her money
and the blood of her sons have been poured
out like water in the effort to secure an ice
free port in the Orient. The power which has
contributed so much to the development of
the East, although its methods have been bru.
tai and its purposes are not disinterested, GER
tainly is not without claim to the consideration
of other expansionist powers-notably the
United States and Great Britain.
The statemen of Europe are praying that
war between Russia and Japan may not in
vove any other power. Great Britain is bound
by treaty obligations to make common cause
with Japan in the event that a third power at
tacks the latter. The British Prime Minister
has announced recently that his Government
will fulfill its obligations to the letter. 1t will
be a worldwide calamity if the conflict is not
restricted to the two powers which are imme-
dately concerned. Should other nations be
drawn into tn strife the war may he one of
the bloodiest and most disastrous in history.