The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-02-23
POSSIBLE COMPLICATION

Some dangerous complications for
the United States as well as the west
ern European nations are likely to grow
out of the war between Japan and
Russia. No such violent disturbance
of relations between two great nations
can occur in these days without af-
fecting the environment of all of them.
IT, before the war between the jap and
Muscoyite is over. other nations be-
gin to fear for the effect on themselves
of victory for the one Or the other of
the battling powers. this war. which
now seems SO we'll localized, may be-
come world war, perhaps that last
great fight of all'' of kipling.
Ten years ago Count Okuma. for
mer prime minister of Japan, predict
ed that the time was at hand when
Japan would become one of the chief
powers of the world. and that no power
would then engage in any movement
affecting Asia without first consulting
Japan Is there not here the embryo
of an Asian Monroe doctrine to be
promulgated and upheld by Japan? II
Japan shall win in this war with the
who will deny that she will be one of
the chief powers of the world? How
great will be the contrast between the
Japanese sinking out of Port Arthur
in 1896 before the menaces of the
powers, and the Japanese. conquerors
of the Russians, say in 1906? Euro
peans who We're in the far east after
the signal victory of the Japanese over
the Chinese, reported that the vanity
and arrogance of the former were in
sufferable. What will they be if the
dreaded Russian, powerful in arms,
rich in resources, shall. like the con-
temptible Chinese. be rolled in the dust
of defeat and humiliation by the con-
HuCIlHS SOIOItIS dIlO sailors Oh llo mi.
kado?
Japan will then assume the atti-
tude OF protector and tutor to China.
and western civilization, prepared, by
japanese use for Oriental assimila-
ton, will renovate China even as ia
pan has been renovated in the last
fifty years. Then. indeed the yellow
PERIL will be we'll worth thinking
about The Chinese entertain a deep
hatred for the western nations. and
will not long be conscious of strength
and knowledge before turning them
against Europe.
Wensiang, whom John w. Foster
describes as the wisest and most far
seeing Chinese statesman of modern
times, was accustomed to say to for
eign diplomats and others who urged
speedy reform: .'...~. -.
You are all too anxious to awake
US and start us on a new road, and
sob III wv II, Jul you VIII all regret
it, for, once awakened and started. we
shall go far and fast-farther than
you think. much faster than you want"
Sir Robert Hart" says Mr. Foster.
who has made study of Chinese
character and capacity for a half GEN.
fury, believes that their hatred of for
eigners is a real menace to the world.
not in this generation, perhaps. but in
the early future, as the lifetime of ma =
tons is measured. Four hundred
millions, sturdy and passionately de-
voted to their ancient customs. nigh,
IN time. under the influence. of an ALL
perNading race hatred, be changed
from peace-lOving community into
4 warlike people, beut upon avenging
their wrongs"
SIR Robert sees only two ways to es-
cape this impending danger One is
the partition of:China, and the other
the spread of Christianity. But the
latter advances but slowly; its con-
verts are hardly perceptible in the
human masses of China. The present
war may result in such a commotion
in China that, long before it is over.
other nations realizing the dangers of
a powerful and aggressive China. may
decide to partition the ancient en-
pire. ~s.s...s Z.