The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-05-13
Russia and Japan.

The recent Japanese VlCCOrleS over
the Russians on land have caused
many to believe that the war is nearly
over and that the japs will have no
trouble in bringing the Russians to
terms. People who take this view are
not familier with the history of Rus
sia. The war has hardly begun. Rus
sia's enormous resources and endless
staying qualities. have not gets come
into play, but they will. AS the At
lanta Journal says the most strong
ly marked characteristic Of Russia
through her entire military history
has been dogged tenacitY. Defeat has
never dismaycd her. She has never
known when she was whipped. What
she has lost through force she has
ever regained through persistence. A
people who could burn their ancient
and sacred capital in order to starve
out an invading army are not people
to weaken over the loss of few war
ships or to cry for peace even If all
their far-otf Pacific Nominations be
taken from them.
1t was her early was with Sweden
which not only taught the world to
know her but taught Russia to know
herself. Her navy that had been years
in building was destroyed in the first
engagement, but she proceeded to
build another, turning marshy wild
erneSs into the great city OF ST..
Petersburg, as a nnvy base. When the
land forces Of the czar were ignomini'
ouSly defeated in the first battle, his
only comment was, The Sweedes
have the advantage Of US at first, but
they will teach us how to beat them.
For nine years the eagles OF victory
persistently perched upon the banners
OF the Swedes, who had overrun al
western Russia and were making thei
triumphant march upon Moscow. Blu
at last Russia was ready. AT Pul
iowa the Swedish army was annihila
ted.
THE same ndomitable spirit has
marked every movement OF Russia
from the time when at the close Of
the middle ages she was semi
savage, semi Asiatic power, so hem,
med in by barbarian lands and hostile
races as to be almost entirely cut of
from intercourse with the civilized
world to the present, when she has
pushed her lines out to the seas or
every side to the Caspian, the Arctic
the Azoy, the Baltic, the Black anc
the Pacific. Men still living remcm
Der Russia's marvellous exhibition Of
power and pertinacity that made th'
Crimean war one of the most remark
able in history With England
France, Turkey and SARDINIA com
bned against her, she held out mag
niiicently for three years, making tht
siege OF Sebastopol the most mem
orable and destructive Of all time, ant
yielded only thin strip OF territor!
along the Danube as the price o
peace.
, But the issue was not settled. 1
never is with Russia. Within ;
} quarter century afterward she. hat
gained all she had contended for, ant
more-the war Of IT gave her every
thing she had lost in the Crimeal
Z struggle, while Turkey was shorn o
half her European possessions. 1T
impossible to sympathize with Russi
civilization, but it is also impoSsibl
g not to recognize her mighty proves
and her undying perSisteDcy. When
ever she has found herself up agans
a stone wall that could not be SUI
: mounted she has patiently worked he
c way around 1.-THE significant thin
: is that she has always got beyond 1t
C She furnishes the world one of II
e best lessons in patience and pei
: severance.