The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-12-01


war and the domestic, financial and
political conditions Of Japan on the
eve of the assembling Of the Dict,
with tho correspondent of the Asso-
ciated Press, Premier Kalsuria said:
ITO insure peace In the. Orient and
to safeguard our national existence.
Is the aim and purpose Of our empire,
and no sacrifice shall bo too great
for successfully effecting this purpose.
Russia, besides violating her pledges
in Manchuria, crowned her. overbear.
ing and aggressive policy by extend
ing her arms to the Korean peninsula.
I'VE are highly solicitdls to pre-
serve peace, but had no alternative
save that of war, which was forced
upon us. Throughout the nesati:
tions Russia showed naughty and
overbearing attitude, which, as has
lately been shown, W sainadequatcly
supported by military strength. Rus
sia allowed herself to be deceived.
and slighted our empire, for she nev-
Ell believed Japan would draw the
sword Of war. Then, after suffering
repeated defeats en- land and sea, Rus
sia perceived the mistake she had
made, and, having discovered the seri-
BUSINESS of the situation, began to take
adequate measures. The case was diff
ferent with us. We were alive to
the seriousness Of the situation and
were prepared for exigencies.
Russia must see that the war can
not be concluded by the issues CT a
few battles. With us, the war means
life or death, and not one of our 45,-
100000 remains ignorant OF the vital
issue at stake. We are prepared to
sacrifice our last man or our last
cent for this war.
THE delay in the decisive result Of
our siego at Port Arthur gives Rus
sia hope Of being able to relieve the
garrison, and for this purpose she re-
solved to empty her naval defense at
hcme. while on land corps after corps
has been mobilized and sent east
ward.
THE military and naval plan Of
Russia seems to center in the relief
Of Port Arthur, ard General KurCpat-
kin's southwark advance. which re-
suited in mis- serious defeat, had the
relief of the garrison as its sole OBJ
ject. The Russian Emperor's instruc-
tions to kuropatkin not to retire be-
yond Mukden were designed to raise
the gloom that had been hanging over
the people of Russia since the defeat
Of Russian arms at the battle of Lao
Yang: and Kuropatkin assumed the
aggressive, perhaps against his own
judgment.
Everything seems to hinge on the
fall Of Port Arthur, but | do not
console myself with the, thought that
the capture Of the Inflated fortress
will bring the war to a speedy termin-
alton. Its capture will give occasion
for renewed plans of warfare by Rus
sia, and l am watching keenly for
such new developments.
"The domestic conditions of Japan
are highly satisfactory. The history
of our Diet may be summed up by
saying that from the first it planted
itself firmly in opposition to the gov
ernment on financial questions. AZ
ter my appointment, friction became
increasingly violent. The two great
parties, the constitutionalists and the
progressists, neld a combined front
in opposition to my ministry. Despite
administrative reforms effected on
their demand, We failed to satisfy
them. They criticized our financial
measures as excessive, and refused
t. pass the bills.