The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-14

peace IL was granted Port AIlHuIt arm
wan bay and a large strip OF MancnuIla.
The ink was hardly cry upon that cesslon
before the triple alliance OF France Ger
many and Russia sent word 10 the MlkaGo
that it would be a standing menace TO the
peace of the world for Japan 10 occupy mat
territory, and they asked him 10 give Man.
churia back to China. The request was
made in polite language, but there were
armies behind il. and the MikadO dared not
refuse. He gave 1T back. although the
Japanese people stOrmed, de%nouncing Rus
STA as the cause Of the trouble.
10 RUSSIA TOOK MANCHURIA.
''VVell. a few months after that the Ger
mans demanded of China the cession Of
Kiachow bay and a railroad and other
rights in the province of Shantung. Their
request was granted and Russia thereupon
demanded the cession of Port Arthur for
the term of twenty-five years and the right
to extend her railroad through Manchuria
to the Yellow sea. This was also granted
and japan saw the territory she had
fought so hard for and which she had been
compelled to give up, handed over to the
Russians, who had been the chief actors in
the ~compulsion.
THE Japanese were angry and almost
ready TO fight then, but the Russians said
they only wanted a place for their railroad
and they rOmised to evacuate Manchuria
within a certain time.
The japanese assented TO this and walt
ed. The time came and went ana the RuS-
slams remained. They gave excuses for re-
naming, but they are there to-day.
They are not only there, but have been
pushing their outposts farther and farther
dOwn toward Korea, and Japan is afraid
hat they will cross the Yalu and go down
the Korean peninsula TO the bottom, where
their guns might be mounted within cannon
shot of the Japanese empire"
Does that mean that the Russians want
KOrea?"
90. - -o-o. @Hs1I~ - ~or1fo1 co-oto-
Beverage. Korea is a wedge-splitting
eastern Siberia from southern Manchuria.
IL has better harbors than Manchuria, and
If the Russians could extend their railroad
into it their landing would be farther south.
If they do not take II they fear the Jap
anese will and that the Japanese in Korea
ward the acquisition of the rest of Asia,
which many OF the Cars people believe TO
be their destiny"
Would the japanese be satisfied if the
Russians gave up Korea to them?"
II think sO,'' replied Senator Beverage.
They would. for a time at least. although
his struggle was bound to come sooner
or later. Both nations need territory. and
the japanese especially so. Both nations
hope to control the trade of Eastern Asia,
and each is jealous and afraid of the other.
II they could combine and become allies as
TO the future of China they might have
peace, but that is not probable"
MANCHURIA AND THE JAPANESE.
Tell me something about M%anchuria, sen
ator. What would the Japanese ave lone
with it had the triple alliance let them
stay?"
''They would have made a second Japan
north of the Yellow sea- replied Senator
Beveridge. '"The whole country would have
been speedily eolOnized by Japanese immi-
grants, and Japan would have probably
made il a basis for the acquisition of other
| parts of north China. Japan is not a large
country. without Formosa it Is not as big
as California. Nevertheless. it has more
than half as many people as the whole
United States. and it's population is rapidly
increasing. Manchurie would have insured
the possession of Korea and would lave
been also a base for a closer alliance with
China"
But is the country worth fighting about,
senator?" I asked.
Both the Russians and the japanese
think So" replied Senator Beveridge. Al
most any nation would think so. Manchu-
ria is an empire in itself. Do you know
how big il is? 1t has grain-growing terri
tory enough TO feed the whole OF Japans
forty millions, and it is so rich in coal and
iron that the Japanese would have made
IL a beehive of factories. The country is as
big as France and Germany combined. II
is twice as big as New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania and New England combined,
and quite as rich in natural resources. Its
value cannot be estimated"
But, about the Russians, SENATOR they
certainly have enough land"
Have they?" replied Senator Beveridge,
1T would seem so, but many Russians
look into the far future. This empire
, is not fitted to support a great popula-
ton, but still they now have enough room
and to spare. But the Russians count time
by centuries, not by days, months and
weeks. They are always figuring upon the
future. They have a population now OF
40, 00, 600, or more than one-twelfth OF al
the people in the world. They are growing
by the natural process of reproduction al
the rate of 5000, 900 a year. Without taking
into consideration the increase by geomet-
rioal ratio, in about ten years there viii
there will be 800, 0OO. 900. Indeed, the Gar
will need more than M~anchuria to house
them"
ator? Are they really colonizing the coun-
try?'
SThey are settling along the line OF the
railroad replied sSss Senator Beveridge
families with them the railroad laborerS
come TO stay. and the result is neat Rus
sian villages are growing up along that
road i'm the wilds Of the far East. l remem-
Der stopping at towns on my way south
which had all the improvements of modern
civilization. There were good stores. com
Portable houses and first-class restaurants
with French cooks. The bands played in
the parks on Sunday, and all this in Strik-
ing contrast with the mud houses anC
filthy streets of the Chinese towns adjoin'
ing them. The Russians are building 8
commercial sbort on Talienwan bay, anC
their cities along the Transsiberian roaC
are rapidly growing Indeed, there are
towns along that road which ave better
department stores than Washington city
THE CZAR'S MANCHURIAN ARMY.
How many troops have the Russians il
Manchuria?"
only the Russians know" replied Sena
tor Beverage. THE soldiers have beer
brought in in small parties. but there were
10000 in 1900. When I Travelled over tn
Chinese Eastern Railroad in 1901 1 was tolC
l by a high military authority that the sol