The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-31
.RUSSIA'S ULTIMATE AIM
is TO ABSORB CHINA
Failure to Annex Turkey in
Crimean War Turned Bears
Attention to the East.
DESIRES ALL OF ASIA

ROME, Jan. 30.-Twenty years ago leading
Chinese statesmen. while apprehensive of
the foreign influence gradually creeping to
the front, still considered themselves the
arbiters of their own destiny. Their foreign
policy had for it's purpose the restriction Of
the aggressive Western man in every posi-
bic way; their method included playing off
one Western state against another. In this
particular form of diplomatic artfice they
were consummate masters and could give
points even TO the Sultan of Turkey.
In those days they studied carefully the
powers and resources of these outside ma
tons in order to decide what would be the
best thing for themselves in any interna-
tional complication that might arise. AT
that time England stood head and Shout
ders above all other nations in Chinese esti-
nation. Her good will was the thing most
10 be desired her ill will the thing most
to be deprecated. America was a very
great power. but she was far distant, and
did not enter much into Chinese calculation
one way or the other. France needed
watching and had to be dealt with adroitly
But China had had one brush with her-in
which France was decidedly disappointed
and China correspondingly emboldened.
Japan was rising In Importance, but not so
much as to occasion apprehension yet
But now there was Russia. She was still
IN the background, comparatively speaking
She was neighbor, that was true but her
capital was many thousand miles away.
On land there was an impossible desert
soldiers could not come that way in any
great number; at sea there were every
where in the way the fleets of England
All that became suddenly and rapidly
changed Ii Is no part of the present paper
to trace the working of Russian ambition
along that immense diagonal line across
Asia from the Dardanelles in the southwest
along the Persian gulf, and the Palmirs in
central Asia to Vladvostock on the north
coast That belongs to Russian history
We are TO speak of the way China was af-
fected by II all as the movement reached
her sphere of influence" in the western
districts of Ill., of Thibet and of Magnolia
and Manchura China discovered that
Russia was bound to come eastward. Forth
with great national Irritation began be-
tween Russia and China in which Russia
appeared as scheming old beau after an
una ttractive but rich old heireSS with not
much cash in hand, but with vast estate
that would pay handsomely some day. and
China as a tricky old spinster with large
experience i'm Irritation and confident of her
ability to manage the other old party when
the time should come.
As early as the war of 1857 the diplomats
OF other nations found that Russia was
making up to China on her own account.
Russia had enlarged her aSpirati lions. Ham,
pered in Europe. she would make il up in
China. She passed as the disinterested
friend of Climatic one that had China s
welfare at heart more even than her own,
and who. wanted to save her from the
Vaccinations of those 'other fellows"
whose sole object was personal advantage.
The Chinese were too shrewd TO be caught
with mere chaff and so long as il was mere
chaff the Russians had no chance. But
they were practical. They began to work
up their transasiatic railroad scheme. The
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