The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-14

| OSsA shC AAunothuS anu Iu0e bdV6nGHl think so." replied Senator Beveridge Al most any nation would think so. Man churfa Is an empire in itself. Do you Know how big 1t is7 It has grain-growinf territory enough to feed the whole of la. pans forty millions. and 1t Is so rich ir coal and iron that the Japanese would have made 1t a beehive of factories. The country is as big as France and Germany combined. It Is twice as big as New York New Jersey. Pennsylvania and New Eng land combined, and quite as rich in nat ural resources Its value cannot be esti- mated" The Russian Peril.
 But. about the Russions, Senator; they certainly have enough land?''
 Have they?" replied Senator Beveridge.
 It would seem so, but many Russians count time by centuries, not by days, em- pire is not fitted to support a great popu- lation, 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 fig- uring upon the future. They have a pop ulation now of 14o.0oo.0O0. or more than one-twelfth of all the people in the world. They are growing by the natural process of reproduction at the rate of 100000 a year. Without taking into consideration the increase by geometrical ratio, in ten years there will be 170,0)O.000 Russians, and in fifty years there will be 300. c00, ,0O0. Indeed. the Czar will need more than Manchuria to house them"
 Colonies in Manchuria.
 What are the Russians doing there, Senator? Are they really colonizing the country7"
 They are settling along the line of the railroad" replied Senator Beveridge Many of the soldiers bring their wives and families with them. the railroad la- borers come to stay, and the result is neat Russian villages are growing up along that road in the wilds of the far East. remember stopping at towns on my way south which had all the improve nnents of modern civilization. There were good stores. comfortable houses and first class restaurants with French cooks. The bands played in the parks on Sunday, and all this in striking contrast with the mud houses and filthy streets of the Chinese towns adjoining them. The Russians are building commercial port on Talienwan bay and their cities along the Trans-Si- berian road are rapidly growing. Indeed. there are towns along that road which have better department stores than Wash ington city"
 The Czar's Manchurian Army.
 How many troops have the Russians in Manchuria?''
 "Only the Russians know" replied Sem ator Beveridge. '"rhe soldiers have been brought in in small parties but they are everywhere. It was estimated there were 5000 in 1900. When travelled over the Chinese Eastern railroad in 1901 I was told by a high military authority that the sol- diers numbered 15O!0O0, and they may have 100000 or even 100000 there today. With the new railroads thousands more can be rushed in. As you know. every man in Russia is soldier, and the Czar's avail able army numbers millions.
 The War a Religious Ono.
 "At the same time the Japanese troops are thoroughly well organized. There ara no better soldiers anywhere and TO brav- CT On the one side the Japanese ere fighting for their homes and on the othe- the Russians are fighting at the orders of their father, the Czar, and at the same time in the belief that it is their duty to carry the cross Into China and thus Chris- tianize the far east That Is a point that Is not generally considered but am told the Russians believe that 1t Is their des- tiny to spread their religion over all Asia.''
 Uncle Sam's Policy.
 "In the trouble between Japan and Rus- sia. what should be the policy of the Uni ted States?''
 "It should be that of friendly neu- trality,'' replied the Senator. We are In the happy condition of being the closest friend of each nation. The Russians have a sentimental as well as a real friendship for us and so have the Japanese. Russia was our friend at the time of the revolu- tion, it aided us during the civil war, and 1t sold Alaska to us in preference to any other nation. In return we have done many things to cement this friendship, and especially so during the famine of a few years ago. The Russians are appre- ciative, and today. notwithstanding the efforts of other nations to make the Uni ted States Russia's enemy, we are it's strongest friend.
 Tt is the same with Japan, Commodore Perry. one of our naval officers. opened up that country to modern civilization and since then we have always been faiE and liberal in our dealings with 1t. Tn our diplomatic negotiations we have asked less than other nations and given more The result is that Japan regards the Uni ted States as her friend, and if the fight between her and Russia is carried to a finish we shall be in position to take advantage of the situation then, whatever 1t may be. If any nation is to receive anything from such a settlement we al least shall not be left out"
 ''You have met both Count Ito of Japar and Sergius Witte of Russia. the greatest men of the two nations. Senator Bever- idge? Tell me about them?"
 Physically they are as far apart as the poles," replied Senator Beveridge Count Ito is dark, short and stocky. MT. Witte is rosy checked, tall, but broad should cred Both men are very great and very qmet. should say that Ito Is perhaps the greatest Asiatic now living, and think one might say that Witte Is the greatest Slav. Ito Is the creator of mod ern Japan. He wrote the constitution, and he has been the adviser of the mika- do since 1t was enacted. He is cool, cal culating, conservative and perfectly fear less. At the same time he is as simple as a child. ."
 "Sergius Witte Is also simple. In fact, all really great men are transformations. It Is only the little fellow in big place who puts on airs. Mr. Witte makes you at home and talks to you in low, quiet way, which is very impressive. You can- not help seeing that he is great. nor feel ing so when you realize what he has done. He started life as a railroad clerk at Odessa and rose to be manager of the railroads of that part of the country. He was taken to St. Petersburg and given charge of the railroads of the empire and then made minister of finance and the right hand of the Czar. It Is largely due to him that the Trans-Slberian road was built so quickly. He has put the empire on a sound financial basis. and he Is to- day the power behind the throne as to most matters in the Far East. He is a broad gauge man. He sees the whole
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