The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-01-21
Japan. AND RUSSIA.

A settlement of the immediate ques
ton between Japan and Russia, by tn
extension of reciprocal freedom Of &C
ton to Russia in Manchuria and t
Japan in Korea, in the nature OF things
could only be temporary. The vital IS
sue, in which all civilized powers, ane
especially the United States and Grea'
Britain, are interested, and which il
the future is of the greatest moment &c
japan itself, would still remain IN
solved.
A careful examination of the map 81
Asia, in it's relation to the progressive
world. viii demonstrate the accuracy OF
this proposition Asia includes about
one-third of the dry land upon the
globe. extending from the Arctic circle
TO- the equator, and one hundred and
sixty-five degrees of longitude. Large
portions of it's surface have already
been appropriated or brought within
the sphere of influence" of European
nations. The heterogeneous empire OF
China, covering one-ffth or thereabouts
of the habitable part of the earth, be-
tween the Himalayan mountains and
the Eastern and Yellow Seas, is un-
t5oubtedly to be the center of the com
uerciaI and intellectual activity, which
great and progressive statesmen and
observing and thoughtful men in all
spheres of life are anticipating, and
which is destined rapidly to establish
the supremacy of the Pacific.
The Chinese government, antique and
externally despotic, is in reality rope
of sand. The authority centered at
Picking, apparently rigid and inelastic,
and invested with the gorgeousness and
endless elaboration of the East, never
theless exerts little pressure upon the
bulk of the, enormous population of the
empire, which, in the ultimate analysis,
has one local ruler to a million of in
habitants. The system, if such it ma5
be called, is simply rigid shell, thin
to attenuation, and enclosing elements
that already begin to ferment in the
light and heat of the Twentieth Cen
fury. That a change will occur ana
that the wall of partition between
threadbare antiquity and advancing
civilization will speedily be broken
down, are evident facts. Under these
conditions the predominance of the
Muscovite or of enlightened nations.
representing dominant races, is the
pivot of permanent adjustment. Japan
is clearly to be ranked with Teutonie
aspirations and movements.
Korea is a peninsula between the
yellow and the Japan seas, lying face
to face with Japan, and at its south
western end approaching the south
eastern extremity of the japanese EN-
pire, with free access to the North Pa
cific ocean. About the only practical
result that accrued to Japan. as the
result of its war with China, ten years
ago. was the substantial transference
of effective influence to the island gov
ernment IT was Russia that interfered
then to minimize the Japanese victory.
1T has been Russia that, ever since,
while pushing it's designs In Manchuria,
has engaged in desperate political
struggle against Japan in the peninsula.
Japan needs openings for its surplus
population and, just now, the Korean
branch of the controversy may have the
greatest Importance. But it is Man
churia that is the key to the whole
Chinese situation, and it is in that Chit
nese dependency that the door to COM
merce and its influences, and to the
spread of Japanese development, NOV
ing in unison with the United States
and Great Britain and other leading
powers, must finally be opened or clos
ed.
In possession of Manchuria, with the
vast Monaghan desert on the south and
west, with the port of Vladiyostok di-
rectly opposite to Hakodade, and the
Asiatic part of its huge territory on the
north, Russia will occupy an almost
impregnable position and viii hold
Picking at it's mercy. The destiny of the
Chinese Empire and the international
conflict between monopoly and free |
dom, therefore, are plainly involved in
the discussion now proceeding between
the two empires, and no durable peace i
can be attained by the proposed adjust
ment, as cabled. Russia viii have TO i
settle with other powers, as we'll as
with Japan, before the Car can rule !
out the remainder of the world and be- |
come the arbfter of Chinese destiny. |
Meanwhile. the most accurate observers
and thinkers in the United States and
in Europe scent great danger, through |
the lack of prompt and decisive action, |
in the opportunity for preparation that
delay secures to Russia. If these opin-
ions are to be estimated, as they de- |