The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-03-25
AsroRIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY.
ATTITUDES TOWARD RUSSIA.


which from the point of view Of philosophical his
tory deserves for more attention than has yet re
ceived 1t was just half century since Russia had
engaged in war with irtelass power. In that time
she had made enormous territorial gains, some of
which were offensive to other nations But no SER
iOus attempt unless on one OCCASION had been made
10 check her advance. There had grown up ira
dition that she could not be checked 1t was not
based upon her proved prowess in war, for, as mat
ter Of fact she had never unassisted, won war
with great civilized power. Her victories have
been gained through diplomacy AT times her d-
plomacy has excited the resentment of other govern
mentS, which found themselves outwitted or other
wise beaten in the game She has been even charged
with bad faith and lack Of truthfullness But no
nation until now has ventured to do more than to
protest or to rail against her. There has been an
unwrtten rule that Russia must not be opposed with
force
This altitude toward Russia has arisen chiefly from
the habit of taking that country at its own estimate
Of itself When Russia declared she was seeking
only her rights other nations acquiesccd without ven
turing to challenge even to scrutinize her alleged
rights When Russia vaunted herself upon her over
whelming power, the others conceded that she was
indeed too strong for them to overcome. This cur
iousy obequious attitude has been displayed by no
power more markedly than by Great Britain, the
very power that has theoretically been Russia chief
opponent. Note, for example, the case of the Af-
CHAN boundary. In 1872 Russia agreed with Great
Britain exactly upon that boundary, and it was
marked upon both Russian and British maps pre-
esely the same, as definitely as any boundary line
on any map in the world For dozen years there
was no dispute over it. Then Russia suddenly chal-
Ienged the correctness of the very line she herself
had accepted. Had the British government insisted
that the matter had been settled Russia would doubt
less have acquiesced. But it did not do So On the
contrary it promptly conceded that, since Russia dis
puted the boundary, the boundary must be in dis
pute. The case was reoppened, commission was ap-
pointed and Russia succeeded in changing the bound
airy so as to secure for herself large and valuable
slice Of territory
Now, these things are not to be recalled by way
Of censuring Russia Her policy may at times be
devious. But what are we to say of her policy in
ether lands-Of Prussia in Schleswig- Holstein Of
Of Frances in Madagascar and Siam? British ad-
ministration of Egypt has been and is a blessing ;
but many would prefer that Mr. Gladstone had not
made that promise of withdrawal which he did not
keep and which his successors have not fulfilled and
will not fulfill United States possession Of Texas
and California has been and is good thing but the
chapter Of our diplomatic history which tells how
it effected is not to be read with pride It is
well to go slowly, therefore, in condemnng Russia
for the qualities which have made her policy 50 not
ably and almost invarbly successful. Moreover, we
must remember the temptation of her opportunity
Ii other nations SO ready to acquiesce in what
ever Russia says or does it is only human nature
that she should generally say and do whatever most
pleases her and most serves her own interest. The
roll of the worlds nations bears no such name as
Altruria
But what is significant is that now, for the first
time in half century, a nation dsregards the Rus
sian tradition as we may call it, and ventures to op
pose Russia policy with force Of arms 1t is a new
experience for Russia and is something Of sur
prise to the world that Japan should venture to dis
pute the validity Of Russas claims and should even
call into question the assumed omnipotence of the
great northern power. This is the fact which the
phosophic historian Of these times viii not fail to
consider Whether Japan is justfable or is prudent
is likely to be successful in the she is pur
suing these are questions with which we are not at