The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-11
CAUSE OF THE CONFLICT IS !.
RUSSIA'S GREED FOR LAND
Eastward March of the Muscove
Stopped by Pacific the Bear Turns the South Result
Encroach1nent Upon Japans Cherished Plans Empire

In looking for the cause Of the war
between Russia and Japan, you must
so back to old Moscow, in the month
of June, 1872. There and then was
born the child who afterward became
Peter the Great, under whose rule
Russia may be said to have found
herself
It was the mind of Peter that
evolved the policy of expansion which
Russia has pursued inexorably> to the
present. day. Following it's dictates
she has pushed her borders over Asia.
All the Pacific coast is hers, from Ber-
ing strait to Vladivostok, and
estopped by the ocean from further
progress eastward, she has long been
Let this fact be borne always in
mind: Russia's unalterable purpose
is to grow and to go on growing.
Thru more than two centuries it has
become the heart object of the self
perpetual ting oligarchy that rules Rus
sian destiny-and is Russia. Checked
by the Pacific, the paws Of the bear
pire and his nose shifts hungrily at
Korea. FL. ..s-..
Japan's Awakening.
Ultimately it is hoped to govern all
Asia from st. Petersburg, and what
to strive for. So much for one side
of the causes leading to what may be
the most terrible war the world has
ever seen.
On the other side is the destiny Of
Japan. During the major portion Of
the time when Russia was responding
to the impetus Of Peter, Japan MAIN
toward all Occidental nations. 1t was
not until 1854, when the diplomacy
of Commodore Matthew Calbraith
Perry of the United States navy
opened her ports to our commerce,
that she began to abandon her sullen
solitude, and it was not until thu rev.
olution Of 1858, when the reactionary
power Of the Shoguns was overthrown
and that Of the Mikado firmly estab-
lished, that the world was introduced
to the energetic, resOurceful nation
that has defed the giant despotism Of
northern Europe.
Perils of Two Colors.
While the Caucasian race talks Of a
yellow PERIL be it understood that
the Monaghan race talks of white
peril Japanese statesmen have seen
the encroachments of European ma
tons upon China, and for probably a
quarter of a century have worked at
a plan to stop them. This plan is
nothing more nor less than the forna-
ton of a great yellow empire, embrace
ing Japanese, Chinese and Koreans.
A tremendous incentive to the crys-
utilization of this idea was found in
the inauguration of the Trans-Siberian
railway by Russia in 1891. Strange as
it may seem, it was the realization of
what this meant-the garrisoning Of
east China by cks-that brought
about the war between Japan and
China. That war was intended to be
a step toward the consummation of
the Monaghan confederation. 1t was
the Japanese purpose to conquer
China that she might awaken her.
Japan did conquer China. But the
fruits of her victory were snatched
from her by a European coalition
formed by the diplomacy of Russia.
If more were needed than the clashing
of their destinies to make the Japan
csc hate the Russians with a deadly
hatred this would have supplied it.
The Real Casus Bell.
This is the case In broad terms. OF
course, there are irritations. skin erup-