The semi-weekly messenger., 1904-02-16
CLIPPINGS FROM OUR EXCHANGES.
CURRENT COMMENT.

There seems no doubt that a. te-
tween herself and Russia Japan con
mands the naval situation in the Far
East. She has practically put the
Russian naval power out OF commits
sion. That, however, had been largely
discounted from the beginning. Now
the question Is as TO the result OF Ihe
land grapple. That, too, we may say
has been discounted. For the general
belief appears to be that owing to their
better state OF preparedness greater
capacity for celerity of movement and
superior facilities for rushing troops
to the front the Japs will win, especial
ly IL the conflict Is localized in accoI d.
ance with the demands of the powers
| and Russia thereby prevented from
adopting fabian tactics and wearing
out her antagonist. Yet, recognizing
Russia's dogged pertinacity. her record
Of centuries of persistent pushing to-
I wards her goal despite all reyerses, the
many instances in whicn she has "come
again" after having struck and been
checked and forced back, and her in
exhaustable resources az compared
with those OF Japan, some of our con-
. temporaries understanding their
sympathy with the little brown people
are asking: Will not Russia. when the
fight is over, soon return to where she
was when it began?-Richmond News
Leader.
Presidents Roosevelts proclamation
OF neutrality on behalf Of the-Unitsd
States and it's citizens leaves nothlns :
to be desired either in promptness or in
tenor. 1t follows close upon a similar
declaration for Great Britain. upon q
sufficient intimation that France will
not make common cause with her ally
I unless there are further complications,
and upon an announcement that China
whose very existence is involved In the
, issue. will maintain nevertheless a
correct" attitude of non-interference
/ There is at yet no danger apparent
that other nations will be drawn into
the quarrel of japan and Russia. In
the news from the scene of the fight
ing, which fully confirms the fact Of
; two heavy naval reVerses for the Rus
slams. most Importance attaches to the
heavy bombardment of Port Arthur.
following the dashing naval attack.
The Gibraltar of the East" is not 10
be won in day.-New York World
There is talk of raising a regiment
of Rough Riders in this country for
who was with the Rough Riders in
Cuba. says that with the aid Of 5000
American Rough Riders. Japan could
conquer Russia. Now this is 20 mutch.''
Why try to take the glories of the war
away from the little brown people,
after they have worked it all UP and
begun SO we'll? Three thousand real
Rough Riders, like those that swarmed
up Kettle Hill, could. of course, lick
the whole Russian army and capture
Moscow and st. Petersburg any mora
ing before breakfast. But why should
, we wish to monopolize the renown
of war?-Savannah News.
Admiral Evans plea for the estab-
liShment of canteens on the warships
is receiving exactly the sort of atten-
ton we expected it to exeite-angry
denunciation from the unthinking re-
formers and thoughtful consideration
from those who seek to see things as
! they are and to adjust means to con-
ditions~ Our national reluctance to
recognize formally the existence of evil
alone stands in the way Of needing the
Admiraps suggestion, just as it alone
stands in the way OF re-eStablisning
the army post canteen. Still. the pa
pers are talking sense on the subject,
and sense usually conQuerS after a
while.-New York Times
Admiral Alexieff had hig reputation
as a sailor this day last week, and
Notwithstanding the reverses of the
past few days, he may yet show good
be mighty good stuff to repair the
damage he has sustained. Naval ex-
pertS everywhere express surprise at
his unpreparedness at Port Arthur
when the Japanese fleet attacked him
His force was aroused, like a man out
Of deep sleep, and acted es a man
does in such circumstances. It fai,e1
to locate the enemy, 1t fired wildly. and
the enemy got away without a scratch
Severely injured, the Russians could
do nothing but pull for the SHORE
where their cripples were beached, and
stock was hurriedly taken of what re-
mained uninjured. II commander
with a single ship had been sent upon
a difficult errand, and had given no
better account of himself. he would
have been Washington
Star.
National interest and national duty
both require that the neutrality of our
government in the Russo-Japanese
war be absolutely perfect, that it keep
to the line with unvarying accuracy
under all conditions, giving neither OF
the belligerents cause Of complaint OF
offenSe. To do this may require great
tact and the exercise of much discre
ton. Officials of various grades, and
especially those connected with the two
military departments, will be expected
invariably manifested in discussing in
cidents of the war, or referring to the
personal characteristics of the COM
batants. The fact that Japan was a
protege of the United States. that our
government brought her out and expe-
dited. in many ways, her wonderful
progress toward her present position
in the family of nations. has nothing
to do with the matter Of our neutral
ity. If it had any relation to that sub
1ect we might recall the frieldship Of
Russia to US at a time of most urgent
need. But neither friendship nor lack
of it on the part Of warning nations
with which we are at peace should in
fluence our government in the slightest
degree. Our policy is to mind our own
business, to mind it thoroughly we'll.
Washington Post
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