Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-09-21
THE WAR IN THE EAST.

General Sherman's Characterization
of war though not elegant is extreme
ly forcible. and in the main, it is true.
"War is He'll" But there is this
difference, one of them is popularity
supposed to be an unmixed evil, the
other is not. There has probably
never been war in any period which
has been entirely bereft of all good.
The evil may have been so preponder-
ating as to overshadow what benefits
may have accrued, nevertheless, war
is not an unmixed evil; it has its COM
pensations, it is the advance agent of
better civilization. expensive it is
true. but efficient. From the days of
julius Ceasar and Charlemagne it has
compelled nations and governments in
to larger liberty, into greater good.
1t has been SO with at least three of
our own wars; the struggle for inde-
pendence, the war of the rebellion and
the late conflict with Spain no one
will question for moment, the bene-
fits which have come to Us and to the
world by these wars.
The great conflict now raging be-
tween Russia and japan goes on under
conditions similar to those which
have characterized not few of the
great clashes of history. Russia is
contendlng for dominion, she hungers
for further enlargement of her great
empire in the east ; she is Unsuitable.
she hesitates at nothing which she be-
lieves will further her designs upon
sidered too great as the price of her
ambition. She will continue the
struggle till her enemy is exhausted,
or till she, herself. can fight 10 Ion
ger by reason of utter prostration. un-
less the other great powers interfere.
Japan. on the other hand is contend
ing for principle; she fights for
her rights in the Eastland particular
ly in her own immediate neighbor-
hood, and in doing this she fights for
all the world outside of Russia. She
represents a better civilization than
Russia and for that reason if for no
other. Americans will wish her sue
cess Our people are materially inter
ested in the great contention. We
want larger commercial relations with
China, we insist that neither Man
churia nor Korea nor any other por-
tion of the Chinese empire shall be
dominated by any single power; we
insist on the open door, and the door
must be opened wide enough to. ad-
NIT American products as easily as
those of Russia or any other country.
But whatever may be the result as to
the primary purposes of the war. Rus
sia. whether she wins or loses as
against Japan, cannot fail to be the
gamer, herself in any event. her
people at home will reap immeasur-
able benefits from the conflict The
general provisions of the manifesto is
sued on the occasion of the christen-
Ing of the heir to the throne contains
some things which clearly indicate
the drift about the Czaral throne, for
the time being, at least, it goes repub-
llcan. Among the benefits which are
to be reaped by the common people
are an all-round reduction in senten-
ces for common law offenses, gen.
eral amnesty for political offenses
except in cases of murder; the educa-
tion of the children Of officers and
soldiers who have been victims of the
war, besides assistance for such fami-
lies as may need it whose bread win
ners have fallen in the service of the
country. The sum of 81 800. 900 is set
apart from the state fund for the bene-
fit of landless people in Finland.
Great reductions are to be made in
large class of fines, and cert ain classes
of offenses are to be pardoned outright
Great changes are to take place touch
ing the civil rights both of the Jews
and the Films as well as better condi-
tions as to military service. Political
prisoners who have distinguished
themselves by good conduct may OBJ
tain the restitution of their civil
rights, while fugitives abroad may
upon application receive permission
to return to Russia. These with other
reforms which have already come out
of the war will be likely TO lead to
still other concessions which will
tend toward the unity of the Russian
empire and the greater progress of
her people.