Arizona republican., 1904-01-22

of peace. The word peace" from the mouth of the caZr means rather not war than those conditions of equality and justice and fair play that are em-
 bodied nthe word for us. For exam
 pie. if one of the resolute Russians in the far east should in soSne manner bribe Japan with hard cash to give over her, contentious (of course this is an impossible supposition). and so the pos sibility of open warfare could be avert ed for the present moment, the proba-
 bilities are that Nicholas II. would re- gard the result as satisfactory peace.
 Such an arrangement would leave Rus sia with all that she has gained in
 hand, and with freedom of action to go
 forward later in her usual manner.
 But a western man would look back of the mere physical result, and woul1
 be apt to describe a peace of that kind
 as merely a po3tponement The Rus
 sian notion that Russia is to have her
 own way, if not this century then in the
 next one, is so general, that Nicholas IL cannot justly be condemned for his
 technical understanding of the word peace" Ii is his misfortune rather than his fault. Czars, like other men.
 can be fairly judged only by their en- vironment.
 \ curious conjecture is suggested by a letter from Russia" reproduced in tba NavD Yorlx Triiupa fy0,y, the Mar
 seilles SemaDhore. The writer of this letter declared that he had a photo graphic copy of the treaty of alliance between France and Russia before him as he wrote; and it is his assertion that this treaty contains these provisions, namely: -"Ifone Of the two powers is attacked, the contracting party is bound to assist the attacked power. The contracting party is not ht all bound to assist that power if the latter is the aggressive party" This means that if Russia should begin war against Japan it would be no concern of France. but if Japan should begin war against Rus sia, France would be bound to help iSdSC4d- AhG WI llCI MSlAl Oli lO Sd lldl the St. Petersburg gentlemen are play ing for Russia to be attacked by Japan SO that France car be drawn into the matter. We regard this opinion as an incredible one. The Russian military contempt for Japan is so great as to make the course of France a matter of comparative indifference at St. Peters burg; and in any case France is an un- certain quantity in this affair The writer of this singular letter also went on to speak of how the Japanese fle1t would te caught between the Russian and French squadrons. and of course pleasantly crushed; but he overlooked the fact that Great Britain is allied to Japan upon terms that would in the case imagined require the presence of a British fleet, and this would make an altogether different story.
 Russia is doubtless simply struggling with the most difficult problem that she has ever confronted. She has run over little people anG taken what she wanted for so many years that this method of proceeding has become habit with he7 It is q bad habit, as she now most painfully knows, after running against a people that have no inclination to be run ove:. To go ahead is difficult and of uncertain result. To withdraw seems to her disgraceful. especially undsr compulsion. She is startled to find that Japan's firm and simple plea to be let alone has won the sympathy and ad- miration of the intelligent world Rus sia had no idea that anybody of inn oortance would care. She is astonish4d one of importance does care.