Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-12

"
powers have interests i'm common i,
China-interests of the ereatesr value
our own governme,lt has show, in .l,,
most marked manner thar II v,,s fu,,,
coSnizant of the Importance of thos.
es'H ana alive 10 ~ uldesirabi,
results which might follow if the,
were Hol properly safeguarded. YET
'his lact and others equally well known
an" equally significant have not pre-
vented the attempt to picture Japar
us pretending that she was acting from
aitruistlc motives. presumptuously ar.
fo@atifg To herself the role of cham
! plon OF Il common cause. Nothing could
b" farther from the truth than this
cunning device 20 arouse prejudice and
bcfog the actual situation. Japan tool;
the initiative because the imnendinn
peril, while il threatened others in Il
measure, was to her Il matter of far
greater moment. If the valid interests
OF otner countries were to a certain ex-
'"hl the same as hers ii is an added
/ PROOF OIL the justice of her cause. MT
GOOD reason fir accusing her OF pr..
sumption or temcrity.
ndouptedly the past few months
haV" been a period of public djsu,1ict
ami excitement in Japan. Equally
without doubt there has been n proa
deal of irresponsible popular clamor.
But iii all fairness, was this unnotur,,
or reasonably regarded a Just causo
for criticism? Surprising that eoual,v
rit"i questions We're at issue in this
or amy other country and supposing
also that the negotiations dragged M
I 1,ti
tionHily delayed for an unfrientlly pur-
pose. would there not be similar mani
foStationS of discomfort and unrest ,
Under the wise guidance of His Ma
jcsty the Emperor. my august master,
the motto of the empire the sole ruln
Of action first and last throughout this
controversy has been peace with honor
and safety.
The position assumed by Japan was
the logical result of her environments
"id % the memorable necessities Of
national safety. Considerations not
merely of Sclf-lntCrcSt or Sclf-reSpect
bar OF S"lf-prot nclion, have led her to
where She now stands. The increase
OF her military and naval strength has
been criticized as an indication OF Il
'lo sire for national ACKNOWLEDGMENT at
IL" cost of others.
The burden upon the nations re-
sources is not Il light one, but think of
the Infinitely heavier burden japan
would have to hear if. instead of her
present nciehborS. 4 potential enemy
Of uncertain purpose and overrhelm-
ing strength We're firmly entrenched
upon her Very threshold. 1t is this
contingency against which we have to
guard. but in attempting TO do SO We
have never sought to impede in any
manner the development of the legiti-
mate ambitions Of other nations or
the enjoyment Ivy them of vested rights
lawfully acquired. From the outset
the representations made in japan.
behalf have been confined within clear
~ defined limits. They may be summed
up III 4 Word-rcsrect for the terri
torial integrity and independence Of
china and Corea: faithful observance
OF treaty StipulatiOns and due recog-
uitioH of the validity Of the special in
terFstS created by existing conditions.
in lSG3. Japan gained a fOothold in
Manchuria by right of conquest. Rus
eiI tnercupon took the initiative in
Intervening on the ground that Japan's
occur alton of the Lao Tung peninsu-
LII MAS a menace to the peace of the
East and the integrity OF China. After
wards first through undertakings
nominally peaceful and subservient to
chino Sc sovereignty, then on pretexts
baked on internal disorders in China.
but ut no time justified by actual con-
Citioi.s. Russia herself took armed pos
.l,.N1r. L
bound herself by treaty to withdraw
IN 1863. but subsequently made with
draWLl contingent upon stipulatiOnS
the acceptance of which would not
i.uvc left IL vcstige Of real sovereignty
e. China. Did not this give Japan rs
good Il right to intervene i'll 1908. rs
RUSSIA did in 1882 To the ordinary
INTEL: g"nce it would appear that the
peace Of the East and the integrity of
Chin;. were menaced quite as much in
one case as in the other.
But japan had another and stronger
reason for Intervention. Russia once
the absolute mistress .of Menchuria
held tOrca at her mercy. When she
could with little effort sweep away the
feeble resistance of that kingdom it
did not require extra ordinary fore
sight to perceive that she would not
permit even an Independent Corea to
!emain as q possible embarrassment
70 htt' future control of the North
Asian litt0raI Indeed. the immediate
past furnishes significant proofs that
! Russian agents. official and unofficial
! pursuing the line of policy which
some call astute diplomacy. but Others
J know by Il harsher name were blazing
the pathway to that very goal. Herein
! lay The real menace TO Japan, not
alone 10 her commercial and industrial
| interests. but to her national repose
and security For this; reason she has
| interN encd.
( While. the present crisis is in q
sense the offspring of Itussia's action
! in 1895, the Japanee people are content
( to deal with existing issues and &c
leave to impartial history the decision
Of who played the more honest part in
that affair.
Nov. however. that the issue has
| been joined and the decision left tC
| The. arbitrament If war further dis
cussion of the causes which led to this
Inomcntous crisis can only posses AZ