The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-05
FRIDAY, FEB. 5, 1904.
WAR INEVITABLE.

If the news dispatches that accom-
pany this issue of Til e Glob do not
carry the announcement of a formal
declaration of war between Russia and
Japan or the report Of actual armed
collision between them, it can be a
question of hours only, rather than of
days, when this shall follow. The care
full observer has seen no escape from
this for some months past. T h e
Globe has stated succinctly more
than once the reasons why.
1t is no temporary affair or trif1ing
disagreement that sets Russia and ia
pan in arms against each other. Each
believes, and has reason to believe,
that its entire future is at stake. They
have been approaching each other in
their expansions and extension of their
spheres of influence until the terrific
ries which they claim overlap. Neither
can afford to withdraw without injur-
ing it's own future.
lutte possession of Manchuria and prac-
teal possession of Korea are indispen-
sable to the rounding out of her en-
pire in Asia. A glance at the map
shows this to be true. The hardest
part of the business has already been
done. BY her unrivaled diplomacy and
the establishment Of her influence at
capitals where a theoretically indie
pendent government still rules, she has
made herself supreme in both places.
She holds Manchuria today as firmly
as she does Finland. 1t is just being
discovered, as was anticipated, that all
the Korean officers are on her side. If
either territory is to be wrested from
her, it must be to some extent against
the exercise of its own authority.
If it is unlikely that any nation
would give up peaceably such advan-
tages as these, it is equally unlikely
that Japan could suffer Russia or any
other power to enjoy them without
final protest. Again a glance at the
map conVinces. Japan could never be
safe for moment with Korea govern
ed by an antagonistic power. Her fate
would be sealed. The same Russian
methods would apply; and in less than
lifetime Japan, in spite of her own
efforts, would be virtually a Russian
province.
There is another reason. Blood is
thicker than water. Race feeling Is
one of the strongest powers known to
history. Although Japan and China
have fought each other bitterly. they
have common interest as against anv
aggressor of the Monaghan race. ia
pan viii not see China apportioned
among the powers, and the Chinese
have forgotten their own humiliation
In the hope that the more modern ana
capable brown people will save them
from destruction.
THESE are reasons enough why hos
tilities are inevitable, but we do not
believe that the leaders on either side
could hold the people back now if they
wished. In fact, state Of war already
exists These rumors Of coming hos
ullties have penetrated all ranks of
the people, and wherever subjects Of
Japan and the emissaries of Russia or
people in sympathy with her come into
contact there is disturbance. In the
outlying provinces of Korea all -
chaos. Local brawls may at any mo-
ment involve regular soldiers on
larger scale. War exists. The mass
of the people on both sides have be-
come thoroughly imbued with the hos
tile spirit and are bound to fight Il
out Notwithstanding the disparity In
Size and strength of the con1batants
the ultimate result is anything but GER