Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-09-01
Peace After What in Many Respects Was Most Notable War
the Worlds History


| sia of the property in Dalny and Port
Arthur.
Sixth The cession to Japan of the
| Chinese Eastern railway from Harbin
through Manchuria to Port Arthur and
Dany.
Seventh. The recognition of Japanese
fishing rights on the Pacific Siberian
littoral
Eighth. Acknowledgment of the right
Of ownership by Japan of the southern
half Of the Island of Saghalin, which
Japan now holds by right Of conquest.
Japans original demands included the
transfer to her Of the Russian ships now
interned at neutral ports, the Limitation
Of Russias naval strength in the Pacific,
and an indemnity or reimbursement for
the cost of the war, estimated at $500. .OO0-
600.
The demand for the interned ships and
limitation OF naval strength was never
seriously intended, but the main contest
hinged upon the question of indemnity
Japan has entirely yielded this point,
and moreover. has conceded to Russia the
northern half Of Saghalin Island The
latter was absolutely necessary to Rus
sia's position in Asia. Unless she possess
ses this portion Of the island she would
be forced to abandon not only Vladivostok,
but her entire possessions along the
Pacific and Arctic seas, a vast empire in
itself.
The points of difference between the
two countries would have resulted in
certain rupture had it not been for the
tactful and timely mediation of Presi-
dent Roosevelt The negotiations had
reached the breaking point; the breach
was inevitable; the two armies, massing
over 100000 men, were ready to spring
at each others throats and renew the
frightful carnage when President Roose-
welt took hand. He averted the rupture
by his firmness, his earnestness, the con-
fidence which he inspired and the un-
selfish motives which both belligerents
Immediately recognized the conference
was resumed, and, by tactful intercession
and appeals to the Car and the Mikado.
the demands were finally reduced to a
negotiable minimum, ending in entire ac-
cord. No achievement OF President Roose-
Welt will endure longer or bring him
greater fame than this. He has won his
way to the forefront as the chief per-
sonage among the nations of the earth.
not by bloody deeds upon the battlefield,
but In the paths of peace, so that he shall
emblazon our countrys history along
with Lincoln the Emancipator, as Roose-
welt the Pacificator
Japan comes out of the struggle with
all the honor and all the glory. 1t was
hers to win and do; to show her great
est courage at the crucial moment and
prove her right to enter into full fellow
ship with the civilized peoples of the
earth. Her achievements in the war and
the results therefrom have fully COM
pensated her for all sacrifices, but the
real benefits have scarcely yet appeared.
She has settled for all time her potency
in the Orient: she has proven her fibre:
she will now stand forth as one Of the
chief competitors of the other great
Powers in the peaceful marts of trade.
and will no doubt demonstrate that her
heroism and honor in war are equaled
by her integrity and fairness in peace.
But what of Russia? She has reaped
what she has sown. She has paid the
forfeit for her avarice and her duplicity.
Her hopes in the Orient are ignominious-
ly blasted; her military prestige has been
obscured; her internal situation was
never so threatening. She is at the part
ing OF the ways. Absolutism must recog-
nize that at this stage of civilization it
is an anachronism. Should she persist in
her blind obstinacy, the staggering
horrors Of reign of terror, with all its
appalling consequences to stubborn au-
tocracy, must be her inevitable destiny.