Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-30
TIE pr1cE 1aRrEMrNr.

Peace at last. Peace with honor Rus
sia can say. For Japan a peace that
means greatly augmented power, in
creased prestige and security for the
future. II is a result which the civilized
world eagerly hopsi for and win vel
come with profound satisfaction and
qualification. A treaty is yet TO be
framed and ratified by the two govern
ments and there need be no apprehen-
sion that any issue or complication will
arise to interfere with this There will
be no more fighting between the vast
armies that confront each other in Man
churia, both of which by the terms of
the agreement must evacuate that terri
tory as soon as practicable.
Japan is stronger in the respect Of the
world for having preferred peace to
indemnity. Justifiable as was her de-
mand for reimbursement OF the cost Of
the war; it was the part of wisdom to
relinqulsh il rather than to continue hos
tilities. She had gained all and more for
which she went to war. Russian power in
the far east has teen so broken and shat.
tered that 1t can scarcely be recovered
in half a century, If 1t be possible ever
to do so. The military prestige Of Rus
sia has been greatly damaged IL not de-
stroyed. The fear which she inspired
in other nations no longer exists, not
even In Turkey, and for a long time she
will have no more influence In world
affairs than any OF the smaller nations
and none at all in Asiatic affairs. Beaten
and humiliated by a power which she
regarded with contempt and believed she
could conquer with little effort, Russia s
dream of dominion in Asia has vanished
and all the hundreds of millions ex-
pended in the effort to realize her ambi-
tion are lost to her Japan has nothing
more TO fear from Russian intrigue,
duplicity and rapaCity i'm the orient, For
whatever Russia seeks or desires in that
quarter of the world hereafter she must
consult the nation whose victory over
her gives it the dominating power and
influence in Asiatic affairs. Having ac-
complished this and thus placed herself
in position that assures her future Sc
curity, at least so far as Russia is con-
cerned, Japan could well afford to drop
the claim of indemnity, rightful though
1t unquestionably was
Under the peace agreement China will
have restored TO her the territory which
Russia practically wrested from her,
after having deprived Japan Of it as the
price Of conquest. The preponderance
Of japanese influence in Corea will be
recognized, which means that the penin-
sula will be wholly dominated by Japan
and developed for her benefit. The
Chinese empire will be relieved of the
danger OF foreign aggression and its
territorial integrity made more secure.
Japan is pledged to the open door to
trade and It is not to be doubted that
after peace her influence with China will
be exerted in behalf Of this principle.
The diplomatic battle being over, II
Is to be said that so far as the ENJOYS
are concerned the honors are even. Pres
ldent Roosevelt is reported to have ex-
pressed great satisfaction with the re-
suit, to the attainment Of which he con-
tributed more than any other external
influence. 1t is not too much to say that
but for his timely interposition and ju-
dicious proposals the conference would
doubtless have ended in failure.