New-York tribune., 1905-08-27
PEACE WITH RE4SON.

Another adjournment at Portsmouth gives re-
newed hope of peace. 1t has commonly been
reckoned from the beginning that delay and de-
liberation would make for peace, and there are
obvious reasons why they should do so. They
do not OF course, assure 1T. But every addi-
tional day or hour OF calm consideration should
strengthen the irenic impulses which are surely
present in all the enjoys minds, should increase
the desire for cessation Of strife which we must
believe is felt by the governments which stand
behind the ENJOYS, and should give opportunity
for more effective operation of that common
sense of most" among the other nations OF the
earth, which unquestionably is altogether for
peace. ,-'
The other day, 1t is told, prominent member
of the Japanese delegation said that Russia
wanted peace with honor, and Japan wanted
peace with justice; and the two were not IN
compatible. His descriptions and his Judgment
were commercially correct. But honor ana
Justice" are too often-and are probably in this
case-subjective terms Russia has her own In
depreciation Of honor, and Japan her own OF
justice; and the Interpretation Of the one is not
accepted by the other. What is needed is that
the two shall come together on ground OF
practical reasonabeness, and thus make peace
with reason.
II may not be amss to say, with all kindness
and impartialty that the exercise of reason, or
of reasonableness, apparently needs especially
to be commended TO Russia If not to the Rus
sian envoys, then TO the Russian government
under whose direction they are acting. We can
not believe the civilized world would approve
or condone failure OF the peace conference on
the ground that Russia would not concede the
principle of indemnity lest her honor be im-
paired. We do not believe the nations would
regard that as a reasonable ground for Russia
20 +of,o Mt tba of nf hn war
The payment of an excessive indemnity might
we'll be objected to. But for Russia, after prach-
caly confessing as she has done, that she was
in the wrong in the war; or else that she is hope
,essly beaten in 1t. to choose a renewal and In
definite continuation of the war rather than
agree to the principle of indemnity regardless
of the amount, would create most painful i'm
preston throughout the world, and an impress
sion not favorable to the government that took
so unreasonable stand
The inner history Of these peace negotiations
is not yet known to the world. Some day. doubt
less II will be. When it is we have no doubt
that it will be seen, In light convincing to the
world. that President Roosevelt has in an ex-
! ceptional manner made appeal not TO passion
nor TO pride, not TO a vague and indefinable
abstraction of honor" and certainly not to
sordid cupidity but directly and forcibiy TO
I pure reason-to that reason which should be the
! dominant spirit of every international confer
| ence II his appeals to reason should unhappily
/ fail, the world in the approaching time of reye-
| lation. would know where to place the awful re-
sponsbiity. But are unwilling to believe
! they will fail. We must believe that when the
ENJOYS meet again tomorrow reason will be
1 fully enthroned at Portsmouth. and also at St
+ Petersburg and Toxic, and that before this new
week ends we shall see made a peace that will
/ comply with the requirements OF both honor
! and justice because it is inspired with reason