The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-17

wilderness OF century anu LULU oeN
TO be what we now behold.
Is American Sympathy Shifting To-
ward Russia?
A report IL current that In official cir
cles at Washington a material change
of sentiment with regard to the war in
the Far East is observable, many OF
those who at first wished the Japanese
success now showing themselves in
clined to take the opposite attitude.
The opinion ascribed to Representative
HULL Of Iowa that this country may
have reason to regret the triumph OF
japan Is, we are told, often quoted with
approval. We can SEQ as yet no ade-
ouate ground for a reversal Of American
sympathy,
It Is true that there Is no longer any
basis for the assumption which, TO
certain extent, may have inspired the
good wishes originally expressed for
Japan, the assumption, namely, that
she was materially weaker than her
opponent from both a military and a
naval point of view; or was, in other
words, the under dog Events have
shown that In respect OF strategic and
tactical efficiency, Of ability to place a
great army in the field and TO safeguard
It from disease and in the vital partiou-
lar Of proximity 20 the scene Of opera
tions, the Japanese are more than a
match for the Russians. 1t is true, no
doubt, that the determination evinced
! by Vice-Admiral RoJEsTvENsKY to face
] Admiral TOGO and compel him to fight
| for maritime ascendency presents a
! creditable contrast to the lack Of hardi-
! hood and skill exhibited by the COM
manders Of Russia's Port Arthur squad
ron. When we think Of 1t, however,
failure on the part OF the st. Petersburg
Admiralty TO attempt, at least, to use
naval resources which, on paper, are
! equal IL not superior TO Japan's would
have been ignominious and disgraceful.
/ No maritime Power on earth possessing
| such feet as RoJEsTvENsKYs could
have shrunk from a contest without for
. feiting self-respect.
The desire generally felt year ago
by the American people that Japan
might prosper In the present war was
based on the conviction that she had
been driven to fight by the instinct Of
self-preservation, and that her victory
would benefit all the Western nations
engaged In commercial intercourse with
! China. Nothing that we know Of has
occurred TO shake that conviction. On
the contrary, we have had Of late from
Russian sources corroborative proof Of
the belief that Japan was provoked, not
only by Russias evident intention not
to evacuate Manchuria, but also by an
alarming encroachment on Corean terri
tory, which took the form Of a scheme,
backed by influential persons at the Rus
sian court, for the exploitation OF valua-
BILE timber lands south OF the Yalu River.
In an official report submitted by Gen.
KURoPATKIN, then Minister Of War, on
his return from the visit which he made
TO Japan shortly before the outbreak Of
hostilities-a report recently published
attention was dire cted 20 the uneasiness
with which Russia's action in Corea was
watched at Toxic, and the opinion was
expressed that the affair Of the timber
limits on tho Yalu would Of itself suffice
to bring about q war with Japan.
1t Is also well known at our State De-
partmentt that japanese influence atPekin.
which now is naturally powerful, can be
relied upon 20 further the interests Of
the United States with as much conf
dence as it could when Secretary HAY
was negotiating a treaty Of commerce
with China, a treaty which the Russian
Minister at the Chinese capital did his
best 10 emasculate. We add that the
Toxic Government, though its arms have
triumphed in Manchuria, has evinced no
inclination 20 retract or modify its for
mer assurances that IL would cooperate
with our State Department in maintain
ing the "open door throughout the
length and breadth OF the Chinese En-
pire There is not a shred Of evidence
that the Japanese have any intention Of
mutilating China's territorial integrity
by acquiring a square inch Of Manchuria
outside Of that tip Of the Liaotung PENN
sula which was leased to Russia, and
which is now Japan's by right Of con-
quest.
II, then, there is anywhere any waver-
ing Of the sympathy with which Japan's
attempt TO check her colossal adversary
was at frst viewed on this side Of the
Atlantic. II must be imputed to a vague
misgiving. not warranted by any change
! In ths 70 latiopAsf the Toxic Government