Arizona republican., 1905-09-06
Second Thoughts on Peace.


 The first and natural inclination of most of us. on hearing that peace had been secured at Portsmouth, was to rejoice that the war was come to an early end. The great consideration of the moment was that success had crowned the prolonged negotiations for the cessation of hostilities, and it mattered comparatively little to many thoughtful people on what terms peace had been arranged so long as the dreadful sacrifice of human life in Manchuria was effectually checked. Now, however, the several articles of the treaty signed yesterday having been subjected to worldwide scru- tiny, an attempt is evident on both sides of the world to estimate the future effect of the compromise.
 There is no man living who can foretell this effect in it's entirety, but there are certain shrewd guesses that any of us may make who have follow ed the course of events in the far east during the last few years. Has Japan safeguarded her national integrity? Some of her ardent friends think not; others feel sure that she is in a req sOnably secure position. The former feel sure that she should have com pcIled Russia, by diplomacy, or fail ing that by force of arms, to relin- quish all hold upon Manchuria, while some extremists believe that the is land empires integrity cannot be as sUred so long as VIGdivOstOk and the neighbOring shores of Siberia remain in Russian hands. To settle a large question like this is possible to a par tisan only, and then merely to his own satisfaction, for with it are involved other and unanswera bIe questions But at least this much may be said, that Japan has avoided giving Russia cause for offensc in the Portsmouth agreement, and there is no such ground for resentment at St. Peters burg now as was inspired in France in 1871 by the harsh terms imposed by Bismarck. Indeed, the general feel ing in Russian official circles appears to be, despite some natural dissent, that the Japanese acted with com mendabIe moderation in the final give and take.
 It may be added that there is a req sonable doubt whether Japan would have made her position more secure by forcing from her enemy any or all of the Siberian coast line. Russia's perennial ambition is to increase her territory bordering on the sea, and, while she desires an ice-free port most of all, a harbor that is open sev- eral months in the year is better than none. If, then. Japan had established herself at Vladivostok and overrun the Siberian littoraI she would have ere ated another profound source of Rus sian discontent. To the natural dis satisfaction in Russia at the loss of territory that has been so long in that country's possession would have been added the inevitable exasperatiOn at being driven away again from the ocean. Thus, instead of safeguarding her position, Japan might easily have caused a permanent irritation the re- suits of which would eventually have been another disastrous outbreak be- tween the nations. As it is, Russia retains her originally planned railway terminal and can carry on profitable trade with the other commercial na- tions through its ample marine gate way. Vladivostok is not so valuable an asset as Port Arthur would have been. but that is another-and a con- cluded-story. Vladivostok must suf- fee as a safety valve for Russia's ori- ental aspirations.
 In the United States we should feel an especial interest in the current speculation about a Russo-Japanese alliance. The alarmists are beginning to talk of mysterious trade arrange ments between the recent enemies, by virtue of which the Manchurian door will be slammed in our face after all for the benefit of Russian and Japan csc traders only. If Japan should con sent to any such agreement, she would stultify all that she has said and done up to this present time, and we need not credit the contemporary rumor until we have better reason for ac- cepting it. Japan, like the United States. stands for a fair commercial opportunity for all nations in the far east, and her statesmen would think twice before they forfeited the support of their English and American friends by changing front on this vital policy.
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 The restaurant keeper in New York who has promised a hundred dollars