Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-30
Peace Agreed To.

iliZed world.
To President Theodore Roosevelt
must I'm large measure be given the
credit for this result 50 earnestly de-
sired throughout the length ana
breadth of Christendom. At time
when the two contending powers were
in an apparent deadlock. and when
even the most optimistic scarceis
dared hope for a successful outcome
of the negotiations, President Roose-
welt cxcrted his great influence 10 the
utmost to secure the mutual cohces-
sions that alone could bring about the
,micable adjustment of differences
that were, apparently, irreconciiaple.
In these efforts he was successful ana
as a result one of the most terrible
wars in the worlds history, involving
an enormous sacrifice of blood ana
treasure has come to a close upon
terms honorable to both of the con-
tending powers.
While Russia has doubtless secured
more than she anticipated in view OF
III. naval and military reverses she
has suffered. it is equally true that
.Iaran has won everything for which
she cnntended prior to the commence
ln.ut of hostilities and much more.
81" has won the respect of the CIVIL
izcd world by the conciiatory spirit
.l,. has displayed throughout the ne
rntiations at Kittery There has been
- disposition on her part to exuit
over her fallen foe or to make condl-
tinus that would result in permanans
bitterness and resentment on the part
or tn" Russian PEOPLE. Not only mas
shc been ready and anxious to con-
tludc an honorable peace but she mas
l., ~ equally solicitous that II should
bc lasting I'm it's character. From the
first the manner i'm which the forces
az the Mikado have conducted their
campaigns have won the confidence
and comppIIed the admiration of the
civilized world. At the commence
mcui of the war pro- Russian publica-
tions declared that the vaunted civil
iz+tion of Japan WAS merely a veneer,
that beneath it slumbered the spirit
81 Journalism and the cruelties Of the
dark ages. Events. however, speedily
disproved these calumnies. The same
spirit that charact crZcd the officers of
tn Army AMI Navy was found to ami
mate also the rank and file in both
services. Not only We're the Japanese
soldiers brave in battle. hearing with
un,"rlplaiuing 'rcerfulness the hard
ships and priv ati"ns of war: but they
sidridtc Ut the foes whom the fortunes
~ war paced in their hands. The
history ot the world has no record Of
kinder treatment accorded military
prisoners than fas been received by
tn Russians captured by the Japan
Csc forces during the present war. The
worlI has been constantly surprised
at the completeness of Japan's pre-
variations for the great and bloody war
which Was brought to close by yes
t"rday's agreement at kittery. No
detail was. apparently, too small TO
~ overlooked. All the vast resources
uf modern science were invoked. and
from the first her campaigns. both on
Land and water have been characterize
al by gcu"ralship of the highest order.
PROFESSIONALLY both Russia and Jap
an nave been saved from terrible, and
far-rcaching consequences by the
agreement Of the peace commissioners
az yesterdays conference While Rus
siI has met the first great setback she
has encountered in her remorseless ca
r""r of conquest and absorption. since
Peter the Great signally defeated the
Swedish King at Pultowa in 1909. the
fact remains that she was in poor con-
diti"n to continue the war. Her navy
WAS destroyed, her people, restless and
discontinued. were upon the verge of
rev Olution. and spirit of mutiny had
already infected her forces in the field.
Not only was her foreign credit practi-
caliy exhausted abroad. but she was
encountering unlooked-for difficulties
in her efforts TO float a new domestic
loan. From the very start she was
handicapped by her distance from the
theater of war. and the difficulties in
volved in transporting troops and sup
plies for thousands of miles over a
single track railroad. Under these cir
cumstances Russia could well afford to
bottle her pride for the sake of a peace
that would relieve her of further enor-
nous sacrifices which she was ill pre-
pared To make.
PROFESSIONALLY the credit of Japan