The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-30
PEACE AT LAST.

The sudden and happy issue of the
peace conference at Portsmouth yes
terday came to a world prepared for
the worst. After days spent in doing
nothing except to cling to their original
"ultimatums" the two nations came
together at the end in the interests of
humanity and world-peace. In the
light of the result, all other considera-
tions fade into nothingness. The world
applauds and draws deep breath of
relief. Peace. has come, after year
and a half of warfare more sanguin-
airy than was ever before witnessed by
the human race a war with terrible
lessons and with portentous results
even though Russia has come forth
from the struggle with her pride in
tact.
Briefly Japan obtains what she went
to war for the lack OLA predomf-
mating influence, amounting almost to
ownership in Korea, the return
of Manchuria to China, with the
implied trusteeship of Japan to shape
the policy of that vast territory, and
the removal of the threatened Rus
sian advance as illustrated by the
fortress of, Port Arthur and her oc-
cupany of Manchuria, and also one
half of the island of Sakhalin which
was demanded to be coded as captured
territory. az.
Politically and economically these
things mean for Japan new lease OF
life and influence in the far East; COM
pared with the demands which she
made of Russia. including in addi-
ton the payment of thousand mill
lion indemnity, the cession of Sakhalin
entire and the limitation of Russian
naval influence, in the East, the results
arc apt to be minimized unjustly.
In Welding at the last moment when
it was evident that Russian pride mad
come to the pass that it would endure
a continuance of the war rather than
yield a jot or title further than out
lined above, the japanese gave the
highest evidence they have yet ex-
hibited of being in the true sense a
"world-power'' in the exhibition OF a
spirit of magnanimity which will meet
with praise and approval in every
quarter. The undoubted diplomatic
triumph of M. DeWitte and Ba-
ron Rosen pales into insignificance be-
side the ability of Japan, flushed with
victory and prepared to continue the
struggle, to take the larger and the
humane view The result of the peace
conference shows, if it shows any
thing, the falsity of the view which
has been entertained of the japanese,
that they are a shallow, halt-parpA-
rio aud cruelty initiative race. Ii ever
a nation had the moral right TO con-
tinue a war where there was chance
of peace it rested with the japanese.
With a pre-eminent navy and an UNI
beaten army of unparalleled morale,
with high credit and flame of pa
triotism among the people, she might
have been partially excused had sne
drawn away and let the fires rage. me
putting away of the temptation TO
shoot into Russia an eXceptance OF her
demands
had. almost said Christian-fortitude
to withstand. That Japan chose peace
at the expense of an obtainable ampl-
ton in the interest of human ives
and the humble homes of peasant SOL
diery is the cap stone Of civilization
unique i'm history.
And in the chorus of congratulations
Americans will feel an especial prlde
i'm the fact which the whole world is
acknowledging today, that Roosevelt
did it." At a time when there seemed
nothing ahead except that the en-
VOWS would shake hands and part as
enemies. the President of the Unlted
States held almost alone to the nope
of q peaceful outcome. with what
persistency he urged the two warning
governments to come to terms, with
what delicate diplomacy he came IN
to direct communication WIN ol. e
tersburg and Toxic without giving d.
Tense to their representatives, the
work of the conference has SHOWN
from day to day 1t was discouraging
work requiring the Roosevelt brand
of determination and the fnesse OF a
trained diplomatist. That at the end,
the trusted agent for the anxious mon
archs of Europe, the man In Whom
the great financial interests of the
world rested their hope of peace that
thrift might thrive. he should have
come so magnificently through way
so beset with possible errors and dam
gers. is a tribute not only to the man
whose deeds have marked him great
but to the country that in its private
citizenship should have found such
a product!
Theodore Roosevelt in this hour
stands truly above party. above preJu-
dice. as a great American. In the
flush of robust manhood, with long
years of usefulness yet stretching be-
fore him. he has lived already the
life that big hearts would be ready
to die for. can see his place in history
clear as one who more than any other
man in this crisis contributed his part